UPDATE: Tech handles Maryland, 33-13
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – In search of a full, four-quarter effort, Georgia Tech left Byrd Stadium Saturday still looking for it. But the Yellow Jackets did regain their offensive footing and located the right opponent for confidence-building purposes.
In what may go down in the annals as “The game when Tech played against the quarterback who was a linebacker,” the Yellow Jackets pushed aside Maryland 33-13 in their attempt to reclaim the season and finish on an upward trajectory.
“I know they’re on, like, their fifth quarterback,” said A-back Orwin Smith, his tone void of sympathy. “It has to be tough. We’re moving on to North Carolina.”
A week after BYU body-slammed the Jackets in all phases of the game, Tech offered a performance that was rugged and energetic, though not free of flaws. The Tech defense didn’t permit a first down until midway through the second quarter and shut out the Terrapins through the first 44 minutes of the game. Quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Vad Lee directed Tech to 370 rushing yards against the No. 4 rushing defense in the country, more than three times what Tech gained against BYU last Saturday and 202 yards more than the Terrapins’ previous season high.
However, Tech lost two fumbles and again encountered turbulence on kickoff coverage and extra points, as kicker David Scully bounced one try off an upright and then failed to clear the line of scrimmage on another. The defense, given an opportunity to close down a Maryland offense that was eminently capable of cooperating, gave up 161 yards and two touchdowns on the Terrapins’ final three possessions.
That said, in a season in which Tech has lost three games in which it led in the fourth quarter and this week compelled coach Paul Johnson to stick up for the state of the program, a victory was more than enough. On a chilly and overcast afternoon, Tech improved to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the ACC. Maryland fell to 4-5 and 2-3.
“As I told our guys, we keep alive what we’re playing for this season,” Johnson said. “We still have a chance mathematically (to win) the league, still have a chance to have a winning season and go to a bowl game. That’s what we’re playing for right now. It makes next week’s game against North Carolina the biggest game of the year for us.”
Maryland quarterback Shawn Petty, a true freshman recruited to College Park as a linebacker but forced to switch positions after the Terrapins’ first four quarterbacks suffered season-ending injuries, was largely ineffective. As Tech coaches expected, Maryland mostly kept the game on the ground, trying zone-option plays and also using a Wildcat package with running back Wes Brown.
Crowding the tackle box with as many as seven players, Tech held Maryland to 144 rushing yards and a 3.3 yards-per-carry average. On Maryland’s final three possessions of the game, Petty led the Terrapins to a pair of touchdowns, both on passes. The second was on the final play of the game.
“The speed of the game was something that it took him a little bit of time to get used to,” Maryland coach Randy Edsall said of Petty. “You can’t go out there and line up at this level after only seven practices and think that everything is going to happen the way you hope it will.”
Interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly “was, like, Stay inside the box and let him prove that he can pass and then we’ll widen things out,” said inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy.
Nealy led Tech with a career-high 12 tackles, including a jarring point-of-attack stop on a 3rd-and-1 play in the second quarter when he knocked tailback Albert Reid back for a 1-yard loss. After the punt, Lee drove the Jackets 49 yards for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead with 8:47 to play in the second quarter. It went a great length to doom Maryland, which has scored more than 21 points just twice this season.
Johnson rotated Washington and Lee, giving Washington two series to begin the game and then Lee the final three of the half. In the second half, Washington had the first two possessions and Lee had the final two. Washington led Tech to two touchdowns in his four series. Lee was 3-for-5.
It was the A-backs’ day, as Johnson called a number of tosses and option plays that often ended with the ball in their hands. They gained 220 of Tech’s 370 rushing yards. Smith ran with speed and force and led Tech with 89 yards on 10 carries. He scored the second touchdown of the game, a second-quarter 5-yard run to the corner freed up by a block by B-back David Sims.
“Coach found a couple of plays that were very successful,” Lee said. “We just took advantage of it and kept running it and it was working. We just kept grinding.”
