Georgia Tech coulda/shoulda won this, but somehow it lost
After much ado, this is how the long night ended: With the other Tech celebrating. (AP photo)
Blacksburg, Va. – Yes, crowning a division champion on Labor Day is more than a bit presumptuous, there being three months of football remaining. But we say it again: The winner of Tech-Tech has taken the ACC Coastal title every year there has been a Coastal Division, and as of this moment you’d have to say …
The Tech based on North Avenue is not the team to catch.
Georgia Tech came very close to a famous upset but fizzled in the final 44 seconds of regulation, watching Virginia Tech drive 51 yards to the tying field goal as regulation expired. Then, in the first overtime, quarterback Tevin Washington tried to make something happen and wound up helping his team lose. Washington forced a pass under duress, and the interception doomed the Jackets.
“I was trying to throw the ball away,” Washington said. Instead his weak throw was taken by the Hokies’ Kyle Fuller, meaning the home side only had to kick a field goal to win. Which it did.
After two lesser seasons, Georgia Tech needed a winning start, the kind of start that could well feed into an appearance in the ACC championship game come December. The Jackets almost had it, but then it was gone. And now they head home knowing that, for them to win the Coastal, Virginia Tech must lose not once but twice.
“We had a great opportunity to win the game, no question,” said Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech’s coach.
Even before the frantic ending, it had been a strange evening. I flash flood watch was issued early, but the game went off without a drop of precipitation. This was great news for everyone who recalled Aug. 27, 2000, when the two Techs sought to open the college season in Lane Stadium but were undone by lightning, a slash of which destroyed the rental car of the famous ESPN prognosticator Lee Corso.
Then there were the uniforms. The Jackets unveiled their new mostly-white look. The only gold to be found was on the helmet decal and the sleeves, and the most memorable feature of the headgear was its honeycomb effect. (What, no antennae?) Not to be outdressed, the Hokies broke out their quadruple-scoop ice cream cone ensemble — black socks, white pants, orange jerseys, purple helmets.
Speaking of duds: For 30 minutes, both offenses qualified. These two Coastal powers, neither of which is based anywhere near a coast, staged an opening half that might have had the neutrals watching on the Worldwide Leader hoping for lightning to liven things up … or, failing that, flipping the channel. Virginia Tech managed 137 first-half yards, Georgia Tech 107.
The third quarter was different for one Tech. The Jackets’ seasoned offensive line began to push the Hokies backward, and the visitors outgained Virginia Tech 85 yards to minus-7 in the quarter. The final period began with David Scully making a 34-yard field goal to put Georgia Tech ahead, and it stayed there after Virginia Tech blew a shortish field goal of its own. (Hey, aren’t Frank Beamer’s guys supposed to aces on special teams?)
The Jackets couldn’t move after Virginia Tech’s miss, and the halting affair entered the final 10 minutes. The massive Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas hadn’t done much, but he found Marcus Davis for 35 yards on a slant. Then Demitri Knowles, a third-string wideout, ran past cornerback Rod Sweeting to snatch Thomas’ pass in the end zone.
Now the visitors were in arrears on the road, and the orange-draped crowd was at full roar. Worse still, the best Jacket ballcarrier — A-back Orwin Smith — was gone with a shoulder injury. But that’s life in the big time: If you’re going to win a game of consequence, you can’t do it with a faint heart.
Quarterback Tevin Washington, who nearly engineered a famous victory here in 2010 while spelling the injured Joshua Nesbitt, broke a long run to give the Jackets field position. Then he muscled for a first down at the Virginia Tech 41. Then Paul Johnson, who earlier had gone for it (and failed) on fourth down at his 49, appeared to order a punt from the Hokies’ 37 with 3:03 remaining.
Then, remembering that he’s Paul Johnson, he called time and rethought. Whatever play Johnson called broke down, but Washington dodged away from pressure and found B.J. Bostic in front of three defenders for the vital first down. Then, inside the final minute, Washington stood in against a rush and found A-back Deon Hill on a crossing route, Hill diving in for the take-the-lead touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.
Then Georgia Tech’s defense, stout most of the night, wobbled. Virginia Tech drove to the tying field goal as regulation expired. Thomas found Corey Fuller twice, the second time on fourth-and-4 with 13 seconds remaining.
The last game of the long weekend would go longer. And it would end poorly for the team in white. Credit the effort, yes, but not the outcome.
For further reading, if not edification: Here are three observations (made by yours truly) regarding the excruciating game, and if you missed our well-visited live chat during the game itself … well, here you go.
By Mark Bradley
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256 comments Add your comment
Realistic fan
September 4th, 2012
10:12 am
Ace: You are obviously obsessed with Buffalo. Ga won by 22. What is your point? They didn’t play well against a lesser opponent and won by 22? Great. Now get ready for 1st Presbeterian and hope your team is as jacked up to play them as they were agains VT.
