The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEMITRI Knowles’ productivity as the No.1 option in Virginia Tech’s passing game continues to pay dividends for the Hokies as they won their fifth consecutive game on Saturday.

Knowles finished with four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Hokies’ 27-17 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Knowles leads the Hokies (5-1) in receptions thus far on the season. The sophomore wideout leads the Hokies with 24 receptions for 267 yards and is second on the team with two touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore Willie Byrn is second on the team with 21 receptions for 303 yards and Joshua Stanford third with 17 receptions for 222 yards.

Next up for the Hokies will be an October 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the second game of a three game home-stand at Lane Stadium.

Knowles’ best game of the season came when he caught eight receptions for 99 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass in the Hokies’ 15-10 win on the road over the East Carolina Pirates on September 14. He earned the game ball from head coach Frank Beamer for his performance.

It was a career high in both receptions and receiving yards for Knowles who caught his first touchdown pass since week one of the 2012 season.

After struggling in week one with two catches for three yards against a vaunted Alabama defence and adding another two catches for 20 yards against Eastern Carolina, Knowles broke out against Western Carolina.

As a freshman last season, Knowles finished the regular season with 19 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdown, good for an average of 12.6 yards per catch. His biggest impact came on special teams where he returned 21 kickoffs for 595 yards and one touchdown, an average of 28.3 yards per return. He finished third on the Hokies’ roster in all purpose yards with 859.

Knowles opened his NCAA career with a touchdown reception in his debut again against the Yellow Jackets. In perhaps his best all around game, he finished with six catches for 83 yards and returned a 93-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the Hokies’ 48-34 loss to the Tar Heels. He finished with three returns for 141 yards to set career highs in receptions, receiving yards, return yards and all-purpose yards (224).

His score was the first kickoff return touchdown for the Hokies since 2010.

In late October, he was elevated to co-number one’s on the Hokies’ depth chart with starter at flanker Dyrell Roberts.