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375 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
4:57 pm
@ Michael……I’m glad my LOL wasn’t inappropriate then. lol
DAMN, and now UGA intercepts. This game is crazy
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
4:58 pm
Thanks, Randy
List Mama » Georgia Tech rolls past Maryland 33-13 – Yahoo! Sports
November 3rd, 2012
5:02 pm
[...] Sun (blog)Maryland football vs. Georgia Tech: Terps trail, 20-0, at halftimeWashington Post (blog)Tech handles Maryland, 33-13Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)ESPN (blog) -SB Nationall 236 news [...]
Michael Veli a.k.a Jim Donnan's financial adviso
November 3rd, 2012
5:04 pm
It’s madness out there, the players must have found some ’special’ brownies’ left behind in Crowell’s old locker!
1 4 GT
November 3rd, 2012
5:05 pm
Long way to go yet, but wouldn’t it be sweet for Ole Ms to win ‘tween th’ hedges?
Michael Veli a.k.a Jim Donnan's financial adviso
November 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
I must leave now, stay positive everyone and may God bless you in all that you do!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
DAMN DAMN DAMN
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
@ Michael……have a good evening !!!
Imagine tha,
November 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
Just what this team needed. (Good job, especially considering that they were quite productive whil still not containing laughter at MD uniforms. As a former attendee of UofMD, I am more ashamed of the uniforms than I am the loss of Len Bias {RIP} and their treatment of Ralph Friedgen.)
Still, GT demonstrated once again that we need DBs that can tackle. Stop launching bodies at runners and bouncing off the side glances. Wrap your arms around them and “tackle” them to the ground. Pull out a tape of Ken Swilling and learn some basics of tackling.
1 4 GT
November 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
Supersize….check your email.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:16 pm
@ Imagine…….the tackling was much better today in the first half. Some good tackling in the 2nd half, but not much in the 4th quarter
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:17 pm
@ 1 4…….got one at 4:56 and responded. Don’t see another one.
UGA = Yawn
November 3rd, 2012
5:17 pm
? How’d Tech do in the 4th quarter??? Lol. Can we EVER play 4 quarters of football???
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:21 pm
We played fine in the 4th quarter this week, although the subs could have done better on D than they did.
GSUStud
November 3rd, 2012
5:27 pm
With only four wins and looking at the remaining schedule, it does not look like a bowl game for the Jackets this year.
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
Glad to see Tech finally skipped the academic bowl this week to study how to play football
Great win Tech even though its against an opponent that plays FCS level football
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
Supersize that order, mutt
Glad to see you’re enjoying the post game fish fry and PJ kool-aid
Hopefully the new AD signs Johnson to a 30 yr contract to mediocrity
Go Jackets
November 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
All you negative bloggers go to where you should be… on your uga blog!
These people can’t be Tech fans!
It doesn’t matter if you get knocked down, it’s what you do next!
Tech is getting up and moving forward!
If you can’t be positive, be negative with your doggie butt sniffers!
7-5, beat uga, win bowl game!
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Go Jackets
The only chance Tech has of beating UGA this year is if you turn on your PS3 and play the UGA Tech game on there if you can even beat them on there
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:41 pm
@ Reality Stinks. You’d better worry about Ole Miss first. Those are two BAD football teams playing in Athens right now.
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:41 pm
Lets just be real; shall we
Tech will have won a moral victory if they lose by 10 to UGA this year and not by 30
BuzzedforGT
November 3rd, 2012
5:42 pm
Solid game today by the Jackets, no doubt, so I’m happy for the moment. But I’m not going to put too much stock in the win, just like I didn’t with the BC win. Maryland has way too many injuries to be competitive this year. I’ve said this many times before, probably on a GT blog, but stats only mean something when you research further. That defense who was ranked 4th in the nation had previously faced the following teams; William & Mary, Temple, Connecticut, West Virginia, Wake Forrest, UVA, NC St & Boston College. Aside from WVU, I don’t see anyone lighting it up on offense. Once again, I’m happy with the win, but sometimes you gotta put things in perspective.
