Tech bludgeons Virginia, 56-20
On the day it welcomed back some of its dearest legends, Georgia Tech chased year-old ghosts out of Bobby Dodd Stadium. Saturday afternoon, the Yellow Jackets summoned big-play pyrotechnics to batter Virginia 56-20 and even a painful score from the 2011 season.
Starting with a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tevin Washington to B-back Zach Laskey on its first play from scrimmage, Tech fleeced the Cavaliers with eight plays of 20 yards or more, scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions and moved one step forward in its pursuit of Virginia Tech to capture the ACC Coastal Division title.
“I challenged those guys, man to man,” coach Paul Johnson said. “Who’s going to back down? Who’s going to step up? And they answered the call.”
With the win, Tech improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. Only a Virginia touchdown on the last play of the game prevented the blowout from being the most lopsided victory in Tech’s 218-game ACC history. As it stood, it was the fifth biggest.
“I knew it was going to be a dogfight,” cornerback Louis Young said. “I wanted us to be the team this year to get a TKO punch.”
Said Virginia coach Mike London, “It’s a humbling experience when you come in and get beat like that.”
The Jackets overwhelmed the Cavaliers from the start. After forcing a three-and-out from Virginia on the opening series, Tech scored on its first play, recalling memories of the Jackets’ three-game streak of touchdowns on its first play from scrimmage last season. On the play, Laskey released up the middle and then ran an out-and-up route that freed himself from Virginia linebacker Henry Coley. Washington hit him in stride for the touchdown.
It’s a play Tech rehearsed four or five times this week in anticipation of springing it on the Cavaliers.
Johnson “knew that they would bite on the toss hard,” offensive tackle Will Jackson said. “Zach was able to get out in the flats and just run right up the sideline.”
After forcing another punt from Virginia, the Jackets needed only two plays on the next series. A-back Orwin Smith took a pitch from Washington and tore down the right sideline for a 77-yard score, his alley cleared up by blocks from A-back Robbie Godhigh and wide receiver Jeff Greene. Tech led 14-0 less than five minutes into the game.
“I told [Greene], ‘That’s your touchdown,’” said Johnson, who during the week had expressed his displeasure with the Jackets’ perimeter blocking. “’You’re the guy who just rolled the corner,’ and he rolled him, too. He almost had him out of bounds.”
The third series started with another shock to Virginia, a 60-yard run by Washington in which he faked a pitch to Godhigh and then cut upfield before being brought down at the Virginia 15-yard line. He finished the drive by running the ball in on a 4th-and-goal play from the 1, following blocks by right guard Omoregie Uzzi and right tackle Will Jackson.
By halftime, Tech had amassed 386 yards on just 38 plays. It was a convincing response to a mid-week assessment from Johnson.
“This is going to be a big challenge for them this week because we got out our butt handed to us up there a year ago inside the tackle boxes,” he said. “So we’ll see how we do this week.”
Last October, Tech went up to Charlottesville, Va., with a 6-0 record and a No. 12 ranking. The Cavaliers overpowered the Jackets with 272 rushing yards and extinguished their dreams of perfection in a 24-21 upset. It was the start of a dreadful close to the season, in which the Jackets lost five of their last seven games.
Jackson said his enduring memory of the afternoon was “walking off the field with my head in my hands and just being totally torn up about losing to them.”
Saturday’s performance was a worthy tribute to the roughly 30 members of the 1951 and 1952 Tech teams, the latter of which won a share of the national title. They were honored at halftime in conjunction with the unveiling of a statue of legendary coach Bobby Dodd outside the stadium.
Defensively, Tech put the screws on the Cavaliers. The Jackets were equal to the challenge of Virginia’s power running game. Tech limited Virginia to 98 rushing yards and 297 total. Most notably, the Jackets stood firm when the Cavaliers began a second-quarter possession on the Tech 20 after a 72-yard kickoff return.
Trailing 28-7, Virginia went for a first down on 4th-and-1 from the 11 and was stopped when nose tackle Shawn Green beat guard Conner Davis to wrestle running back Perry Jones to the ground for a one-yard loss.
“We really wanted to place an emphasis on getting downhill and being physical with the blocks,” inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy, who led Tech with 10 tackles and also had an interception.
