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[figcap]Georgia Tech defensive back DJ White #28 and team celebrate after defeating Georgia in overtime![/figcap][/float_left]ATHENS, GA - There were moments, plural, all season long when they could have given up. There were moments, plural, on Saturday when they could have caved. Instead, the 2014 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-2, 6-2) looked adversity in the eye time and time again and fought their way to an undisputed 30-24 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday in Sanford Stadium.
And there is no denying they earned it.
Saturday's battle between the Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs was the 109th edition of Clean, Old Fashioned Hate and included all the elements of an instant classic. The teams alternated scores throughout regulation, combined for three lost fumbles within two yards of the end zone, and continually delivered seemingly game-ending body blows. Georgia's go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds remaining in regulation could have been the final nail in Georgia Tech's coffin if not for a 53-yard, game-tying field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired.
The game included tricks on special teams. The Bulldogs successfully executed a fake field goal attempt when placekicker Marshall Morgan ran for 28 yards down to the Georgia Tech 3-yard line. The Bulldogs blocked two kicks - one on a 37-yard Harrison Butker field goal attempt and the other on a point after attempt in overtime. The Yellow Jackets in turn blocked a 49-yard Morgan field goal attempt and recovered a perfectly placed onside kick late in the fourth quarter.
Of course the game went into overtime. Georgia Tech reverted to their season-long identity and game-long trend by pounding the Georgia defense on the ground with five successive rushes on their way to the end zone and six points. In a matter of seconds Georgia flipped the momentum by blocking Tech's point after attempt and, on their first overtime possession, quickly marched to the Georgia Tech 9-yard line.
For many Tech fans the game was on the brink. For many, the trend of years past forced them to wonder what new way their hearts would be broken. For many, those thoughts allowed them to forget the identity of this year's Georgia Tech team.
And that's when they got their reminder. On Georgia's next play and with Georgia Tech's backs against the wall, cornerback D.J. White jumped a slant route and picked off Hutson Mason to end the game and secure the 30-24 Georgia Tech victory. The win was the antithesis of the rivalry games from years past. For many Tech fans, the ending was apropos.
There are many ways to interpret yesterday's game and attempt to put it into perspective. This is just one.
Saturday's victory over the Bulldogs was simply a microcosm of Tech's season at large. It started with a question of whether the defense could do its part, continued with dramatic plays by both teams (see Georgia Southern, Virginia Tech), and included a bag of tricks (see fake punt vs. Miami and Smelter reverse vs. UNC). The end product was one Georgia Tech fans saw increasingly throughout the year: continued improvement on the field, a total team effort in which all three phases of the game contributed, and one more unpredictable path to victory.
Amidst the emotional high from yesterday's game there is even better news. That is, there is still more Georgia Tech football to be played. And for the next 364 days the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are the undisputed state champs.
Other news and notes:
And there is no denying they earned it.
Saturday's battle between the Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs was the 109th edition of Clean, Old Fashioned Hate and included all the elements of an instant classic. The teams alternated scores throughout regulation, combined for three lost fumbles within two yards of the end zone, and continually delivered seemingly game-ending body blows. Georgia's go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds remaining in regulation could have been the final nail in Georgia Tech's coffin if not for a 53-yard, game-tying field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired.
The game included tricks on special teams. The Bulldogs successfully executed a fake field goal attempt when placekicker Marshall Morgan ran for 28 yards down to the Georgia Tech 3-yard line. The Bulldogs blocked two kicks - one on a 37-yard Harrison Butker field goal attempt and the other on a point after attempt in overtime. The Yellow Jackets in turn blocked a 49-yard Morgan field goal attempt and recovered a perfectly placed onside kick late in the fourth quarter.
Of course the game went into overtime. Georgia Tech reverted to their season-long identity and game-long trend by pounding the Georgia defense on the ground with five successive rushes on their way to the end zone and six points. In a matter of seconds Georgia flipped the momentum by blocking Tech's point after attempt and, on their first overtime possession, quickly marched to the Georgia Tech 9-yard line.
For many Tech fans the game was on the brink. For many, the trend of years past forced them to wonder what new way their hearts would be broken. For many, those thoughts allowed them to forget the identity of this year's Georgia Tech team.
And that's when they got their reminder. On Georgia's next play and with Georgia Tech's backs against the wall, cornerback D.J. White jumped a slant route and picked off Hutson Mason to end the game and secure the 30-24 Georgia Tech victory. The win was the antithesis of the rivalry games from years past. For many Tech fans, the ending was apropos.
There are many ways to interpret yesterday's game and attempt to put it into perspective. This is just one.
Saturday's victory over the Bulldogs was simply a microcosm of Tech's season at large. It started with a question of whether the defense could do its part, continued with dramatic plays by both teams (see Georgia Southern, Virginia Tech), and included a bag of tricks (see fake punt vs. Miami and Smelter reverse vs. UNC). The end product was one Georgia Tech fans saw increasingly throughout the year: continued improvement on the field, a total team effort in which all three phases of the game contributed, and one more unpredictable path to victory.
Amidst the emotional high from yesterday's game there is even better news. That is, there is still more Georgia Tech football to be played. And for the next 364 days the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are the undisputed state champs.
Other news and notes:
- Senior B-Backs Zach Laskey and Synjyn Days carried the ball a combined 42 times for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns. Georgia Tech ended the game with 399 yards rushing.
- In a battle of high octane offenses, Georgia Tech prevailed both on the scoreboard and in the stat sheet. Georgia Tech's defense limited Georgia to 17 offensive points, 4 of 11 on 3rd down, and 23:37 in time of possession.
- According to ESPN Stats & Information, after Georgia scored the go-ahead touchdown and extra point with 18 seconds remaining, Georgia had a 99.8% chance to win the game. That's the highest win probability this season by a team that ended up losing the game.