Pitbull
September 4th, 2012
10:14 am
A note to all of you Yellow Jackets out there:
I am now president of the Athens chapter of the Paul Johnson Fan Club.
You would not believe how the club is growing. We had to move the meetings from the IHOP to the Western Sizzlin because of the crowds.
We love Paul Johson in Athens. Don’t you guys ever fire him.
Ignor the fact that he cannot recruit at the 1A level. I mean face it, ever since Chan Gaileys players left, the only decent guys you have had are the ones that transferred in because they wanted to be closer to home – or were run off by their origional schools.
Yep, Paul Johnson will soon have Tech as the strongest 1AA team in America. You might even venture to schedule Georgia Southern without the fear of being beat.
We sort of look at Paul Johnson as the coaching equivalent of Reggie Ball at Tech. And you know how much we revere Reggie.
Reggie!!! Reggie!! Reggie!! Tevin!!! Tevin!!! Tevin!!!
So you guys take good care of Paul Johnson because we want him in Atlanta for a loooong time.
Sincerely, your fellow Paul Johnson fans in Athens.
PS And no more jokes about man boobs and calling him Paula Johnson.
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
10:19 am
sean jones
I guess Tech fans are pathetic too since they are on UGA blogs every single time there is a new blog story
shut your mouth about a schedule UGA would have only 5 losses the past 10 seasons with Tech’s joke schedule in the ACC
UgaAllTheWay
September 4th, 2012
10:20 am
When will Tech AD make the “move” and get rid of CPJ. His offense cannot win the big game … ever. UGA kept the playbook closed and played with four starters out in the secondary.
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
10:20 am
UGA blows… #6 preseason ranks virtually guarantees they finish the season unranked.
Mizzou wins this week…EASY
DWAG FOOLS...
September 4th, 2012
10:22 am
If you watched the game, you will note that the offense took the lead with 44 seconds to play. Can’t ask anymore from an offense than that.
This was on the defense pure and simple. Gave up 50+ yards in 38 seconds, not to mention two blown coverages in the TD drive in the 4th.
And stupid mutts blame the OFFENSE?
Toofless Dwag
September 4th, 2012
10:25 am
techies need to take off there poket protekters and man up…
anyone know a good dentist?
GT Joe
September 4th, 2012
10:28 am
UGAalltheway: since you are making excuses for buffalo scoring 23 on you, tech played with 3 starters out on defense, 2 in the defensive backfield (which is where we got burned)… dummy.
GT Joe
September 4th, 2012
10:30 am
Reality Stinks: can’t wait to hear your excuses when Mizzou beats your sorry overranked team… #6? LOL. A real #6 would beat Buffalo 70-10.
And Tevin showed more nuts than Aaron Murray EVER has… he pees his pants under pressure.
Pitbull
September 4th, 2012
10:32 am
Please join us for our next meeting at the finest restaurant in Athens: Western Sizzlin!
$6.99 Prime RIB! I had my wedding reception there,so I can attest it is LEGIT.
JM
September 4th, 2012
10:34 am
I was uncouraged by the defense. Need to work on the pass defense.
I think GT would have had another score if the Hokie player didn’t pull Tevin’s helmet off during a “tackle”
sean jones
September 4th, 2012
10:41 am
i knew AL GROH wud cost us the game. Yeah the defense was good all game until the end. When the chips were pushed out on the table—GROH crumbled like always. Thats the worst Ive ever seen the triple option look. Completely ineffective!!!! Our o-line sure didnt live up to the hype and we simply have no weapons with the exception of Orwin Smith who b*tched out with a shoulder. Tough loss for sure though.
JTK
September 4th, 2012
10:46 am
Once again, when it is needed the defense can not get the job done. The offense looked tenative and unsure most of the night. This really shows what outstanding athletes we had during the Nesbit days. The talent is just not there and the coaching on defense (especially pass defense) continues to be suspect. I can see us not winning an ACC game this year, other than maybe Duke.
Hey Wait
September 4th, 2012
10:49 am
Tek fans have cornered the market on
What if……………..
Should have………..
Could have……
We couldn’t be stopped……….
We do math……….
CPJ is a genius………..
Hey Wait
September 4th, 2012
10:53 am
UGA fans have cornered the market on dentures, overalls, and john deere tractors. nuff said.
Hey Wait
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
and Western Sizzlin is my FAVORITE restaurant… an Athens classic.
