The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEMITRI Knowles continues his progression as the top receiver for the now top 25 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies.

Knowles hauled in five passes for 79 yards in the Hokies’ 19-9 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Saturday afternoon. It was the sixth consecutive win for Virginia Tech.

After going without a catch and just a single target in the first half, Knowles emerged in the third quarter. His first catch of the game was a 40-yard pass to complete a successful third down conversion on the opening drive of the third.

Knowles and quarterback Logan Thomas connected for the second time on the drive when they converted another third and long play later in the drive with an 18-yard completion. Their drive ended with a 37-yard Cody Jourell field goal and a 13-3 Hokies’ lead.

On the ensuing possession, Knowles was targeted just once, but picked up a first down when he ran for 12 yards on a reverse. The drive resulted in a 42-yard Jourell field goal for a 16-3 lead. Knowles also caught a pair of five-yard passes on the next possession.

Virginia Tech enters a bye week and are slated to face the Duke Blue Devils on October 26 in their third consecutive home game at Lane Stadium.

The sophomore is the Hokies’ top receiver with 29 catches for 346 yards and two touchdowns.

Known primarily as a deep threat, Knowles has developed into a much improved route runner and a more versatile receiver. His 29 receptions ranks sixth in the ACC and in yardage, he ranks No. 14.

Used primarily as a return specialist in his freshman season, Knowles has surpassed each of his receiving totals in his freshman year when he caught 19 receptions for 240 yards. 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.

The win guaranteed the Hokies an appearance just a year after the Hokies needed a win in the final game of the regular season to qualify for a bowl appearance.

The ACC Coastal is shaping up to be a two-team race between the Hokies and the undefeated No. 10 ranked Miami Hurricanes.

Yesterday, the Associated Press announced plans for the Hokies to face the Tennessee Volunteers to enter a new venture in 2016.

In 2016, the game is set to be staged at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

According to the AP, the game is scheduled for September 10 and “will be a national showcase for both programmes that could set an NCAA single-game attendance record at the 52-year-old racetrack.”

Bristol’s speedway can hold around 160,000 fans. The speedway sits nearly halfway between the campuses of the two schools, off Interstate 81 in Tennessee.

The NCAA-recognised attendance record for college football of 115,109 was set last month at Michigan Stadium for Michigan-Notre Dame.