In this Tech-Tech slugfest, the Jackets are undone by a punch
Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington scored three touchdowns. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Technically speaking, this wasn’t the ACC championship game, but you can’t go wrong assuming the winner between the Techs will play for the conference title. It has happened every year the league has staged a championship game, and it figures to happen in 2011, too.
But which Tech might it be this time? The one that was ranked in preseason and is ranked still, or the one that began play unranked, worked its way to No. 12 in the polls, fell out after two ugly road losses but wedged its way back after upsetting No. 5 Clemson? The former is officially known as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the latter as the Georgia Institute of Technology. For purposes of space, we’ll call them Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
For a series only in its ninth installment, this has become a corker. The past three meetings — those since Paul Johnson arrived here — had been decided by a total of 15 points. What transpired Thursday night at a not-quite-full Bobby Dodd Stadium was more of the same. One Tech got ahead. Then the other Tech did. Then the first Tech scored 16 consecutive points to retake the lead. Wild, wacky stuff.
Details? Sure. Georgia Tech led 7-0. Then Virginia Tech went ahead 14-7. Then Georgia Tech kicked a field goal to draw within four points. Then — shades of the Miami game — the Jackets allowed a touchdown inside the half’s final minute. The Hokies led 21-10 and seemed to have taken control. But no.
Georgia Tech drove 61 yards in 44 seconds to a catalytic field goal as the half expired. Then the Jackets, aided by a Virginia Tech personal foul, opened the second half with a drive to one touchdown. The Hokies’ lead was two points. Virginia Tech moved inside the GT 20, at which point Julian Burnett smacked the ball from David Wilson’s grasp. Soon Georgia Tech was ahead by five points and poised to throw a hammerlock on the proceedings, whereupon linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu threw a punch.
The Jackets had stopped Virginia Tech. Attaochu was about to complete a third-down sack of quarterback Logan Thomas. But Thomas, who weighs 254 pounds — 31 more than Attaochu — didn’t go down, and Hokies linemen rushed to his aid, and Attaochu wound up taking a swing at an opponent. He was flagged for a personal foul; he was lucky he wasn’t ejected, and he might yet face a suspension.
To his credit, Attaochu didn’t t dabble in denial afterward. “It was an overdose of adrenaline,” he said. “There’s no excuse for it.”
Said Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech’s coach: “The big penalty kind of changed the game.”
Handed its mulligan, Virginia Tech did what a good team is supposed to do. It fashioned a drive that changed the careening game yet again. The massive Thomas scored on, of all things, a 12-yard quarterback sneak, and the Hokies were back ahead. Then Paul Johnson did the Paul Johnson thing and went for it on fourth down on the wrong side of midfield — at the Tech 31, to be exact — and Tevin Washington was halted.
“Maybe we could have called a better play,” Johnson said. “But we didn’t execute the play that was called very well, either.”
Why had he gone for it? “I felt like we needed to score. From the second possession of the game, we couldn’t stop them.”
Again the Hokies took their windfall and cashed it in. A Thomas touchdown pass made it an eight-point game. Washington slipped and fell trying to pass on third down, and Georgia Tech had to punt. By now Virginia Tech’s offensive line was pushing the Jackets’ defense backward, just as had happened over the final 10 minutes of the first half, and a field goal with 3:02 to play pushed the Hokie lead to 37-26.
And that was that. A crackling game had, at least for the home side, fizzled at the end. The winning Tech is again in playing-for-a-championship mode, while the losing Tech has been eliminated from the division race. To be blunt, Virginia Tech seemed the more talented team for much of the game, but Georgia Tech will long wonder what would have happened had Jeremiah Attaochu kept his hands to himself.
By Mark Bradley
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534 comments Add your comment
TheAntiMe
November 11th, 2011
9:19 am
If Paul Johnson would spend a little more effort in shoring up that putrid defense of his and his pitiful special teams he wouldn’t feel like he has to go for every 4th down under 10 yards-to-go. No, that would make too much sense.
SRF
November 11th, 2011
9:19 am
Any coach with a 19 yard punter will go on 4th and 1……..
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:21 am
rduck – By next level, he meant athletes that made it to the NFL.
Chan Galley never saw a field goal attempt he didn’t like – he was a terrible head coach but a awesome recruiter.
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:21 am
D fence – we *would* go away but this is our blog. It’s almost like.. one of us doesn’t belong here.
DeepDiver
November 11th, 2011
9:23 am
Lot’s of reasons to go on 4th —
1) GTech was successful in those situations in the game to that point.
