Georgia Tech Takes Down Wake
Jackets’ Defense Leads the Way in 30-16 Road Win Over the Deacons
Georgia Tech had shown some moxie for 3 plus quarter against Ole Miss. But Tech’s defense wilted in the final period and Ole Miss won by 25.
One week later, in Winston-Salem NC, the story was quite different. On this night the underdog Jackets rode a ferocious defensive performance to a satisfying upset win. Five Wake turnovers and eight sacks by Tech paved the way. Both numbers are far higher than the season totals to that point. And taken together, they helped overcome a big jump in penalties in this game- 14 flags fell against Tech, for a whopping 142 yards. This from a team that had made a strong case early for being among the least penalized. Rent Key noted same in his post game remarks, saying that penalty total was ” extremely uncharacteristic ” of his football team.
One more item was very different this week– no second half swoon. Tech’s 20-3 halftime lead did shrink a bit, but did not disappear. In fact, as Wake was driving for a potential tying touchdown in the waning moments, Tech’s Kenan Johnson came up with the final turnover to stop the threat. Moments later, that interception set the stage for the Jackets’ final score, a 26- yard run from Jamal Haynes that iced the game.
Throughout, Tech QB Haynes King played with control and accuracy. He did suffer one interception, but was 16 of 27 overall for 222 yards and two scores. Of note is that King spread those 16 receptions among nine different Yellow Jacket receivers, including two each to running backs Jamal Haynes and Trey Cooley. Among the wide receivers, Tech freshman Eric Singletary again had a productive day with four catches for 50 yards and a score.
And as he has done earlier this year, King also prospered on the ground , with six carries for 53 yards. King has shown a knack for using his legs to evade pressure and to pick up a few yards on a scramble or designed run.
But the star of this win was the Tech defense. As a unit so far in 2022, Andrew Thacker’s troops had not impressed. In three games, they had produced one sack, few hurries and had suurenderd several big plays during 4th quarter meltdowns against both Louisville and Ole Miss.
Winston- Salem was the site of a remarkable improvement, both statistically and emotionally. Perhaps the schemes were different, and certainly Wake’s QB Griffis is no Jackson Dart. But more than that, a pride factor came to bear. Tech’s Zeek Biggers said post-game that “.. we feel like we can do this every week:” He offered that answer to a query about what had made this game different. If so, that bodes well for a continued big role for the defense in Tech’s overall success.
Next week,the Yellow Jackets will host Bowling Green back at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tech will be looking for a modest– but noteworthy- two game win streak. Following that game, it’s on to Miami as October brings the meat of the ACC schedule. Tech’s league mark is 1-1 as September winds down. Tech fans are looking for the Jackets to continue to build on the big win at Wake, to grow as a team and to bolster their chances to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2018.
Patrick Conarro