Williams sets mark: Despite feeling ill for most of the week, Tech tailback Ryan Williams was one of the few bright spots for the Hokies in their 28-23 loss to Georgia Tech, rushing for 100 yards on 14 carries and scoring a touchdown. Williams’ score came in the second half when he burst up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown run.
The touchdown run marked the longest of his career. He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor late in the game, and that touchdown marked his 11th of the season, tying the Tech freshman record for touchdowns held by Darren Evans, who scored 11 last season.
The 100-yard rushing game marked his fifth 100-yard performance of the season, which breaks the Tech freshman record. Evans had four 100-yard rushing performances a year ago.
“He didn’t feel strong early and really sucked it up to come in there and play,” Tech head coach Frank Beamer said.
Taylor streak comes to an end: Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor played a fine game with two exceptions – his two interceptions.
Taylor’s streak of passing attempts without an interception came to an end at 84. Early in the game, Georgia Tech defensive lineman Jason Peters batted Taylor’s passing in the air and then made a diving catch of it before it touched the ground to snap Taylor’s streak. Taylor later threw another interception, though that came on a ‘Hail Mary’ pass at the end of the first half.
For the game, the junior from Hampton, Va., completed 10-of-14 for 159 yards, with one touchdown – a 7-yard pass to Williams late in the game. He’s now thrown 10 touchdowns this season and only four interceptions.
Porch gets his first: Tech rover Dorian Porch intercepted a Josh Nesbitt pass in the third quarter and the interception marked his first of the season and first since the UVa game last season. His interception led to a Tech touchdown, as Williams scored shortly thereafter on his 66-yard run.
As a defense, the Hokies have intercepted seven passes this season.
Dyrell moves up: Tech receiver Dyrell Roberts doubles as the Hokies’ kickoff returner and he returned two kicks against Georgia Tech for 89 yards, including a 58-yarder. That moved him into fifth place on the all-time list for career kickoff return yardage, as he passed former tailback Eddie Hunter, who had 889 yards on kickoff returns during his career.
Roberts has 953 career yards on kickoff returns in a little over a season.
Nosal makes first start: Greg Nosal, a redshirt sophomore from Virginia Beach, Va., made the first start of his career when he took to the field for the first snap against Georgia Tech. Nosal started in place of left guard Sergio Render, who injured his pectoral muscle in the weight room earlier in the week.