2) Defense couldn’t get off the field and had just been bullied down the field on a long drive only 3 plays prior — even one first down could have made a difference for them.
3) Your punter is just as likely to hit one for 20 yards as he is for 40.
4) Tevin Washington reach forward with the damx ball!
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2011
9:25 am
The only kid I saw on that defense last night who might get playing time on the Georgia defense was Burnette. The rest would be scout teamers.
3 QB sneaks equals 20 yards
November 11th, 2011
9:25 am
Laughing at the espn “announcers” running their mouths about how GA Tech has better athletes than when PJ arrived. That one is funny. Those athletes looked good on those QB sneaks VaTech was running. And the great offensive coach can’t provide protection for his QB to pass when he has too. What a ship wreck.
UGA OWNS gtu
November 11th, 2011
9:25 am
We STOMP gtu like it’s nothing. It’s easy and it’s fun.
UGA OWNS gtu.
Always have, always will.
Jerome
November 11th, 2011
9:25 am
You guys are a bunch of fair weather fans and a bunch of idiots. Who are you going to hire? Another Chan Gailey? No one was complaining when we were 6-0. A little adversity and now you want to fire the coach. You sound just as stupid as the Occutards on Wall Street and everywhere else.
TheAntiMe
November 11th, 2011
9:25 am
When my father told me the story about The Birds and the Bees it had a much happier ending than this.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 11th, 2011
9:26 am
If if if
If Paul Johnson would stop hanging out at the Varsity eating hotdogs and fries he might have the time to change his offense
Attaochu's right cross
November 11th, 2011
9:27 am
I thought I heard someone yelling “hit him”…
rduck
November 11th, 2011
9:27 am
ok Grinch. reread your post and you were talking about players going into the NFL as the next level. yes Gailey had some players go into the league, but what did he do with them at Tech? last i remember, Dwyer, Morgan, Burnette, Thomas, Allen, Nesbitt, Gardner, Walker, M Johnson, Richard last played under CPJ and beat UGA for the 1st time in forever and many won an ACC title and played in a BCS bowl game. never did that happen under Gailey…
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:27 am
@3 QB sneaks equals 20 yards – The only announcers dumber and worser than Jessie Palmer, Craig James and that other guy is the match-made-in-hell of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2011
9:27 am
Julian Burnett is likely the only kid Al Grohs got who could get playing time on Georgia’s defense.
MS Bully
November 11th, 2011
9:28 am
Got slugged by a thug and it cost GT the game. Nevermind, going for it on 4th down from your own 30 is STUPID!! Just remember the cheer, Up the Middle, Up the Middle, Up the Middle, PUNT!!
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:29 am
Jerome – I don’t necessarily want him fired. I want him to stop throwing his players under the bus. I want him to recruit a little better. I WANT A FREAKING PUNTER AND KICKER.
ATL police
November 11th, 2011
9:29 am
Two rapes were reported on GA Tech’s campus. One was on national TV.
Heels Rock and Rule
November 11th, 2011
9:31 am
From what I’ve seen of the VaTech QB, while only a frosh, he looks every bit as good as Cam Newton.
dobearsbare
November 11th, 2011
9:31 am
The personal foul call changed the complexion of the game, but you know, it was the middle of the third quarter. GT had chances to make plays after that and didn’t.
As for the fourth-down call, if you think Johnson needs to be fired over that, you both delusional and uninformed. He really had no choice, because his defense wasn’t stopping VT at all.The way the game was unfolding, it was absolutely the right call. And, you can complain about the defense if you want, but VT’s ranked No. 10 for a reason. They’re pretty good. At some point you have to give your opponent credit.
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:32 am
@Heels Rock and Rule – lots of players have career days against GT’s Defense. Don’t read too much into it.
A Realistic Jacket Man
November 11th, 2011
9:32 am
First, the “punch” by Attachou and going for it on 4th down were not the problem last night. They are symptoms of what else was going on. Namely, Tech was doing a horrible job of tackling (and I don’t mean just that mountain of a QB) – they spent the whole night with our run support from the CB and Safeties trying to strip the ball and hitting folks up around the shoulder pads. No one from the Tech secondary ever really stuck any VT runners all night. Way too many 3-5 yard plays that became 10-20 yard plays because we would not hit, wrap up, and tackle. Add to that our #$%^#@ punting and kickoff game… a 29 yard punt, and even with the wind we could not get a touchback on any kick? You take our terrible defense last night, combine it with being scared to punt the ball, and you get the result we saw – every time.
