Tech falls late at Virginia, drops to 4-4

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets continued a painful pattern on Saturday, falling to Virginia 40-36 on the road. Another late loss for the Jackets added to a growing theme for the 2017 campaign –namely, a halftime lead gets away, a win becomes a loss, and regret is added to the disappointment.

This time Tech nursed a one-point lead at the half. The Yellow Jackets scored twice quickly to open the second half, pushing their lead to 28-13. The first TD came on a 79-yard gallop by TaQuon Marshall to open the half. Moments later, Tech linebacker Bruce Jordan-Swilling returned an interception 27 yards for another tally.

But Tech could not handle the prosperity. within Minutes later, Virginia had tied the game up at 28, scoring twice and converting a two-point attempt.

Tech turned to the passing game in the 2nd half, but the rain didn’t help Marshall’s cause. He finished 6 of 22 for 179 yards and one score but also tossed 2 costly interceptions.

Virginia QB Kurt Benkert brought his team back twice in the 4th quarter. His 27-yard touchdown pass allowed the Cavaliers to retake the lead that Tech had claimed only minutes earlier when Marshall found Ricky Jeune on a post route to push it to a 36-33 Tech advantage. Following the Cavaliers final score, the PAT ricocheted off BOTH uprights before trickling over the bar. This gave Virginia a 4 point lead. The Jackets’ last possession ended near midfield as the clock wound down.

Tech slides to 3-3 in the ACC, 4-4 overall. 3 of those losses have come late in the game (overtime vs Tennessee). The Yellow Jackets face Virginia Tech at home next week. Virginia earned it’s 6th win, becoming bowl eligible for the first time in 5 years.