In a game that defensive coordinator Al Groh said would be “a big chapter” towards revealing the improvement of his defense in his third season, the Jackets forced Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco into one of the poorest days of his career. He was 15-for-25 for 143 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and was relieved by backup Phillip Sims.
Tech has another score to settle next Saturday. Miami has beaten the Jackets three years running.
Said Washington, “I think Monday, we go back to the drawing board and start over.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
221 comments Add your comment
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:10 pm
Hey BigCrim Weinie called you out over on Schultz’s sheet
MaconGTFan
September 15th, 2012
8:10 pm
And please god let Laskey keep the starting job at b-back. He looks better than Sims does and more comfortable at the position also. He just seems like a natural fit there. To me watching Sims there is like watching a small child trying to force a square peg into a triangle slot. Just doesn’t pit at the position like Laskey.
If do right, no can defense
September 15th, 2012
8:16 pm
Well done Jackets, and now hopefully we’ve put 09/03 behind us and are looking to run the table, one game at a time. Great execution by the offense and first team defense, and I’m sure CPJ will be delighted with the blocking on the perimeter & downfield, though the OL play could have been a bit better.
That being said, the main thing we need to work on is special teams… Zenon had a bad faircatch fumble, and 2 – 3 kickoffs were really low and short. Also, our defense needs to play for all 4 quarters, though I understand that the 13 points in the 4th quarter came against our 2nd/3rd stringers on defense. I also wanted to see Synjyn Days play more, but I guess his fumblitis has relegated him to 3rd string QB.
killerj
September 15th, 2012
8:17 pm
Helloooooo Miami, trash talk starts here! Roll Wreck THWM!
Michael Veli a.k.a Jim Donnan's financial advisor
September 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
Nice win, great atmosphere, and i got to meet some real cool cats! Thanks Supersize, juvenal, Yellow bug, and 5150 for your hospitality!
OldGoldandWhite
September 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
Any word on who wore the #40 in the first two games?
JustinSyder
September 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
The muffed punt wasn’t Zenon’s fault. Moore ran right into him.
Big Crimson 75
September 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
Ol’ Jack — did he now…time to go trap a pest!!
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:20 pm
BigCrim, yep he did indeed
JP963
September 15th, 2012
8:23 pm
You Jackets fans do realize that Miami is basically a JV team right now. 63 Underclassmen. Get your licks in this year while you can.
dry dirt road
September 15th, 2012
8:23 pm
Perhaps Tech wore the gold helmets, white jerseys and gold pants for the Dodd Reunion as a throwback to the Dodd era. Perhaps they’ll switch back to the previous two unis worn this year. I am one who prefers the white helmets worn by them for a change. They still could wear white helmets even with the jerseys and pants they wore today. I liked the mod white pants stripe area with the white socks and shoes combination. Tech is lookin’ good this year for a break on sore Tech grad eyes having to look at all the many previous “Buzz” years’ unis since ‘82- the gold helmets, white jerseys and gold pants that were monotonous and therefore boring to watch. Thanks Tech. I was beginning to think that art was dead at Tech. BTW, they played excellent. I missed seeing Connor’s 30 yd td run on ESPNU though, and missed a kick off at the beginning of second half. Wish I could have seen the td run. I think Tech should get back into the unis worn for the first two games, and watch out for the gold helmets monotony. I mean it, those helmets can become rather boring after white ones became available in ‘71-’72. I think the white pants should be worn more than the gold b/c they are a 100% monotony breaker if worn with jerseys and helmets right. The gold pants were passable and I would give them a “B” b/c they had only the mod white stripes saving them from monotony and the boredom monotony causes, giving the white pants from the first two games an “A” b/c of the variability and psychological constructs built into them since they reduce eyesight monotony and are worn in the right uni combination this year. Tech should get back into the hexagon helmets now b/c they are really cool, while the gold ones are kinda old. Tech wore the gold ones in the first two years I was there during the ‘69 and’70 seasons, and we only won four games one of those years. We need to break away from that image, which is what the white helmets were for originally.