The Jackets better get some pride and energy like they came out against Clemson with, or the next two games will look the same. You can’t tackle, and can’t play field position on special teams, and most any team will make you look very bad.
Bali
November 11th, 2011
9:32 am
I won’t stoop and call the punch ‘thug’ behavior, but be honest tech folks. If a Ga player had done that, you people would have come unglued. The name calling would be incessant and we would hear what an embarassment to the state we are. Truth is, stuff like that happens. If Attachou would major in housing instead of EE, he might be less stressed.
Heels Rock and Rule
November 11th, 2011
9:34 am
Loved BD Stadium. Looks so much cooler than those wash basins and tolet bowls that seat gazillions and are about as classy as a Peach Tree Street hooker.
GulfShoresDawg
November 11th, 2011
9:34 am
Tough loss at home, I always pull for Tech to be undefeated when we play…hang tough like UGA has this season, good things will happen…you have a good coach…good luck until we play.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2011
9:34 am
The book is out on GT. Stop the pitch and the dive and make Tevin Washington and Coach Fishfry beat you. Put nine men in the box and play man to man on all two of Tech’s WR’s. As far as their TE…..forget that guy.
Run the ball right up the middle of Tech’s defense. Pass at will.
Touchdown!!!
Nelson Ash
November 11th, 2011
9:34 am
What a joke, number 45 cost GT the GAME! This coach and staff needs to go back to div. II school if they want to run these high school plays! Time to find GT a real coach. GT is better than what we see.
timthebrave
November 11th, 2011
9:37 am
The punch was stupid and swung the momentum of the game but when a qb dive is going for 5-10 yards and you can’t stop the run that is the REAL reason Tech lost
who
November 11th, 2011
9:37 am
ga tech………….0 for the state of Va. Check Wm and Mary, James Madison, U of Rich for open dates in 2012.
UGA OWNS gtu
November 11th, 2011
9:37 am
gtu is a JOKE team in a JOKE conference. We’re gonna DESTROY you AGAIN.
UGA OWNS gtu.
Always have, always will.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2011
9:38 am
“He really had no choice, because his defense wasn’t stopping VT at all.The way the game was unfolding, it was absolutely the right call.”
Wrong. You punt the ball. Pray that it goes 40 yards in the air, hits a VT player on top of the helmet and you recover it. Or you hope and pray your overmatched defense can get lucky and cause a fumble or get an interception. Or you simply force VT to march 70 yards for a score instead of 30.
Gatorman
November 11th, 2011
9:38 am
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! I refused to let PJohnson off the hook for some really bad calls in this game. His big backs had been punching holes in the line all night for 2-3 yards, and he runs two QB sneaks for no yards. Hey let the defense handle their own game, they kick the ball on their own 30 yard line. Washington has proven once again that he doesn’t know when to pitch, and PJohnson had better take this to heart going into next year. He has continued to look for option only QB’s, when he should be looking QB’s that can option but also have record of being able to pass. I really think this is an important year for the coach. He loses to UGA again and loses in the low rated bowl to an Air Force type team, and he’s looking at being replaced with a coach that has a complete attack not just run run run.
barney
November 11th, 2011
9:40 am
Great game Jackets. But, I keep hearing how my Hokies got a gift for that personal foul. And, we did! Thanks. However, you guys might want to recall the personal fouls the Hokies had to keep your Jacket’s drives alive. And let’s not forget Wilson’s fumble inside your 20 yard line. That hurt. That’s football. It was a great game and GT is a great team though. As soon as you guys are able to incorporate just an average passing game into your offense, you could be unstoppable.
UGA Insider
November 11th, 2011
9:40 am
What’s going on with Penn St today? Where can I go to read the sick posts by Paterno and Penn St apologists?
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:40 am
@Gorilla Biscuit – I won’t say it was “absolutely” the right call, but I can certainly see WHY he would make that decision. And I’d have the entire team lined up Monday morning, punting the ball, to see who can kick the furthest.
The Grinch
November 11th, 2011
9:41 am
rduck
November 11th, 2011
9:18 am
The “next level” I was referring to was the NFL. Gailey put some studs in the NFL.
Now, back to my original question. Is Johnson now playing with just his recruits?