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
Supersize
We wont lose this game against Ole Miss sure it might end up close but we will win
oops we just scored; scratch it being close
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
@ BuzzedforGT…….you are exactly right. The game today was encouraging, but that’s about as far as we should take it for now.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:44 pm
@ Reality…..win or lose, the mutts are not an impressive team.
82 GT grad
November 3rd, 2012
5:44 pm
I agree with David S. Beating UGA is wishful thinking. With GT’s effort today against a linebacker playing QB, losses to NC & Duke are probable. Too many simple mistakes: offsides of 4th down, fumbles, running into the punter while up 13-0, and TWO missed PATs. At least Tech wore their gold helmets…they’re undefeated in them this season!
GTJohn
November 3rd, 2012
5:45 pm
I thoughtbVad looked good today and with him at QB, I think we are a much different team. Teach Greene how to catch the ball and we could be even better.
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:45 pm
Anyone know what Tech will lose by, to UGA this year?
Im thinking at least by 24 points
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
@ 82 GT…….another good reason to wear gold helmets. They looked good, and I like the black trim on the unis. Don’t care much for the honeycomb blue numbers though
David S.
November 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
reality stinks, your dealing with TECH fans here that are equalivent to the reporters on MSNBC… they would do anything for the CPJ, as MSNBC will do anything for OBAMA…and I being a TECH fan for 38 years, dare not complain, nor anyone else….
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:47 pm
@ GTJohn…….Vad also looked good running the triple option plays today. VERY PLEASING!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:48 pm
@ David S……it’s fine to complain, but don’t quit supporting. Like I said, I have been going to Tech games for 50 years, and I have never withheld my support, no matter how bad things looked. And if I were pissed at CPJ now like you are, which I am not, I would STILL support them.
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
Supersize
it was hilarious listening to Tech fans talk about Tech losing to a tough VT team at the first of the year
Tech really is an impressive joke and have been since the 60’s
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
1990 was a joke, Reality?????
GT71
November 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
Will you people STOP talking about Lewis? I paid BIG bucks to go through therapy to block that out as I graduated in ‘71 and have been a Jacket fan all my life – and lived in Atlanta, too. So I lived it.
These Lewis re-calls are PAINFUL!
But not as painful as watching our kickers.
And BTW – PJ really isn’t as bad as ‘you know who’, but he ain’t no Bobby Dodd either. As if anyone could be.
GO JACKETS – BEAT UGA!
David S.
November 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
will support, just won’t attend any games…
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
UGA is actually more of a joke on the national scene than Tech is. They have what is considered by many to be the best talent overall in the SEC, and what do they have to show for it? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:53 pm
@ David S……..so what kind of message does your non-attendance send to the players? Would you like it if you were a player and nobody came to see you play?
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:54 pm
David S.
Its good to see Tech has a fan or two like you; if they had 40,000 Tech would be relevant again
We have the same issue at UGA; people like Supersize claim to love the program but in reality they love the coach more
Its kind of the same thing with any leader; they love the leader more than the country or organization even though that leader is doing nothing but bringing you down
Burgess
November 3rd, 2012
5:55 pm
Let’s hear it for Tech…..they can beat a team that has a freshman linebacker playing quarterback.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:56 pm
@ Reality…..you’ve got me wrong. I don’t LOVE the coach; I love the school, the program, etc, etc. But I SUPPORT the coach (Johnson) because I believe he is a good coach and WILL get it done. If he doesn’t and falls flat on his face next year, then I will be among those saying he should go, but until then, he, as well as the team on the field, have my complete support.
David S.
November 3rd, 2012
5:57 pm
Reality Stinks, when was UGA’s last national title, now just think of how many your team should have, but dont for numerous reasons…. this year is a prime example, but even if you guys went undefeated, no way in HELL you all get past the TIDE… Dont give me that conference compairson either, the SEC EAST really isnt all that strong and hasnt been in a while… its the west thats carring the SEC… you guys would be the fourth best team in the west, but, we wouldnt even make any of the practice squads in the SEC west this year
Supersize that order, mutt
November 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
OK, guys, I am outta her for dinner and probably the rest of the night. GO JACKETS !!!
