Tech outlasts UNC, 68-50 (yes, 68-50)
Link to updated game story here.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Georgia Tech and North Carolina combined to score more points than in any ACC league game ever, but it concluded in typical Yellow Jackets’ fashion.
A clock-grinding, will-defeating drive closed out North Carolina, buttoning up a wild 68-50 win for the Jackets Saturday at Kenan Stadium. Besides the combined points record, it’s the most points Tech has scored in an ACC game.
Quarterback Vad Lee, who entered the game in the third series and never came out, led the Jackets to scores on eight of nine possessions, not counting a half-ending kneeldown. Seven of them were touchdowns, three scored by A-back Robby Godhigh in the third quarter.
In a game that featured five lead changes, Tech took the lead for good with 9:52 to play in the third quarter with a four-yard run by Godhigh.
Taking control of the ball with 10:57 to play in the game with the score 65-50, the Jackets consumed six minutes of clock and finished with a 34-yard field goal by Chris Tanner.
The Georgia Tech-North Carolina game included almost 1,100 yards of total offense, a kickoff return for a touchdown, an interception return for a touchdown and 17 touchdowns total.
Despite the unbelievable score, it was two defensive stops that turned the game in Tech’s favor. In the third quarter, defensive end Izaan Cross intercepted a screen pass that Tech converted into a Tanner field goal for a 44-36 lead. On North Carolina’s next possession, coach Larry Fedora elected to try a fake punt on 4th and 10 from the Tar Heels’ 25-yard line that failed. On the next play, Godhigh took a toss 27 yards for a score that gave Tech a 51-36 lead, which, even on this wild afternoon, proved sufficient.
Tech improves to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC. UNC fell to 6-4 and 3-3. The Jackets have now beaten the Tar Heels four years in a row, eight of nine and 14 of 16.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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306 comments Add your comment
keep coding boy, I am billing you out at 150 per hour
November 10th, 2012
7:44 pm
Coding 2
Septic 0
Techster
November 10th, 2012
7:46 pm
We would never have won this game if Tevin had played more. It just proves that Vad’s athleticism and his ability to pass trumps Tevin’s being better at the T.O. As soon as UNC had to respect Vad’s throws, the box widened and the running game opened up more.
Crazy Robert
November 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
As great as the offense played I give the game ball to the defense. While they had lot’s of issues, when it came down to it they put the Jackets on the right side of the score.
GO TECH, BEAT DUKE!!!!
Buzz Sr.
November 10th, 2012
8:06 pm
Any team can shut Tech’s offense down if they have have two weeks to prepare for it…..so I’ve heard
Good news / bad news...
November 10th, 2012
8:06 pm
…UNC player to his mom – “good news, mom – we scored 50 points today”
Mom of UNC player – “what’s the bad news?”
UNC player – “we lost by 18 points”…
George Stein
November 10th, 2012
8:10 pm
Biff Pocoroba
November 9th, 2012
10:55 pm
I hope Tech has spent a lot of time on kicking practice this week too. Since UNC had two weeks to prepare with a good defense, they probably win 37-17.
gt4ever
November 9th, 2012
9:23 am
OK, he is a good kid. Period! But he should be playing at Western Carolina…. This is why we are NOT competitive. Period.
DOC 51
November 7th, 2012
1:28 am
G.Bernard will get at least 300 total yards against GT.Our defense is no match for him.NC will have 500-600 total yards on SAT.
Slovak
November 7th, 2012
8:09 pm
MariettaMike, UNC rated in top 20 in, yep you guessed it, against the run. Does Tech rely on the run? Big fn flaw.
Silly Mutts
November 8th, 2012
4:34 pm
I’m in agreement with most prognosticators. UNC 45 GT 10 is my prediction. Hope I am wrong, but I am rarely wrong.
Realist
November 6th, 2012
7:47 am
We won’t beat UNC or obviously UGA. Not sure about Duke because it depends on which GT team shows up and we will need to play a really good game as they have improbed. Once again UGA is going to score at will on us and it will be embarrassing.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 10th, 2012
8:34 pm
Great post, George
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
Can’t believe ya’ll doubted me on Vad…
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
who said we can’t win with a defense that gives up 50/game?!?!?
Just need the right QUARTERBACK
big gt fan
November 10th, 2012
8:46 pm
if lee would have played against VT,MIAMI,and BYU we would have 3 more wins this year and groh would still have his job damn CPJ for being so hard headed ive been telling you for year and half bench washington and play this kid
Stumpknocker
November 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
We still need to get more pressure on the QB. Up coming battles with Dook and Jawja need that attention. Great win anyway today………Vads’ turning into a field General .
White&Gold
November 10th, 2012
8:51 pm
@big gt fan: If that’s what had to happen in order for Groh to lose his job then fine. I think you’re forgetting the fact that Groh’s defense blew the VT and Miami game. The whole 3-4 scheme that Groh had us run as proved to be a disaster.
1 4 GT
November 10th, 2012
8:58 pm
And Groan’s 3-4 defense is still paying dividends!
CC
November 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
Yeah, we liked Vad behind center, we liked Godhigh, we liked the passing game — we liked the offense.
But the defense is still AWFUL. Usually we’d be happy with maybe 45 points. But that would have been a loss today.
Heaven help the defense.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
November 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
Ken:
Where are post game quotes?
Al Bundy
November 10th, 2012
9:00 pm
GT Joe, I didn’t know you were a Vad guy! I thought you were Tevin guy!
Al Bundy
November 10th, 2012
9:02 pm
Does anybody miss WnE? I look forward to his comments, rants, etc. and his love of CPJ.
Rock_Eagle
November 10th, 2012
9:05 pm
Stating the obvious, but V. Lee has proven he has the better skill set to run this offense, Tevin is a good kid and touted as a TEAM guy. If so, lets hope he gives Vad plenty of sideline support. Years played counts for something, but the evidence today was overwhelming and begs the question; Why hasn’t this kid been given more PT ? The defense is still what it is and nothing can be done about it at this point. Duke should be a win. Heaven help the Jackets if they can’t get pressure on A Murray. Very doubtful Tech can win a shootout with UGA. The Dawgs think they have a nice advantage playing Ga Southern the week before Tech, but it works both ways. Tech gets to see how they scheme the Flexbone. I look for the Eagles to move the ball enough on the Dawgs to expose a few things. It will be a tough day for the GSU defense though, as it will likely be for Tech’s defense a week later. Go Eagles, Go Jackets, and THWG.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:05 pm
Anyone else notice that the D only gave up 14 in the 2nd half?
Feeding off the OFFENSE…
Where’s MaconFanGT, GT TN, and Take the Wheel? Fools are MIA. GT TN: all that football experience of yours hasn’t taught you a thing huh.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 10th, 2012
9:06 pm
@ big gt fan……I don’t think we would have beat BYU, but definitely VT and Miami, and Clemson too.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:07 pm
What a waste of a season, didn’t even have our best players on the field.
Vad Lee just saved CPJ’s job.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
Al Bundy,
It was proven last week that GT Joe is also WnE & Rick James.
Skeptic
November 10th, 2012
9:09 pm
Don’t want to offend anyone, but
You all = y’all, not ya’ll
And, if I was to bet, I don’t know what to do with Tech – Duke. The karma is too much to figure in. In the Spurrier days, Duke was a big game. So was VA. How we have fallen in the eyes of some. Then, again, who thought anything of TAMU or Kansas St last year?
Bammers have nothing to worry about. They will beat Barners next week and UGAs in SEC. Then, they will play KSU/OR/Catholics in BCS and win.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:12 pm
GT won time of possession by 15 minutes. At halftime I believe TOP was pretty much even.
This is why GT’s D only surrendered 14 2nd half pts…UNC had A LOT time with the ball.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:20 pm
GT Fan: typical, you don’t delve very deep do you? We won TOP because our offense could move the ball, get 1st downs, etc. 3 and outs = low TOP.
A good offense is a GREAT defense.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
Unfortunately for you, GT Joe, I’ve forgotten more about sports than you’ll ever know.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
skeptic: There is evidence that the original spelling was ya’ll. The spelling of ya’ll could have originated from the contraction of ya-all because ya was a common spoken slang form of the word you. 19th and 20th century authors like William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and Carson McCullers used ya’ll. Though becoming less common, the spelling of ya’ll is still used within the Southern United States.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
GT Fan: yeah, apparently you’ve forgotten EVERYTHING about sports you’ve ever known.
George Stein
November 10th, 2012
9:26 pm
The defense left a lot to be desired, but they only gave up 14 second half points compared with the 40 points we scored. If you score that much, you will give some up. Ask Oregon.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
GT Joe,
In 15 fewer minutes with the ball than GT, UNC’s O managed to put 43 pts on the board. Stats like that will LOSE GT many more games than it will win.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
Question for you, GT Joe:
Did you go to school on long bus or a short bus?
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
GT Fan: well that was a genius post. Any other tidbits of knowledge?
