Tech Falls To Notre Dame
Irish Dismiss The Yellow Jackets In Atlanta , 31-13.
The Notre Dame- Georgia Tech football series now has one more game in the books, and for the 31st time in 38 meetings, Notre Dame was the victor by a 31-13 score. If Tech fans are looking for a silver lining , you could cite the fact that the Irish beat Tech 55-0 when they last met in 2021. Now , three years later, Tech came in as a 12 point underdog to 12th ranked Irish in a Tech home game played in Mercedes Benz Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets would be without their starting QB Haynes King, and as we learned Saturday morning, also without LB Kyle Efford, who had an "undisclosed upper body injury". Efford is essentially the "quarterback" of the defense , and so his absence from the lineup was significant.
As such, Tech had to play nearly mistake- free football to have a realistic shot at a win. Unfortunately, despite a decent start, they did not come close to that high goal. There were two field goal attempts that went awry, along with two turnovers. For good measure, , Tech also gave up a successful fake punt to the Irish , which essentially functioned as another turnover. Same with a fake field goalby the visitors. With that type of help, Notre Dame scored twice in the first half and three more times in the second half to seal the win.
Tech's botched field goal attempt at the end of the first half was emblematic of their day. Trailing by only seven, and deep in Notre Dame territory with little time , the Jackets opted for a field goal, looking to cut the deficit to four points, knowing that they would get the ball first in the second half. A bad snap caused a breakdown of the actual kick attempt. No points. The missed opportunity to add those three points also dented the team's momentum, as noted by Coach Brent Key after the game. He did not single out any one player, but said that special teams play has not been up to his standards ".. for the past three weeks."
All those miscues helped to obscure the fact that Tech scored first in the game and led 7- 0 for a short time. Notre Dame then scored 31 unanswered and had complete control when Tech finally scored again late in the game and failed on a two point conversion.
Tech Coach Brent Key was not embracing any moral victories. He cited ".. things we did and things we didn't do.." in his post-game remarks about the loss. Key did note that he sensed good focus by his team in the week preceding, but that focus did not extend through game time "....when the lights came on."
Key did cite the strong overall play of back- up QB Zach Pyron, saying the he was " tough as nails". On the day, Pyron was 20 of 36 for one score, and two interceptions. He also ran the ball 13 times for 45 yards.
( photo Georgia Tech Athletics)
But Tech's run game never got going. Their total production for the game was a mere 64 yards. Of his team's rushing attack, Key summed it up by saying ' It wasn't there. We weren't able to establish the line of scrimmage...".
Key also lamented the poor tackling efficiency of his defense, particularly in the first half when tackling turned "... 2 or 3 yards into 9 or 12.
"Hidden yardage" , Key called it and he emphasized that this problem extended drives for Notre Dame on several occasions in the first half.
Certainly the normally omnipresent Efford was missed by the defense. The word on his injury was vague- no detail, including no expectation on his return, was given.
Overall it was a deflating day for Georgia Tech. The two interceptions, the botched and blocked field goals and the two surrendered first downs on fake kicks ( one punt, one field goal) all made an already- steep hill too much for Key's team to overcome.
This loss does not affect conference standings. Tech has three conference games remaining, beginning with Virginia Tech next week in Blacksburg. The Hokies have won two straight after a narrow- and controversial- loss to Miami three weeks ago. Virginia Tech is 4-3 overall, and 2-1 in the ACC.
It will take a better, cleaner effort to get back on track, regardless of who plays quarterback for the Yellow Jackets.
And what of the home- game- at - MBS experience for Tech? Well, the announced attendance was 59,000, but you couldn't help but notice that it was a picture perfect mid- October day in Atlanta. The perspective on Tech's home games being played here took on a different tone when it was announced last week that Tech- UGA will be played here in 2025.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com