THE DRIVE
Georgia Tech Tells Miami—"Just Pull Over, We'll Drive"
This First- Half Lesson In How To Control The Ball– And The Ballgame--Set The Tone For A Big Win For The Yellow Jackets
Saturday November 9, Homecoming for Georgia Tech.
Haughty Miami hit Atlanta with a gaudy 9-0 record, a number four national ranking and an inside track to a first- round bye in the upcoming inaugural College Football Playoff, 12 team version. The Hurricanes featured the nation's best player, QB Cam Ward, plus a roster full of NFL draftees to be. All of that to face a Tech team on a two- game skid, with a wounded QB, and several defensive players also slowed by injury.
A few hours later, the landscape across college football looked a lot different .
Miami had lost to a plucky and enterprising bunch of Yellow Jackets. And the Hurricanes were looking to take a tumble in the rankings. Tech is now bowl- bound at 6-4. And a full Homecoming crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium had warm memories of an unforgettable day on the Flats.
Which begs the question: How?
Like any big upset, many factors are involved. But among the most important was the magnificent, machine-like drive that Georgia Tech used in the middle of the first half to retake an early lead and to let Miami and Mario Cristobal know that Tech was here to play and this was going to be a fight.
After taking a quick 7-0 lead, the Jackets had yielded 10 straight points to the visitors. Beginning with the ensuing kickoff after that field goal by Miami had them up 10-7, here's where the game turned. Tech fans read this with a big smile--
** Miami's PK Andres Borregales' 41 yard field goal had put Miami up 10-7.
7:47- Andres Borregales kicks off – touchback for Georgia Tech.
7:47 1)--GT 1st/10 at own 25 Haynes King run, loses 2 yards
7:05 2)– GT 2nd/12—Haynes King 9 yard pass to Jackson Hawes
6:32. 3)– GT 3rd/3– Malik Rutherford 4 yard run FIRST DOWN
5:45 4)– GT 1/10 at own 36. Eric Singleton 6 yard run
5:15 5)– GT 2nd/4 at own 42. Haynes King 3 yard run to own 45
4:12 6)--GT Haynes King 2 yard pass to Jackson Hawes FIRST DOWN
3:33 7)– GT 1st/10 Haynes King 4 yard run to Miami 49
2:52 8)– GT 2nd/ 6 Haynes King 5 yard run to Miami 44
2:23 9) GT 3rd/ 1 at Miami 39 Haynes King two yard run for FIRST DOWN
1:46 10) GT 1/10 at Miami 42 Haynes King runs for no gain.
1:05 11) 2/10 Aaron Philo runs for 1 yard to Miami 41
0:37 GT Timeout
0:37. 12) GT 3/9 at Miami 41. Aaron Philo runs for 11 yards FIRST DOWN
END OF 1st QUARTER
15:00. 13) GT 1/10 at Miami 29.Haynes King runs 1 yard to Miami 28
14:20. 14) GT 2/9. Chad Alexander runs 21 yards to Miami 8 FIRST DOWN
13:40 1st/ goal. GT. motion penalty 5 yards. 1st goal at Miami 12
13:14 15) 1st / goal Eric Singleton runs for 8 yards to Miami 4
12:44. 16) 2nd/ goal Chad Alexander loses 1 yard to Miami 5
12: 02 17) Haynes King 5 yard pass to Malik Rutherford TOUCHDOWN GT. Aidan Birr PAT
Totals for the drive:
-- 17 plays/ 75 yards/ 5 first downs/ 7 points
10:45 off the clock!
For ball control aficionados like Tech head coach Brent Key, this drive by Georgia Tech was a thing of beauty. As Key himself said, "...the best way to defend a player like Cam Ward is to keep the ball way from him."
It worked on this day, and likely influenced Miami's strategy from that point forward, given Tech's demonstrated ability to severely limit the number of possessions available to the Hurricanes. Miami attempted a two- point conversion after their second touchdown ( failed). Miami also tried four 4th down conversions, gaining only one. Miami had 10 possessions, the final one ending on a lost fumble.
This drive goes into the record books at Georgia Tech as the second longest ever ( the longest was only two seconds longer).
As a former Offensive lineman, Brent Key was euphoric after the big win. This is the result he said, if "... you can run the ball and stop the run."
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com