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[figcap]Georgia Tech B-back Synjyn Days #10 takes advantage of a block by A-back BJ Bostic #7[/figcap][/float_left]RALEIGH, NC - The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-2, 5-2) set a team and conference season high with its 479 net rushing yards while defeating the NC State Wolfpack (5-5, 1-5) on the road at Carter Finley Stadium with the final score 56-23. The last time the Jackets had more yards on the ground was in the record-breaking match against the Kansas Jayhawks in 2011.
While the box score highlights Tech’s power running game, the defense stole the show in the second quarter by forcing three Wolfpack turnovers.
In their first drive in the second quarter, NC State was threatening a go-ahead score from Tech’s 5 yard line before a well-defended pass by NCSU quarterback Jacoby Brissett got tipped off of GT Chris Milton’s foot into the hands of linebacker Quayshawn Nealy for the interception. During the attempt to run the ball back for the pick six, NCSU fullback Jaylen Samuels caught up with Nealy on his 71 yard trek and stripped the ball from behind to give the ball back to NC State.
Exactly two plays later, Tech’s DJ White gets redemption by reading Brissett’s eyes for the interception and 38 yard touchdown return to help Georgia Tech gain a 21-13 advantage. The Tech defense, however, was still not done with taking advantage of Wolfpack’s offense. In NCSU’s next drive, Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof called a 5-man blitz on 3rd and 5 where linebacker Tyler Marcordes came free from the backside to sack and force the redshirt junior Brissett to make his third mistake in three drives with a fumble. The ball bounced right toward Nealy’s arms and this time Nealy was able to return the fumble for a 43 yard touchdown. In the second quarter, Tech’s offense only had one possession but the two defensive scores already ballooned the lead to 35-16.
“The past couple of weeks we’ve been running a lot more man coverage and trying to get after the quarterback,” said junior defensive back DJ White in response to a question about tweaks on defense. “Anytime you get a chance to get up in a receiver’s face and challenge them, that’s what we want to do. That’s the defensive backs across the board so we’re up for that challenge.”
As if competing for highlight reel time with the defensive unit, the offense made a couple of big plays of their own early while moving the ball consistently the rest of the game. The biggest play on offense came at the end of the first quarter where redshirt senior B-back Synjyn Days found a gap in between good blocks by center Freddie Burden and right guard Shaq Mason then won the footrace against NCSU linebacker Brandon Pittman for the score.
Days was quick to give credit to the rest of his teammates, “the offensive line, they did a great job blocking getting the middle linebacker and some of the safeties down so nobody was around me so the offensive line did a great job and the A-backs too and Justin making a great read to give me the ball.”
For the third game in a row, Synjyn Days set a career-high with 157 yards on the ground. Still filling the starting role in place of injured B-back Zach Laskey, the redshirt senior and former quarterback has racked up 414 yards rushing and is averaging a whopping 6.37 yards per carry in the past three games.
Accumulating a total of 549 yards on offense and 479 yards just on the ground, Tech’s offense is now 3rd in the nation behind Georgia Southern and Navy with 386.5 and 335.6 average YPG respectively. Additionally, converting 8 of its 10 third downs against NC State, the offense still lead the nation in 3rd down efficiency with 59.3%. The defense also limited NC State to 368 yards of total offense; below their season average of 392.5 yards per game. Georgia Tech now has 21 turnovers on the season including 11 interceptions which ranks the unit 11th in the nation tied with five other teams.
After a strong game against the Wolfpack, Georgia Tech now faces their cross-division rival and #21 ranked Clemson Tigers (7-2, 6-1) at home on November 15. The Yellow Jackets must win to maintain its chance to be the ACC Coastal Champion this season. #CLEMvsGT will kickoff at noon on ESPN.
While the box score highlights Tech’s power running game, the defense stole the show in the second quarter by forcing three Wolfpack turnovers.
In their first drive in the second quarter, NC State was threatening a go-ahead score from Tech’s 5 yard line before a well-defended pass by NCSU quarterback Jacoby Brissett got tipped off of GT Chris Milton’s foot into the hands of linebacker Quayshawn Nealy for the interception. During the attempt to run the ball back for the pick six, NCSU fullback Jaylen Samuels caught up with Nealy on his 71 yard trek and stripped the ball from behind to give the ball back to NC State.
Exactly two plays later, Tech’s DJ White gets redemption by reading Brissett’s eyes for the interception and 38 yard touchdown return to help Georgia Tech gain a 21-13 advantage. The Tech defense, however, was still not done with taking advantage of Wolfpack’s offense. In NCSU’s next drive, Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof called a 5-man blitz on 3rd and 5 where linebacker Tyler Marcordes came free from the backside to sack and force the redshirt junior Brissett to make his third mistake in three drives with a fumble. The ball bounced right toward Nealy’s arms and this time Nealy was able to return the fumble for a 43 yard touchdown. In the second quarter, Tech’s offense only had one possession but the two defensive scores already ballooned the lead to 35-16.
“The past couple of weeks we’ve been running a lot more man coverage and trying to get after the quarterback,” said junior defensive back DJ White in response to a question about tweaks on defense. “Anytime you get a chance to get up in a receiver’s face and challenge them, that’s what we want to do. That’s the defensive backs across the board so we’re up for that challenge.”
As if competing for highlight reel time with the defensive unit, the offense made a couple of big plays of their own early while moving the ball consistently the rest of the game. The biggest play on offense came at the end of the first quarter where redshirt senior B-back Synjyn Days found a gap in between good blocks by center Freddie Burden and right guard Shaq Mason then won the footrace against NCSU linebacker Brandon Pittman for the score.
Days was quick to give credit to the rest of his teammates, “the offensive line, they did a great job blocking getting the middle linebacker and some of the safeties down so nobody was around me so the offensive line did a great job and the A-backs too and Justin making a great read to give me the ball.”
For the third game in a row, Synjyn Days set a career-high with 157 yards on the ground. Still filling the starting role in place of injured B-back Zach Laskey, the redshirt senior and former quarterback has racked up 414 yards rushing and is averaging a whopping 6.37 yards per carry in the past three games.
Accumulating a total of 549 yards on offense and 479 yards just on the ground, Tech’s offense is now 3rd in the nation behind Georgia Southern and Navy with 386.5 and 335.6 average YPG respectively. Additionally, converting 8 of its 10 third downs against NC State, the offense still lead the nation in 3rd down efficiency with 59.3%. The defense also limited NC State to 368 yards of total offense; below their season average of 392.5 yards per game. Georgia Tech now has 21 turnovers on the season including 11 interceptions which ranks the unit 11th in the nation tied with five other teams.
After a strong game against the Wolfpack, Georgia Tech now faces their cross-division rival and #21 ranked Clemson Tigers (7-2, 6-1) at home on November 15. The Yellow Jackets must win to maintain its chance to be the ACC Coastal Champion this season. #CLEMvsGT will kickoff at noon on ESPN.
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