If do right, no can defense
September 15th, 2012
8:24 pm
@MaconGTFan I wouldn’t dismiss Sims so easily. Remember that we’ve got a more experienced OL, and Sims blocks MUCH better than Laskey. Sure, he may not be as fast as Zach, but he’s got size and strength, kind of a natural fullback guy. Laskey is more in the mold of those old-school RBs who just run straight downfield: no frills, no cute moves, no cutbacks. I think they both bring a different dynamic to the table.
Dirtybirdsin'12
September 15th, 2012
8:28 pm
Enough about the uniforms. I for one couldn’t care less what helmets and jerseys the team wears as long as they play well.
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:28 pm
Did I just see FL Atl 14 GA 14??????
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:29 pm
@ JP yep I realize that and don’t care;-) It’s a conference game
JustinSyder
September 15th, 2012
8:32 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many overrated SEC teams in my life. Arkansas, South Carolina, and Georgia are pathetic. BTW, the trivia question was who is the only non conference team to beat Georgia at home under Mark Richt. Can someone remind me who that was?
MaconGTFan
September 15th, 2012
8:39 pm
@If do right Where was this blocking by Sims against VT? Sims totally whiffed on a block that Days surely would have scored if he even makes some kind of contact with the lb. I just don’t think Sims is gonna cut it there.
Game Changer
September 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:42 pm
I do like the way Laskey runs, nothing fancy just straight ahead with a bit of power and speed
He is not afraid to stick his nose and go!
Game Changer
September 15th, 2012
8:44 pm
UGA not the dominate team people think.
waiting on my fellow UGA alums to talk about how great the defense played the second half.
Our UGA defensive players dance around and act like thugs all over the field, even after the other team gains 10 plus yards, then the running back runs past them for a long td etc. Tney still see nothing wrong with the thuggism acts each play.
The UGA program lacks total discipline from top to bottom and it is without a doubt one of the leading detriments to our hope for current or future success.
ylojkt
September 15th, 2012
8:46 pm
Great game to watch today, love the D this year! Tevin looked great and can stay at QB as long as he wants if he keeps playing like that, he’s a tough young man. Laskey also looked great, as did Orwin and the entire offense. It’s obvious both units “get it” more than they did last year and are playing the way CPJ and Al want them, with reckless abandon due to knowing their positions. Gotta love the play of the corners and safeties, too. There was some excellent hand fighting and skull cracking going on today, Can’t wait to see us give the Canes the same treatment next week.
Oh, and I love the gold helmets – that IS GT!
FL Jacket
September 15th, 2012
8:48 pm
Don’t forget WKU beating Kentucky 17-10 in Lexington…
ESS EEE CEE!!!!
WVU Just Scored Again
September 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
ACC is terrible – 0 & 3 against the Big Least today….who cares
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
8:56 pm
Wow. How absolutely crappy IS Virginia when they can’t can’t figure out how to stop a team that will NEVER have top players there as long as they are running a Mickey Mouse, 1970’s offense?
As a Georgian I always cheer for tech (when they aren’t playing the Bulldogs) but just damn. They won’t be relevant as a football team again until that coach is gone and they can get some real football players in.
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
8:57 pm
@ WVU troll hard my friend LOL!!!
MaconGTFan
September 15th, 2012
8:59 pm
@Game Changer I was watching the uga game last week with a dog fan and saw one of ugas players tackle a mizzou guy after a first was gained and jumped up and started celebrating like he had just got a sack, forced a fumble, or got a pick. I looked at my buddy and asked why in the hell is this celebrating like he actuallydid something? All he did was get a tackle after they allowed a first down. He didn’t do anythingspecial. The worst part of is that mizzou was on third down on that play too. It just blew my mind. Its not just uga that does it either. All schools have kids that do it. Don’t celebrate unless you do something big for your team.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2012
9:01 pm
Jay Finch sealed off 2 blockers to the left at the line of scrimmage on Matt Connors’ TD. Very quick move, worth watching on a replay.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2012
9:01 pm
Defenders, not blockers.
William Casey
September 15th, 2012
9:05 pm
Lots to like in today’’s game. Todd Gurley does’t have much to work with tonight.
BigTimeTECHFan
September 15th, 2012
9:07 pm
O;’Jacket fan.
not sure if GT will run the table, Will kill Miami but I worried about Clemson game. They will be so fired up for Tech after last year.
