Hokie ClubBoykin breaks another record: Tech receiver Jarrett Boykin, who broke the record for career receptions at Tech several weeks ago, added another record to his impressive career when he broke the school’s mark for career receiving yardage in the game versus Miami.
Boykin, a senior from Charlotte, broke the record of 2,272 yards held by former receiver Ricky Scales (1972-74) on a 12-yard catch late in the first half. He finished the game with seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. His 60-yard scoring haul came with 12:05 left in the game and gave Tech a 31-21 lead.
“From the first drive, I thought we were clicking,” Boykin said. “And then we had momentum throughout the game. There was nothing in my head that said we couldn’t be stopped. I thought we went out there and played a great game.”
For his career, Boykin has 143 receptions for 2,356 yards.
Wilson adds to rushing totals: For the fifth time in six games, Tech tailback David Wilson eclipsed the 100-yard mark, rushing for 128 yards on 23 carries. The only game in which he failed to rush for more than 100 yards was the Arkansas State game.
Wilson ranks behind Miami’s Lamar Miller, who rushed for 166 in the game, in average per game in the ACC. Wilson is averaging 128 yards rushing per game, while Miller is averaging 135.3. But Wilson leads the ACC in total rushing yards with 768.
Wilson also leads the ACC in carries with 131, an average of 22 per game. That’s not an overwhelming amount, but keep in mind that Wilson also returns kicks, having returned 12 for a 21.3-yard average this season.
“My position is where you’re going to get hit,” Wilson said. “I’ve been training well, and the strength and conditioning coaches have built me up pretty well to take those hits. I don’t really ever feel a hard tackle. There are a lot that look like hard tackles, but I never get up and say, ‘Ouch.’ I feel great at this point.”
Coale continues ascent: Tech receiver Danny Coale continues to move up the charts at Tech in both career receptions and career receiving yardage.
Coale, a redshirt senior from Lexington, Va., caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. He has now caught at least two passes in 37 of the 47 games in which has played and at least one pass in 43 of 47 contests.
His performance gave him 133 receptions and 2,171 yards for his career. He currently is in second place on Tech’s career receptions list behind Boykin and stands in fourth in career receiving yardage. He needs just 37 yards to pass Antonio Freeman (1991-94) and move into third place on the all-time list.
Branthover sees action: Tech head coach Frank Beamer decided to insert true freshman Michael Branthover into the starting lineup as the punter following a week of competition with struggling punter Scott Demler. Branthover averaged 42 yards per punt on two punts in the game.
On his first punt, he launched one, but the Hokies were whistled for a false start penalty, so he got to attempt it again. Unbothered, he blasted a 52-yarder that pinned Miami back.
“It felt good to get one ball off. The nerves just fell off,” Branthover said. “That second punt felt great.”
Branthover, who has dressed out for the past five games, found out from head coach Frank Beamer that he was going to be the punter right before the game.
“He told me in the locker room,” Branthover said. “He said, ‘Are you ready?’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ It was right before the game started, so I knew I was going to play.”
Tweedy registers a first: Back-up whip linebacker Alonzo Tweedy got plenty of playing time after starter Jeron Gouveia-Winslow went down with an ankle injury early in the first half. Tweedy, a redshirt junior, made the most of his time out there on the field, registering his first career sack when he knocked down Miami quarterback Jacory Harris for a five-yard loss early in the second quarter.
Tweedy finished the game with eight tackles and the sack.
Speaking of injuries…: Two other Tech players went down with injuries during the game. In addition to Gouveia-Winslow, who did not return in the game, the Hokies also saw defensive end James Gayle and right guard Jaymes Brooks go down with ankle injuries.
Gayle did not return, leaving most of the reps to back-up Tyrel Wilson, a seldom-used redshirt sophomore from Hampton, Va. Wilson finished with two assists.
Brooks missed the remainder of the series in which he got hurt, but came back in the game on the next series. Michael Via got the reps during Brooks’ absence.
Marshall does well in first start: True freshman Corey Marshall made the first start of his career, playing in place of Antoine Hopkins, who tore his ACL against Clemson and will miss the remainder of the season. Marshall, from Petersburg, Va., recorded an assist in the game.
Marshall became the first true freshman to start at defensive tackle since 2002 when Jonathan Lewis started the last three games of that season.