Hokies Prevail Over Georgia Tech in ATL
Homecoming Saturday Brings Another Frustrating Loss To Yellow Jackets
Struggling Hokies Visit Atlanta and Feel Better
Somebody was going to leave the field feeling frustrated. All losses are unpleasant of course, but the meeting between Virginia Tech and the host Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets featured two teams extra-eager to win. In front of a homecoming crowd that looked smaller than the 35,000 announced, the visitors emerged victorious by a 26-17 score.
Coming in toting the weight of three straight losses, the Hokies rode a quick start and a firm second half resolve to spoil the Jackets’ Homecoming. Their previously anemic offense stung the hosts with a 330 yard tally in the first half, featuring two long pass plays and yielding 20 points. The game totals showed the kind of balance offensive coordination dream of, with 491 total yards nearly evenly split between passing and rushing. This total represented a huge improvement for the Hokies over their prior three games. And importantly, Va Tech had no turnovers.
QB Braxton Burmeister and mates were productive and efficient, most notably by sneaking in a field goal with just one second left before halftime. That late score was emblematic of the first half for Coach Justin Fuentes’ club- good production, efficiently timed, and rewarded with a score. The Hokies had planned to run out the clock on that late first- half possession, but RB Blackshear popped off a 25 yard run, allowing Burmeister time and cushion to pursue the last-second field goal, which PK Romo hit from 43 yards, pusing the halftime lead to 20-7.
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, showed a familiar offensive pattern. One early touchdown drive, and otherwise significant inertia, non-productive. In fact after the Jackets scored a touchdown in the first quarter, their next six possessions yielded only a Cimaglia 37 yard field goal, to go with four punts and a lost fumble.
Georgia Tech did outscore Virginia Tech 10-6 in the second half. But 10 was not enough, given QB Sims’ two turnovers (fumble and INT). Beyond that, albeit scoring only six second-half points, the Hokies were able to control the clock with an effective ground game.
A turning point in the game came early in the fourth quarter for Collins and crew. Facing a fourth down at the Va Tech 11 yard line, down 6 points with 11:22 to play, the Jackets chose to try to convert the first down, with a RB Jordan Mason dive play. The Hokies stopped it to take over on downs, and then proceeded to move 85 yards– using seven minutes– before hitting a short field goal to make it a two-score game. That’s the way it ended, 26-17 .
Georgia Tech falls to 3-5 with the loss. They have two ACC games remaining in 2021, against a resurgent Miami team next week in south Florida, followed by a home date with Boston College. The Jackets finish the season with two big games– on the road at Notre Dame and then back at Bobby Dodd Stadium for #1 Georgia on Nov 27.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports