Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - Tyrod Taylor rushed 15 times for 118 yards and also threw for a touchdown as 15th-ranked Virginia Tech used a ball-hawking defense and its trademark special teams to open a big lead and then hold off 22nd-ranked Clemson, 41-23.

The Hokies (5-1, 2-0 ACC) opened a 24-3 first half advantage without scoring an offensive touchdown, thanks to a D.J. Parker interception return, an Eddie Royal punt return and a Macho Harris kick return - all for TDs.

Branden Ore was limited to just 28 yards rushing, and Taylor completed only seven passes for 65 yards, but Tech's defense created a wide enough gap early that they were able to endure a furious Clemson rally.

Tigers quarterback Cullen Harper completed 38-of-66 passes - school records for completions and attempts - for 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But he was harassed by the Hokies defense throughout, throwing a pair of interceptions, losing a fumble and taking three sacks.

Clemson (4-2, 2-2 was completely stuffed on the ground, rushing for a total of six yards, as the normally productive duo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis totaled 12 yards on a combined 12 carries.

Aaron Kelly had 11 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown, and Tyler Grisham reeled in 11 passes for 100 yards and a score.

Tech's opportunistic defense jumped on Clemson immediately. On just the third play from scrimmage, Harper's pass went high and wide off the fingertips of his intended receiver, Grisham. Parker snatched the deflection and took it 32 yards for the score and an early 7-0 lead.

Later in the first, the Hokies used a 33-yard Royal punt return to set up at the Clemson 42. Taylor completed a 22-yard pass play to Josh Hyman, and it ultimately set up Jud Dunlevy for a 32-yard field goal.

After a three-and-out on Clemson's ensuing possession, Royal then fielded a punt at his own 18, sidestepped one would-be tackler and raced up the sideline otherwise untouched 82 yards for a 17-0 VT lead.

Midway through the second, Clemson finally started with good field position thanks to a Spiller punt return to the 42. Harper completed four passes on the drive to set up a 33-yard Mark Buchholz field goal.

But Tech grabbed the momentum right back when Harris took the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line, started right, then reversed field and went 100 yards up the left sideline for the TD.

Clemson's offense sputtered again on its next possession, but the defense responded with points of its own when Ricky Sapp and Phillip Merling combined to sandwich Taylor in the end zone for a safety on Tech's second play from scrimmage.

The Tigers took over at their own 47 after a free kick, and Harper completed a pass to Kelly to move into Hokies territory. But on the next play he fumbled as he was crunched by Chris Ellis, who eventually fell on the ball to set up the Hokies on Clemson's side of the 50. Three plays later, Taylor found Justin Harper wide open in the end zone for VT's first offensive touchdown, a 21-yard strike, and a 31-5 lead.

Clemson mounted enough of a drive to set up a Buchholz field goal right before the half, but went into the locker room still trailing by 23.

The defensive dominance by both teams continued in the third until the Tigers finally mounted a 14-play, 94-yard drive highlighted by a 27-yard conversion on 4th and 14 from Harper to Grisham, and ending with Harper finding Grisham in the back of the end zone early in the fourth for a 10-yard TD.

Clemson's defense stiffened again, and Harper alternated between Kelly and Grisham in driving the Tigers inside the Hokies 20. But on third-and-three, his pass to Grisham in the end zone was tipped at the last second and fell incomplete. Then, on the following play, Harper hit Spiller in the back of the end zone for an apparent touchdown. But Spiller had stepped out of bounds, a penalty for illegal touching nullified the score, and Clemson came away with nothing.

Tech provided the crushing blow on its next possession when Taylor scrambled on a third down for 52 yards, and Dunlevy ultimately booted a 47-yarder to extend the lead to 34-15.

Clemson rushed downfield on its next possession and scored on an 18-yard hookup from Harper to Kelly, and then converted a two-point conversion with a Harper-to-Grisham slant pattern. But VT linebacker Xavier Adibi corralled the ensuing onside kick, stifling the comeback.

Another long run by Taylor set the table for a two-yard touchdown plunge by Ore, finalizing the scoring.