Georgia Tech Calms Hurricanes
Yellow Jackets gain bowl eligibility with 27-21 win on a blustery night in Atlanta
Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson was in a jocular mood “Anybody get cold out there?” he asked before beginning his post-game remarks. Only moments after his squad took down Miami 27-21, Johnson had reason to feel good. His Yellow Jackets had just checked off several big accomplishments. They won their 6th game of the season, thus earning bowl eligibility, a prize that eluded them last year. They also continued an impressive mid-season rebound, winning their 5th game of the last 6, after a dis-spiriting 1-3 start to the year. And, coincidentally, they handed Miami Coach Mark Richt his first loss ever at Bobby Dodd Stadium, where he had previously gone 9-0 ( 8-0 with UGA and 1-0 with Miami). Of that last feat, Johnson’s assessment was typically concise and on point. ” Well, now he’s 1-1 with Miami” said Tech’s head man of Richt.
On this cold blustery November night at Bobby Dodd, Tech was able to make enough hay of 3 Miami fumbles to win a game in which their vaunted rushing attack was held to 231 yards on 53 snaps, over 100 yards below their nation-leading average. Much of that low number was due to Miami’s stellar defense, ranked top 5 in the country coming into the game.
The visitors scored first, marching 75 yards with the opening possession that ended with a short touchdown run by DeeJay Dallas. On the drive, QB N’Kosi Perry looked sharp, hitting 3 passes for 60 yards.
Georgia Tech answered right back on their first possession, moving 75 ysrds on 11 plays culminating with a 28 yard TD run by Marshall. Wesley Wells hit the PAT to tie it up at 7.
Miami’s Dallas fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. Ajani Kerr recovered for the Jackets at the Miami 23. Tech needed just 3 plays to score, with Marshall covering the final 8 yards to move the count to 14-7. The Jackets then took advantage of another fumble by the ‘Canes, this one a bobble by QB Perry. Tech LB Charlie Thomas recovered it at the Miami 39 and 6 plays later, Wells hit a 38 yard field goal to extend Tech’s lead to 10.
Just before the half, Miami turned the tables by scoring off a Tech turnover. A low line drive Miami punt glanced off Nathan Cottrell at the Tech 30. Miami claimed it and 2 plays later Cam’ron Davis ran it in from the 22 leaving Georgia Tech up just 3 at half, 17-14.
The 3rd quarter was all Tech with Wells hitting another field goal and Brad Stewart hauling in a 31 yard scoring pass from Marshall. When a Pressley Harvin punt pinned Miami back at their own 5 with 11 minutes left, the Jackets looked to be in firm control. Miami had other ideas. The Hurricanes drove 95 yards in 15 plays to score on a Travis Homer run and bring the deficit back to only 6.
That set the stage for Tech’s final drive, using the final 6:43 to cover 61 yards, killing the clock and cementing the win. The Yellow Jackets showed up big on that possession to close out a satisfying win over a team that beat them last year on a fluky play.
TaQuon Marshall was 3-4 passing for just 73 yards on the night, but the results were big .He hit Brad Stewart for a 31 yard TD late in the 3rd quarter to take Tech’s lead to 27-14. And on Tech’s final possession, he found Jalen Camp for 22 yards on a 3rd down play from the Tech 35. Marshall termed that last play ..” the most critical play of the game” noting that it extended Tech’s possession as they nursed that 6 point lead. Following Camp’s catch, Tech was able to finally kill the clock with 9 successive running plays that brought an end the game.
Johnson was more loquacious about topics other than Richt’s record.. He heaped praise on his entire team, citing their hard work and their demonstrated ability to finish games. “Really proud of our team. It wasn’t pretty but we made fewer mistakes than they did…and came out on top.” He summed it up with a math fun fact for the Tech faithful. ” I learned a long time ago that 27 is more than 21 and that’s all that really matters.”
Tech takes on Virginia next week at home for the Atlantic Coast Conference finale. The Yellow Jackets’ win over Miami gives them a chance to finish 5-3 in the Coastal division in 2018 if they can beat the Cavaliers.
Captions:
1) Paul Johnson praised his team’s effort and was particularly proud of WR Brad Stewart. He noted that his team is “.. playing a whole lot better than we were early in the year”.
2) QB TaQuon Marshall scored twice on the ground and threw one TD pass to lead Tech in the win.
3) Clinton Lynch leads Nathan Cottrell around the right side on Tech’s final drive, gaining ground and killing clock.
4) Freshman kicker Wesley Wells was perfect on the night, with 3 PAT’s and two field goals .
