The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEMITRI Knowles and the Virginia Tech Hokies find themselves searching for answers after two consecutive losses.

The Hokies opened the season at 2-0, including a win over then ranked No.8 Ohio State, but has since lost consecutive games at home in Lane Stadium, most recently a 27-24 loss this weekend to ACC foe, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Knowles caught two passes for 19 yards, one rush for seven yards and returned one kickoff for 29 yards in the loss. On the season Knowles has three catches for 55 yards.

For Knowles, a junior season that began with lofty expectations only to be derailed by off-season injury is back on track as the Hokies face depth issues at the wide receiver position.

The Hokies will attempt to get back in the win column when they host Western Michigan, 12:30pm on September 27, broadcast live on ESPN3.

Knowles, the Grand Bahama native, moved up in the rotation after it was announced last week that sophomore wide receiver Joshua Stanford had taken a leave of absence from the team.

Stanford has five receptions for 35 yards this season, after he finished his freshman year with 40 receptions for 640 yards.

After struggling with an ankle injury throughout training camp and the emergence of true freshman Isiah Ford, Knowles was relegated to third on the depth chart at receiver.

Ford currently leads the Hokies in several receiving categories with 21 receptions for 260 yards and three touchdowns.

Fellow true freshman Cam Phillps has 15 catches for 202 yards, while senior Willie Byrn has 21 receptions for 186 yards.

After a promising sophomore campaign, Knowles was expected to emerge in the Hokies new-look offence following the departure of quarterback Logan Thomas to the NFL.

Knowles totalled 43 receptions for 619 yards and three touchdowns, good for an average of 14.4 yards per catch and a best of 56 yards.

Knowles’ best game of the season came when he set a new career high in receptions with eight catches for 99 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass in the Hokies’ 15-10 win on the road over the East Carolina Pirates last Sunday. He earned the game ball from Beamer for his performance.

As a freshman he caught 19 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. He made the transition from a return specialist to the top receiving options in the Hokies’ offence.

Knowles also made an impact in the return game with 22 returns for 480 yards, including an 88-yarder in a 27-24 loss to Maryland on November 16.