Tech Dominates in 2018 Opener

Yellow Jackets Dismiss Alcorn State 41-0 in Uneven Performance

Georgia Tech launched its 2018 campaign by turning back FCS foe Alcorn State 41-0 in front of a small but enthusiastic sun-soaked crowd Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Jackets had several goals on this day–to win, of course, but also to learn themselves a bit, and to avoid injury. For the most part, those goals were met.

Coach Paul Johnson was not happy with the overall performance of his offense. He cited sloppiness on exchanges, missed blocks and resultant missed opportunities. Moreover, he said the passing game was "lousy". These comments were about a unit that produced 543 yards from 72 snaps. At a glance, that’s 7.5 yards per play. Johnson noted however that he wants his team to play to a high standard, regardless of opposition.

Johnson applauded the play of freshman Jordan Mason , who started at B-back in place of KirVonte Benson. Mason scored the season’s first TD with a 28 yard burst off the left side not quite 3 minutes into the game. Johnson was also happy with his A-backs Clinton Lynch, Qua Searcy and Nathan Cottrell, each of whom broke a long run on a pitch.

And he was generally happy with his defense, newly reconfigured under Coordinator Nate Woody. Johnson noted wryly " Anytime you shut somebody out, you’ve got to be pleased". Still, he noted, "we missed some tackles, and I challenged our guys at halftime to hold them inside the fifty in the 2nd half ,which we didn’t do."

Even so, David Curry produced Tech’s penultimate six-pointer with a 3rd quarter scoop and score. Curry downplayed his big moment saying " I reacted to the play and all of a sudden the ball was there. Nothing special".

Curry and fellow linebacker Brant Mitchell were both very enthusiastic about playing in the new scheme that new Defensive Coordinator Nate Woody brought in from Appalachian State. Mitchell particularly emphasized the simplicity of the system allowing the defense to run to the ball. Overall the Tech Defense produced 4 tackles for loss, allowed only 146 yards and permitted the Braves to convert only 2 of 11 third downs.

Tech’s kicking game ranged from good (punter Pressley Harvin hit a 48 yarder in his only kick of the game) to erratic ( Davis knocked his 2nd attempted PAT off the upright prompting Johnson to give Brendan King a battlefield promotion.

The passing game that Johnson was displeased with did show big improvement as the game wore on, with Marshall hitting 5 of 6 throws in the 2nd half to finish 9 of 18 for the day with one interception. Johnson acknowledged the late improvement, though he noted that Marshall’s lone touchdown pass came on a broken play. He stressed there was much work to be done before going to Tampa next week to play FBS foe University of South Florida.
" I don’t know", he said. "Maybe I have high standards."

Maybe?

Patrick Conarro

Caption–
1) Coach Paul Johnson said the passing game "lousy".

2) Tech’s Brendan King was 4 of 4 on PAT’s

3) Tech’s Tre Jackson runs down Alcorn’s Charles Hughes in the 4th quarter.

4) Tech’s Brad Stewart gathers in a 24 yard 3rd quarter touchdown pass from Marshall to account for the Jacket’s final tally.