Notes: Johnson again to wait on naming starting QB

1. Coming off the bench in a rotation with Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington, Vad Lee led the Yellow Jackets to 55 points in Saturday’s 68-50 win over North Carolina. Coach Paul Johnson, who has not named a starter prior to the game for the past two games, will apparently continue that practice.

“We’ll have (a starter),” he said.

Tech plays Duke Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The game could be decisive in determining the ACC Coastal Division title.

Saturday, Washington started his 27^th consecutive game and led Tech to one touchdown in two possessions. As was the plan, Lee came in for the third series to play two possessions. Tech drove a total of 150 yards for two touchdowns with Lee at quarterback, and he played the rest of the way.

He was 6-for-10 passing for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran 23 times for 112 yards with two touchdowns. He made one critical error, an interception returned 34 yards for a North Carolina touchdown. However, he drove the Jackets to seven touchdowns and two field goals in 10 consecutive possessions, not including a one-play possession that ended the first half.

“There are a lot of things he needs to work on, but he made a lot of plays,” Johnson said. “He created a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and did some really good things.”

2. Despite participating in the highest-scoring ACC game in league history, no offensive players from either Tech or North Carolina were named ACC players of the week. Two other Jackets were honored, however. Inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy was selected co-linebacker of the week for his two sacks, a career high, and six tackles. Returner Jamal Golden was named specialist of the week for his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 230 yards of kickoff returns, the latter a school single-game record.

With a kickoff return touchdown three games ago that broke the school’s 14-year drought, Golden is one of two Tech players (Drew Hill is the other) to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in one season and one of four (Gary Hill, Dez White and Hill are the others) with two kick returns for touchdowns in a career.

They are the third and fourth Tech players to be named ACC players of the week.

Tech coaches named A-back Robbie Godhigh, defensive end Izaan Cross and kicker Chris Tanner the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively. Godhigh scored three touchdowns – all in the third quarter – on three consecutive touches. The NCAA record for touchdowns in a quarter is four. Cross’ only tackle was a sack and he made one of the plays of the game, tipping and intercepting a screen pass that Tech converted into a field goal. Tanner, a senior walk-on, made both of his field goals and all eight of his extra-point tries. The field-goal tries were his first since he was a senior at Norcross High in 2007.

Lee was named one of eight “Stars of the Week” by the Manning Award. Fans can vote for Lee on the Sugar Bowl Facebook page as the top performer of the week.

3. Johnson said he doubted that Scully, who suffered an undisclosed injury Saturday, will be available for Duke, though Justin Moore could return from his injury, also undisclosed. Johnson chose to go with Tanner over Scully on field goals and extra points for the North Carolina. Tanner took over kickoff duty in the second half.

4. The kickoff time for the Tech-Georgia game has been set for noon on Nov. 24. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. It’s the same time and carrier as last year’s Georgia game. … Tech was a 13-point favorite over Duke on Monday evening.

In case you missed it…

Bradley: Tech as Coastal champion? Yep, it could happen

Tech season takes another turn

Tech-Georgia gets noon kickoff

Golden, Nealy ACC players of the week

Thanks for reading.

Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog