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The Virginia Tech football team will take the field at Lane Stadium for the last time this season on Saturday when it hosts North Carolina State at 3:30 p.m.
Tech will attempt to solidify its position in the Atlantic Coast Conference against a Wolfpack team that has lost five of its last six games. Nevertheless, head coach Frank Beamer is taking a cautious approach.
“This NC State team is very scary,” Beamer said. “They can score points and get the ball down the field in a hurry. The quarterback is excellent. They’ve got good running backs and tall wide receivers.”
The Wolfpack come into Saturday’s game boasting a 1-5 in-conference record and a 4-6 overall record.
“They have given up a lot of yards but if you watch the film you can tell that they have a very good defense,” Hokies’ junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. “The secondary is a little inexperienced but their front four is one of the best units in the
ACC and they have a good linebacker corps too. We’re still going to play our top game and just go out there and execute the plays that are called.”
With his performance against Maryland that featured 268 yards passing that resulted in three touchdowns, Taylor is currently the most efficient passer in the ACC. He has thrown just three interceptions and completed 56 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns this season.
“Everyone can tell he’s more relaxed in the pocket,” Tech sophomore wide receiver Jarrett Boykin said of his quarterback. “If he scrambles out, he’s still looking downfield for an open receiver. You can tell he’s having fun. That’s something that’s progressed since this season started.”
Boykin has been the receiver to statistically benefit the most from Taylor’s progression over the course of the season, becoming the most targeted receiver on the field while leading the receiving corps in catches, yards and touchdowns.
“I feel great about being his go-to guy but like I said everyone on the field is capable of doing what I’m doing,” Boykin said. “For me personally though, I think it’d be great for a receiver around here to have a 1,000 receiving-yard season so that’s a goal that I have.”
Although it is extremely unlikely for Boykin to reach his goal this season, the sophomore is anticipating a big game on Saturday as he and the other Tech receivers will be defended by a Wolfpack secondary that will feature three freshmen.
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Anyone looking forward to the end of the 3rd quarter?
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Forget about the paper airplanes and support your team or just keep crying about!
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Yeah end of the 3rd quarter rocked we got like 4 paper airplanes on the field. Go Hokies!
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This idea of paper airplane throwing was plain stupid and dangerous. I did not pay $48 to cheer for the Hokies while a bunch of students would prefer to bother fans with this so called "fun" throughout the game not just at the end of the 3rd qtr. Two hit a fan nearby in the head, one almost getting her in the eye as she was talking to a fan beside her. I have both of the airplanes and will be contacting AD Weaver and the ticket office on Monday with the students' names and student numbers on them. This idea of students printing their own tickets was assinine from the beginning and this just proves my point
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Well then don't show up to the games if you're going to be a prude. I hope they laugh you out of that ticket office.
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I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe paper airplanes can be anywhere near dangerous unless made out of cardboard.
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