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2011
9:42 am
There must be a BIG Calculus exam this morning.
kevin
November 11th, 2011
9:42 am
Tough loss. I am UGA fan, but like to see GT do well when not playing UGA. Despite being clever, Paul Johnson’s gimmicky offense has got to bother GT fans. First, your recruiting suffers tremendously since the system does not prepare players for the NFL. Second, it’s completely boring. And third, when you are behind and forced to pass, your done. If I were GT fan, I would want a new coach.
Bounce back GT!
Ty
November 11th, 2011
9:42 am
Your looking live……… at historic Bobby Dump stadium
Were the men are men and the sheep are nervous!
sourgrapes
November 11th, 2011
9:42 am
@Barney – I always enjoy the VT games; it’s turning into a great rivalry. The difference in the game is that VT figured out how to stop making mistakes, and GT kept on chugging down Mistake Highway. And you just can’t mistake your way into a “W” against good teams.
The Grinch
November 11th, 2011
9:44 am
rduck
November 11th, 2011
9:27 am
Gailey reminded me some of Jim Donnan. Donnan put a bus load of talent in the NFL but just couldn’t win big with this talent at the college level.
Mountain DAWG
November 11th, 2011
9:44 am
UGA OWNS gtu
November 11th, 2011
9:18 am
As a fellow DAWG fan, I feel the need to call you out. Not sure what you mean by gtu. If you mean georgia tech university, then you are a dumb a$$. It is Georgia Institute of Technology, hence, GT, moron. They can also be referred to as the North Avenue Trade School, but definitely NOT gtu.
GT
November 11th, 2011
9:45 am
I like my team. You look to be competitive. You look to walk on the field with the best on your schedule and not be intimidated, nor is the conclusion decided before the game is played. The ACC is a better conference than given credit. Virginia Tech lost to Boise State and it was a sign to college writers across the country the ACC is weak, yet now Georgia has lost to them and a article this week supposes that if Georgia played them again they would win this time. Why do writers mess with reality, both teams lost to Boise State, conclusion Boise State is pretty damn good. You get these stereo types mixed in with allowed hype for your opponents and the mind set the ACC is weak. I am seeing a little of that this weekend like Auburn should be a walk over for Georgia. Words like Georgia may slip, which was once was used for games like playing Vandy or Duke is now use to set up expectation for another nationally ranked team. That game and this Va. Tech game are coin toss between two very good college football teams. No coach or team wins every close game. All good coaches do is make a game like this winnable. There should not be a “slip” in my mind if Auburn beats Georgia nor Va. Tech beats Ga. Tech but if one of them loses to Duke or Kentucky that is a different story. This state has had a lot worse football than it has this year, and I for one appreciate all of them including Ga. Southern. I do think Georgia has the opportunity to be a Alabama or LSU, but in both conferences their is only two right now that good, the rest of us are about even. Including Auburn and Georgia.
DIT
November 11th, 2011
9:49 am
GT
If y’all ever recruit a QB that can run and pass, then tighten up that defense y’all would be scary good. There are a few ingrediances missing from your team that can win 10 games consistantly each year.
Mountain DAWG
November 11th, 2011
9:51 am
GT- your kind words and thoughtful insight are not to be tolerated on this blog. Makes me want to spew. Say something terrible about Tech or UGA; stop being so nice.
dobearsbare
November 11th, 2011
9:55 am
“Wrong. You punt the ball. Pray that it goes 40 yards in the air, hits a VT player on top of the helmet and you recover it. Or you hope and pray your overmatched defense can get lucky and cause a fumble or get an interception. Or you simply force VT to march 70 yards for a score instead of 30.”
That’s a lot of hoping and praying and wishing to get lucky. Johnson obviously feels — and I think his track record bears this line of thinking out — that he never has more control than when he has the ball with a yard to make for a first down. If you’ve watched Georgia Tech at all the last four years, you know the odds are stacked significantly in Tech’s favor in that situation. If they make that first down and go on to win the game, Tech fans are applauding him for his huevos. This play didn’t get the result Tech fans wanted. Doesn’t make it the wrong call.
oh brother!
November 11th, 2011
9:57 am
all great teams start with defense. GT is too focused on offense and you can’t win the big games giving up that many points.
BG
November 11th, 2011
9:57 am
GA TECH SUCKS!!!!!!
Bummer
November 11th, 2011
9:58 am
Defensive Coordinator Al G. has gotta go.
Conner
November 11th, 2011
9:58 am
Hey cheats, I thought coach moobs was supposed to be the second coming? He cannot even compete in the worst conference in the nation. I only pray Tek gives this d-bag an extension.