Taylor with career passing day: Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor enjoyed the best passing game of his career when he threw for a career-high 327 yards against Duke. He completed 17-of-22, with two going for touchdowns. He was not intercepted and only sacked one time.
“They were loading the box, bringing their linebackers up,” Taylor said. “They were rotating the safeties. Coach [Bryan Stinespring] did a good job of stretching the ball [down the field] instead of running the power. That open things up and we were able execute it. This builds confidence for our offense and for the passing game.”
The yardage surpassed his previous career high of 287 yards, which came against Ohio University during the 2007 season – his freshman year. Taylor also became the first Tech quarterback to throw for 300 yards in a game since 2006 when Sean Glennon threw for 339 in a loss to Georgia Tech.
Boykin also with a career day: Tech receiver Jarrett Boykin was involved in a lot of plays against Duke and finished with a career game. The sophomore from Matthews, N.C., caught six passes for 144 yards, including a 28-yard reception for a touchdown.
The play was questionable, as Boykin and the defensive back came down with the ball before Boykin ripped it away at the last minute. There was also a question as to whether he was inbounds with the ball in his hands. But the officials reviewed the play and gave him the touchdown.
“The play they [the coaches] called and the coverage that they [the Blue Devils] gave us, I knew it was going to be a jump ball situation,” Boykin said. “As we were coming down, we were both fighting for it, and I guess he gave up on it at the end. I was still fighting for it and I ripped it out. I couldn’t let him take it from me.
“I wasn’t worried they were going to change it. I saw the replay [on the videoboard] and there wasn’t indisputable evidence. So I didn’t think they’d change it.”
Boykin also was involved in a key third-down play in the third quarter. Tech faced a seemingly impossible third-and-34 from the Tech 16 and Taylor threw it to Boykin deep down the field. Boykin had a step on the cornerback and came down with the ball before Duke safety Matt Daniels got there. The completion went for 62 yards and a first down. The Hokies later scored on the drive when Matt Waldron hit a 33-yard field goal.
“I don’t know what their safety was doing,” Boykin said. “He was just chilling on the hash and I just kept running. Tyrod made the perfect pass. We just made it happen.”
His six receptions tied his career high (UVa last year) and the 144 yards easily surpassed his previous career high of 89 (FSU last year). He became the first Tech receiver to rack up 100 yards in receiving since 2007 when Eddie Royal had 147 yards receiving in a win over Virginia.
Coale notches career first: Tech receiver Danny Coale’s 36-yard touchdown reception from Taylor in the first quarter marked the first touchdown reception of his career. The touchdown, which tied the game after Duke had jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, came on his 42nd career pass reception.
Coale finished with three catches for 94 yards. His yardage marked a career high, surpassing the 89 yards he racked up in the Hokies’ win over Nebraska earlier this season
Waldron with a season long: Tech kicker Matt Waldron continues his consistent progression of kicking field goals this season. He booted a 40-yarder in the second quarter that marked his career long, and also added a 33-yarder. So far this season, he is 6-for-7 on field-goal attempts.
D. Taylor gets first sack: Demetrius Taylor made his second consecutive start in the place of John Graves, who has been hampered with an ankle injury. Taylor, a redshirt senior from Virginia Beach, Va., made the most of his time against Duke, registering a second-quarter sack of Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. That sack marked the first of Taylor’s career. Graves played on a field goal block only Saturday.
Lanier gets first start: Offensive tackle Andrew Lanier made his first career start in place of an injured Blake DeChristopher, who suffered a leg injury in the Miami game. DeChristopher could have played but was not quite 100 percent, so Tech’s staff went with the redshirt sophomore from Moore, S.C. Lanier had played in just 29 snaps the entire season heading into the Duke game.