Oct. 11, 2003
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– –Tech’s offensive yardage total of 441 was easily its best of the season surpassing the 372 yards it accumulated last week against NC State. The Jackets have averaged 381.3 yards in its last three games, all victories.
–Tech rushed for 216 yards in the game, seven shy of its season high set against Vanderbilt. The 225 yards passing was Tech’s third 200-yard passing game in the last four.
–Wake Forest (7 points) became the third team Tech has held to a season-low point total this season. Florida State (14) and NC State (21) were the others). Tech also held Auburn to just three points, a season low from that game forward (the Tigers had been shutout the week before by Southern Cal).
–Tech outpossessed Wake in the second half 20:27 to 9:33 in the second half, including a final drive for a TD that lasted 8:02 (the third longest drive by time in the ACC this season).
–Jonathan Smith caught seven passes for a career-high 194 yards in the game. It was the ninth highest single-game receiving yardage total in Tech history, and Smith’s fourth 100-yard game of the season. Smith surpassed 100 yards in the first quarter (103 on four receptions).
–With 14 yards rushing and 4 yards in punt returns, Smith had 212 all-purpose yards in the game.
–The receiving effort lifted Smith from 10th place to 5th in career receiving yards at Tech, passing Greg Lester, Jimmy Robinson, Derrick Steagall, Bobby Rodriguez and John Sias in one fell swoop. Smith now has 1,825 career yards, eight yards shy of fourth-place Dez White. For the season, Smith has 40 receptions for 725 yards.
–Smith, who came into the game as the ACC’s leading receiver, has 40 receptions for a career-best 725 yards this season.
–The 65- and 55-yard pass plays from Reggie Ball to Smith were the longest plays from scrimmage for Tech this season and the longest receptions of Smith’s career.
–P.J. Daniels posted his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing the Wake game with a career-best 175 yards on 33 carries. It was the most yards gained by an ACC running back this season. There have been just 15 rushing games at Tech better than Daniels had Saturday.
–All three of Daniels’ 100-yard efforts have come on the road. He had 113 yards at Florida State and 105 at Vanderbilt. Daniels also rushed for 99 yards last week against NC State.
–Daniels’ 33 rushing attempts was a career high, and the sophomore back has carried the ball 81 times in Tech’s last three games (25 vs. Vanderbilt, 23 vs. NC State), averaging 27 attempts in the three games.
–Saturday was the first time in Tech history that the Yellow Jackets have had a rusher gain 150 or more yards, and a receiver gain 150 or more yards in the same game.
–He didn’t make the Homecoming court, but James Butler nonetheless had a big first half, intercepting a pass, forcing two fumbles and blocking Ryan Plackemeier’s field goal attempt at the end of the half to preserve Tech’s 7-0 lead. He also had 9 tackles in the game.
–Dan Burnett’s 44-yard field goal in the third quarter made him 3-of-4 from 40-49 yards this season, 11-of-14 overall.