Paul in Nh
November 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
GT won TOP in the 2nd half because they moved the ball? GT scored on 4 of 5 possessions in the 1st half before taking a knee on the 6th possession.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:38 pm
Short bus …. thanks for the answer, GT Joe
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:41 pm
GT Joe, Kansas St has only put 23 pts on the board thru 3 qtrs & now 5 minutes.
Per your football acumen, that’s not enough pts to win vs. FBS opps. K-State is playing TCU, AT TCU.
K-St’s measly 23 pts has them in the lead by ……. 23!
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
GT Fan: per your awesome football acumen, having the #40 scoring offense against the #60 schedule (tech prior to UNC game) is enough to win the ACC title, and be a top 25 team (our goals, right?).
I can’t go over this EVERY day with you. Do have the ability to learn?
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
Not to worry, GT Fan: with Vad at QB, our ranking will be MUCH higher in offensive scoring.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
GT Joe,
Rutgers only scored 28 pts today, vs. FBS, and leading rushing team in NCAA, Army. Rutgers’
measly 28 was still good enough for a 21 pt Win.
Rutgers avgs 26.2 pts / gm … GT avgs 38.2 pts / gm. Rutgers is 8-1, ranked #23.
From your recliner, GT Joe, tell me how in the hell that is possible since you say GT’s 29.7 (vs. FBS opps) isn’t good enough to get them ranked. And I’ll guaran-dam*-tee you Rutgers’ schedule is NOT tougher than GT’s.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
By my math, looks like Vad just increased our offensive scoring ranking from #40 to #27 after today’s game.
It’s a start.
Skeptic
November 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
GT Joe
I don’t yield on the subject, but I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m wrong. I have always assumed that, as can not = can’t, and they will = they’ll, that you all = y’all, pronounced yawl. Pardon, but I don’t recognize Faulkner, Hemingway, et al, as authorities of Southern-ness either before or after the Great Unpleasantness of the 1860s.
As there are many opinions on it, that’s all I’ll comment on the matter.
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
Ooops, update GT Joe …
K-St’s measly 23 only has them up by 20 now, with 6 mins remaining.
Hurry and get to the microwave before your popcorn burns!
ToeMeetsLeather
November 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
Vad….. nuff said.
Also, who else thinks the “nadlickers” may have a hard time preparing for and focusing on TECH with Lee now in the equation and a match-up with Bama a few days later? Plus, I feel sure those early round NFL draft picks are not looking forward to sixty minutes of cut blocking either(120 if you count Southern).
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Rutgers has a weaker schedule than us, and the #18 defense in yards/game, so they can win with 22 points.
We cannot win with 29 point/game. Are you that dense?
CloudmanJacket
November 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Defense looks much improved with the firing of Groh…LOL…I guess getting rid of him helped the offense.
1 4 GT
November 10th, 2012
9:58 pm
Just checked the stats….UNC offense was shut out in the 4th quarter by the GT defense. UNC had been out scoring opponents in the 4th quarter 75-28 & 89-23 in the 3rd quarter. Tech outscored UNC 30-14 in the 3rd & 10-0 in the 4th. GT’s best defense was our offense, which is always true. But I don’t see how any of you can complain about the defense in the 2nd half. They actually got the stops needed to put the game away late. If they can build on that & continue to grow & improve, GT will win a lot of games behind this offense. Both sides of the ball are discovering they can beat good teams & they deserve our support & attendance @ the games. C’mon guys, let’s show up for the Duke game & give ‘em some love.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
Skeptic: yes, a lot of opinions on the subject. I just wouldn’t say that “ya’ll” is wrong. it is a contraction of “ya” and “all”. “ya” may or may not be in Webster’s dictionary, but it is most certainly used quite commonly around these parts.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
1 4: this is what i’ve been saying all along; Vad can actually help the defense!
GT Fan
November 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Go to bed, GT Joe. I’m done making you look foolish for tonight. Get’ya another shot of Dickle, and enjoy your popcorn while you watch The Best of Oprah.
GTfan2012
November 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
Dear Media, opposing fans, band wagon fans, and all so called football experts,
I think it is finally time to retire that great myth. Yes, I am talking about the myth that having two weeks to prepare somehow gives the defense a special advantage against GT vs. a conventional offense. UNC just gave up its MOST yards and points this season, despite having two weeks to prepare. Now, I haven’t heard anyone mention that UNC had two weeks to prepare. Why is that? It certainly would have been mentioned if UNC gave up fewer yards than it had on average this season. But of course it doesn’t fit into conventional wisdom to bring up the extra prep time since it didn’t really help.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
GT Fan: are you reference K state? you mean, #7 scoring team in the land, k state? are you wondering why they are about to be #1 in the country?