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
Supersize
Well that is true but we do beat you every year
And it can be said too that Tech is a national joke too when they are right in the middle of all that talent and yet cant get anyone to come play
Reality Stinks
November 3rd, 2012
6:01 pm
Supersize
Coach Turkey neck isnt doing anything with that joke offense next year will be the same as this year
GTJohn
November 3rd, 2012
6:01 pm
Been going to GT games since 1970 after I graduated with my first degree. Even kept my season tics during the Bill Lewis years. I support CPJ for now because there is no other option. I think this team could be better but some poor decisions on the part of CPJ have made it what it is. There are better special teams coaches – particularly kicking and punting right there in Atlamta. Carol White, former kicking coach at GT, is better; Chris Hanson, Coweta HS, Marshal, SF 49ers superbowl, are all right there and can teach someone how to punt and kick and they will not get blocked or hit their linemen in the butt. Not sure if she still does but Carol used to run a kicking camp during the summers. If she still does, I would strongly suggest that GT send some people. I took my son to her camps, Pelfrey’s, and Ray Guy’s. Hers were, by far, the best.
OldSchool
November 3rd, 2012
6:01 pm
Went to see the Jackets with my son-in-law who lives in nearby DC and was happy with the win, but also impressed with the sizable contingent of Tech fans. Probably 1,500 or more. Obviously a lot of GT fans in this metro area. A delegation from the Tech ban also made the trip and did a great job, including the traditional end-of-third quarter “Budweiser Song,” even though it was actually about 5 minutes into the 4th quarter. Tech fans got into it and certainly make the Terp fans take notice.
As for the game, Tevin had one(1) good run and had a wide-open TD pass dropped, but….Vad is the Man!! My son-in-law, who is a Tennessee fan but has a masters from Tech, is a very astute football fan. He said, “Dang, this Lee kid can play! And so can Days!”
I told him that a LOT of Tech fans, me included, have been saying the same thing ALL season!
GTBob
November 3rd, 2012
6:02 pm
And it can be said too that Tech is a national joke too when they are right in the middle of all that talent and yet cant get anyone to come play
Yeah, because its not like we have UGA, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, FSU, Florida, and Clemson nearby competing for the same guys.
Eric B
November 3rd, 2012
6:02 pm
man you guys are losers. you don’t show up to the games and yet you complain as if this program is on par with Alabama whenever it doesn’t produce similar results. get real. until you get easier degree programs you are not going to get the same type of athletes that Georgia has, so right now Paul Johnson is the best that you guys are going to do. yea, its a down year. so what? Paul went 2-10 at Navy his first year. thats pretty freakin’ terrible, but the next year he went 8-5, then 10-2. the man knows what he is doing, give him a chance. most people are relatively pleased with him, even though this year has proven pretty bad overall. recruiting has not been fantastic, but its been getting better. give the main one more year at least. I would personally not even root for your program if it weren’t for Paul Johnson. I grew up hating Georgia, but I wasn’t sure that I really wanted to call Georgia Tech my team until I watched CPJ’s jackets play the mutts and beat them on their own turf during his first year. I decided then and there that I was all in for Ga Tech, and I stand by the coach even during this terrible season. to be honest, I don’t even think that most Tech fans hate Paul Johnson, its just that the ones that do can’t shut their mouths about it and refuse to shut up unless they are heard loud and clear. I have some advice for you–if you want to root for a team simply because they win, root for alabama. or at least root for Uga. but neither program has any integrity. so if you want to root for the program that does, then why don’t you have a little integrity yourself?
Buzzman
November 3rd, 2012
6:07 pm
Why is everyone getting so excited, we just beat a team with just as bad record as us. Also they had a LB playing quarterback. CPJ still needs to go. We will lose to N.C. and Georgia, and possibly Duke. So lets not get excited. So far I have been right this year. Where did our AD go? To Clemson. Next on the agenda is CPJ but not until after the season is over