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Georgia Tech Overcomes Slow Start to Beat Tulane
[float_left][figcap]Footage courtesy of The ACC Digital Network[/figcap][/float_left]NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-0) are now two games into the season, and it appeared to be deja vu as they faced off against Tulane today. Against both Wofford and Tulane it's been a tale of two halves in which the Yellow Jackets allowed their opponent to stay in the game longer than they would like.
"It was another crazy start. It was frustrating and disappointing to start like that," said coach Paul Johnson. "The first game may be nerves. There's no excuse for that the second game and we've got to grow up."
Coming off his first career start where he exceeded 300 yards of total offense, quarterback Justin Thomas struggled early in game two. He fumbled the ball on the first offensive snap of the game and finished 3 for 8 passing. When asked what he took away from the game Thomas said, "I want put this game behind me and move forward." Despite the early miscue and disappointment in his performance Thomas ultimately led Georgia Tech to 24 first half points to go along with 10 rushes for 77 yards for the game.
The second half again proved to be fruitful for the Jackets. The defense, which struggled to get off the field early, completed a second half shutout. "Guys were amped up. [Tulane] threw their whole playbook at us in the first half. We knew when we came into halftime it was time to go out there and dominate," said senior linebacker Quayshawn Nealy. "Guys just took the initiative, stepped up, and you saw the results." Nealy finished the game with four tackles, but no play from him was more important than a game-tying interception return for a touchdown four minutes into the second quarter.
Like the first game Georgia Tech ultimately asserted its will in the second half with a touchdown drive in both the third and fourth quarter. The final scoring drive came off a short field following a blocked punt by Matt Connors and subsequent return by Beau Hankins to the Tulane 2-yard line. Backup quarterback Tim Byerly led the Jackets from there on and punched in the final score of the game on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. In a game that was seemingly a toss-up at halftime, there was no question the Yellow Jackets earned the win in the second half.
Other News and Notes
[float_left][figcap]Footage courtesy of The ACC Digital Network[/figcap][/float_left]NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-0) are now two games into the season, and it appeared to be deja vu as they faced off against Tulane today. Against both Wofford and Tulane it's been a tale of two halves in which the Yellow Jackets allowed their opponent to stay in the game longer than they would like.
"It was another crazy start. It was frustrating and disappointing to start like that," said coach Paul Johnson. "The first game may be nerves. There's no excuse for that the second game and we've got to grow up."
Coming off his first career start where he exceeded 300 yards of total offense, quarterback Justin Thomas struggled early in game two. He fumbled the ball on the first offensive snap of the game and finished 3 for 8 passing. When asked what he took away from the game Thomas said, "I want put this game behind me and move forward." Despite the early miscue and disappointment in his performance Thomas ultimately led Georgia Tech to 24 first half points to go along with 10 rushes for 77 yards for the game.
The second half again proved to be fruitful for the Jackets. The defense, which struggled to get off the field early, completed a second half shutout. "Guys were amped up. [Tulane] threw their whole playbook at us in the first half. We knew when we came into halftime it was time to go out there and dominate," said senior linebacker Quayshawn Nealy. "Guys just took the initiative, stepped up, and you saw the results." Nealy finished the game with four tackles, but no play from him was more important than a game-tying interception return for a touchdown four minutes into the second quarter.
Like the first game Georgia Tech ultimately asserted its will in the second half with a touchdown drive in both the third and fourth quarter. The final scoring drive came off a short field following a blocked punt by Matt Connors and subsequent return by Beau Hankins to the Tulane 2-yard line. Backup quarterback Tim Byerly led the Jackets from there on and punched in the final score of the game on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. In a game that was seemingly a toss-up at halftime, there was no question the Yellow Jackets earned the win in the second half.
Other News and Notes
- Georgia Tech was an efficient 10 for 12 on third down for the game
- After an opening game with zero turnovers, Georgia Tech followed that up with two fumbles lost and an interception
- After an opening game in which Georgia Tech forced zero turnovers, they followed that up with three interceptions by Quayshawn Nealy, Demond Smith, and Lawrence Austin. The interceptions were career firsts for the latter two.
- Louisiana native and senior running back Tony Zenon completed his return to his home state by rushing 8 times for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. He played in front of "maybe 45 friends and family".
