PITTSBURGH, PA - Even before six minutes had elapsed in the game, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-2, 3-2) had already built a daunting 28-0 lead against the Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 2-2). By the end, the Jackets maintained that margin with a decisive 56-28 victory against the Panthers on the famed Heinz Field.
In what turned out to be one of the most bizarre if not fortuitous starts to a Georgia Tech football game in recent history, the Georgia Tech defense forced fumbles from four different players on Pittsburgh’s squad in their first four possessions. The highlight being a pure hustle play by defensive back D.J. White (#28) chasing down Pittburgh’s running back James Connor (#24) for 74 yards before forcing a fumble into the end zone resulting in a touchback.
In complete contrast, the Tech offense was able to take full advantage of each turnover with explosive plays highlighted by a short pass from quarterback Justin Thomas (#5) on 3rd and 9 that resulted in a huge 79 yard catch-and-run touchdown by A-back Charles Perkins (#21).
Regarding Pittsburgh’s fumbles in the first few minutes of the game, head coach Paul Johnson commented that he was glad the team could take advantage of the turnovers. “We haven’t gotten very many breaks; I don’t think we had a fumble [recovery] all year and so we got all ours in one quarter. The neat thing was that we were able to capitalize on it.”
