Dwyer, Nesbitt set marks

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NASHVILLE -- Josh Nesbitt passed Joe Hamilton as the most prolific rushing quarterback in Georgia Tech history, and Jonathan Dwyer set several career marks for rushing Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Nesbitt accomplished his feat in the second quarter on a 10-yard run. At the end of the first half Nesbitt had 1,759 yards. After rushing for 56 yards on Saturday, he is 11th on Tech's career rushing list, and fourth on the ACC's career rushing list for a quarterback.

His four scores brought his scoring total to 13 touchdowns in the past four games.

He scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, a 1-yard run in the second, a 35-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas in the second and an 87-yard pass in the fourth.

He scored two touchdowns against Virginia, three against Virginia Tech and four against Florida State.

Nesbitt's 20 rushing touchdowns moved him past Shawn Jones and into a tie for ninth-place in Tech history and into first for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Dwyer gained 117 rushing yards  in the first half to put him over the 100-yard mark for the fourth time this season and the fourth time in the past six games. But it was the 48 he gained on Tech's first two plays of the second half that gave him 165 yards, six more than the career-high he set against Duke last season. He finished with 186 yards on 22 carries.

He's tied with Eddie Lee Ivery for fifth-most career 100-yard games (14).

Dwyer, a B-back from Marietta, is now sixth on Tech's career rushing list with 2,735 yards, and his 30 touchdowns moves him past Calvin Johnson for third-most in Tech history.

Hill out

Wide receiver Stephen Hill did not make the trip to Vanderbilt because of sickness.

Hill, a freshman from Lithonia, started to feel bad during the week. His absence meant more snaps for Quentin Sims and Zach Fisher.

Hill, normally the No. 3 wide receiver in the rotation, has three catches for 91 yards and three rushes for 37 yards this season.

Thomas' streak

Thomas' 21-yard reception in the first quarter extended his streak of catching at least one pass to 25 games, the sixth longest streak in Tech history.

His 35-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was his 15th reception this season of at least 20 yards.

A 12-yard reception in the third quarter put him past 2,000 yards in his career.

Injury update

Dominique Reese (shoulder) and Jerrard Tarrant (back) did not play much in the second half. Tarrant saw spot duty in nickel situations, while Reese did not play. Coach Paul Johnson said that Reese said his shoulder was bothering him.

Next up

Kickoff time for Georgia Tech's game against Wake Forest at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be announced this afternoon.

The Demon Deacons (4-5, 2-3) blew a lead 13-point lead and lost to Miami, 28-27, in Winston-Salem on Saturday.

Wake quarterback Riley Skinner left the game in the second half with what was being reported as a concussion.