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:10 pm
BTTF I don’t know either. What I like is the attitude and the maturity this team is showing. There are only 5 seniors on the starting 22 so the future is looking brighter and brighter. For certain I am enjoying what I see from the Jackets and it’s fun to look forward to each game
BigTimeTECHFan
September 15th, 2012
9:11 pm
Defense played nice today,
TJ Barnes had a lot of push, LB’s DB are nice and L Young is just getting in game shape.
That 4th and one stop in the 1st half was sweet, nice job by Sean Greene
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:12 pm
Hmmm LSU 21 Idaho 14……………….Idaho?????????
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:13 pm
Yes the same Sean Greene that’s too small to play D1 d line
BigTimeTECHFan
September 15th, 2012
9:15 pm
For sure the future is looking good, Lot of young players playing nice:
J Green
Neally
Hunt Days
Bostic
Golden
Zenon
V Lee
Next year could be a real good one with VT, Clemson, UGA at home,
Wow nice TD by Florida, Their QB is going to be good
BigTimeTECHFan
September 15th, 2012
9:18 pm
Gotsis played, held ground being blocked by two OL. He’ll be a good one
Yjacket
September 15th, 2012
9:18 pm
What’s up WnE? Lose your internet connection?
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:19 pm
But BTTF don’t you know CPJ can’t recruit?????????
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:20 pm
Yjacket he weasled in at the very end of Schultz’s game blog
TechApp fan
September 15th, 2012
9:22 pm
I think Pitt should be granted early entrance to the ACC….
TW, great game. Keep it up!
Jim Arnold
September 15th, 2012
9:25 pm
Tech/Braves Fan
What better day could we have than to have the Braves beat the Nats and Tech beat Virginia. I can rest easy tonight. Lets’s have a repeat next Saturday
yeller bug
September 15th, 2012
9:29 pm
It’s amazing what downfield blocking will do—great job by the A backs and WRs. Nice seeing the gang that stopped by and meeting Michael Veli—wish we had time to chat a bit. Nice D stand at the 11 and even at the end of the game–UVA decided to pass vice try to get one yd up the middle. Special teams wasn’t that special—gave up a big KO return and a punt return miscue..didn’t hurt us so maybe they’ll be more focused against the U. Would really like to put these numbers up against Miami. We’ve got a couple years of payback that we need to collect.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2012
9:29 pm
Speaking of “bludgeons,” the Florida – Tennessee game has gotten out of hand, so I think I’ll go ahead and switch over to “Thor” on Netflix.
Coach
September 15th, 2012
9:34 pm
Great game! GT is on the rise. Our guys are really playing well, and the coaching is so impressive.
I hate to mention it here, but don’t know where else to say it. We have such a great game day experience at Bobby Dodd. Why can’t we get up to date scores for the other games (except for the four or five that are shown over and over again.)
TechFanForever
September 15th, 2012
9:43 pm
Simply a great game. Offense was awesome. Defense gave the ball back to the Offense. Repeat. Repeat. etc. Great Game Jackets!
macrotech
September 15th, 2012
9:45 pm
Wait?! I thought our opponents had ‘figured’ out our offense!!!
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 15th, 2012
9:47 pm
I’ve never seen CPJ celebrate as much as he did with Greene for making the block that helped O. Smith score. Good to see him praising these guys some. Awesome game Jackets.
Ol'JacketFan
September 15th, 2012
9:47 pm
LOL@ macrotech……….a bit late with that one, we’ve cracked up about that lovely statement all afternoon
Tokyo jacket
September 15th, 2012
9:49 pm
If GT can play with that same intensity on D in future games, I think we can be in the game come 4th quarter time with anyone not named Alabama, LSU, or Oregon – although I’d love to see GT vs Oregon in a major bowl game.
By the way, is anyone watching how ND is handling Mich St. It looks like that might have been a really good coup for the ACC. We know that ND has been pulling in top talent for a couple years. It looks like they’re actually executing at the moment.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 15th, 2012
9:51 pm
Coach, I was wondering the same thing. There’s plenty of time and board space. It would really add to the experience.