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
10:56 am
GT Joe
Lets get one thing straight my delusional Tech fan
I wont be making excuses if we lose to Mizzou; I dont drink the Richt and Bobo kool-aid bud
sorry but it will not surprise me at all if we lose
Now it will surprise me if we lose to tech
As for Murray I recall him putting a beat down last year on Tech with 4 TD’s
The only one pissing in there pants was Tevin in that game
GT Joe
September 4th, 2012
10:56 am
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pu97LM2AIyo/TwIwwINHjkI/AAAAAAAAEvc/n4RSsWihQsg/s1600/2012-January-2-14-12-21.jpg
nuff said.
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
10:58 am
…and I’ll 3rd the Western Sizzlin comment. Best steak I’ve ever had, and just $6.99!
Coach Hewitt...
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson has now lost SIX of his last EIGHT games
Coach Hewitt...
September 4th, 2012
11:02 am
I’m now officially for the first time a pessimist on the Paul Johnson era going into the future. The triple option IS a gimmick and it IS getting reliably owned by anybody with a pulse who has time to prepare. ”
Georgia Tech coulda/shoulda won this, but somehow it lost | Mark … « Feeds « Local News
September 4th, 2012
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Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:05 am
Coulda shoulda woulda………. Neva… BAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Coach Hewitt...
September 4th, 2012
11:08 am
I honestly thought he might try to break out some variations and “freshen” the offense to give us some hope but The Genius was beaten again and looked pretty foolish doing so…
As I watched the same old, same old, I realized we are destined for another low level bowl. Another 7-5 or 6-6 type season is about all there is for us GT fans, I guess it is what it is….
Oh really?
September 4th, 2012
11:09 am
Tech offense gets owned? Let’s see, winning the game with 6 seconds to go, at VT, last year #6 defense in the country with 9 starters returning?
Yeah, all the offense’s fault… idiots.
Oh really?
September 4th, 2012
11:11 am
Same old same old? Yeah, hate that “same old” pistol formation that we’ve seen SO many times over the past 4 years… hewitt is a fool, clearly didn’t watch the game.
Blame game...
September 4th, 2012
11:14 am
If I’m passing out blame:
Louis Young: best CB we have, suspended for selling tickets. DUMB.
Rod Sweeting: burned on TD, missed AT LEAST 3 major tackles.
Charles Perkins: whiffed on a block on a key 3rd down. Which got him benched.
Tevin: STUPID pass in OT. Time for Vad Lee.
What do any of these plays have to do with the spread option offense? NADA.
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:19 am
Oh really? I’m going to have to agree with Mrs. Hewitt here, she, uhh I mean he knows quite a bit about losing games, it is an art to some coaches, and Hewitt truly believes in Paul Johnson, so give him some credit. Hewitt, what’s your take on timeouts at the end of the game? From your past experience wouldn’t you have suggested he called em when he had em?
brad
September 4th, 2012
12:21 pm
Since they deleted my pervious post….What do you Tech fans think? You can’t use a high school offense in COLLEGE football. No serious athlete is going to come play OPTION football and risk getting their knees blown out. On top of that, your chop blocking Oline is pitiful. No one in their right mind would want to play at Tech. Add the neigborHOOD that your school is in, crappy 1920’s stadium, lack of hot girls and the worst FRATS in college football and you have a big ol’ ZERO as far as recruiting goes.
No Seriously?? Huh?
September 4th, 2012
12:27 pm
I still can’t believe all the GT fans are still drinking the Paul Johnson koolaid. That option has got to be one of the toughest offenses to watch as a fan, it is so BORING and honestly isn’t very effective anymore.
DWAG DUMMIES
September 4th, 2012
12:29 pm
Brad:
1. that HS offense was #17 in total offense last year. DUMMY.
2. chop blocking? we CUT block. Learn the difference. DUMMY.
Valerie Ore
September 4th, 2012
12:34 pm
I think this writer is color blind – the Hokies were not wearing PURPLE helmets, it’s maroon!
Bob
September 4th, 2012
12:54 pm
The VT helmets were maroon you effing idiot
Bob
September 4th, 2012
12:58 pm
The VT helmets were maroon you effing idiot.
Al Bundy
September 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
CPJ said this was the best O-line he’s had since he came to GT. Well the best he’s had got man handled all night by VT D-line. On a positive note, I did see some improvements on defense. The offense was just plain horrible. Tevin threw the ball much better but he missed the reads on the option plays way too many times. There were more missed blocking assignments than I could count. As for Sweeting, I’d run him until he pukes and then run him some more for the way he played!
VTLTCin Texas
September 4th, 2012
1:19 pm
The Georgia Tech football team members should hold their heads up. to these gentlemen, I say: Compost happens (according to Forrest Gump)- be proud of what you did, be motivated by having been outscored and drive on. While the scoreboard says GT lost to VT, the players generally did themselves and university well. My partner (U, Miami) and I (Virginia Tech) agree on this, BTW.
Al Bundy
September 4th, 2012
1:22 pm
I think my last post got deleted… I guess I shouldn’t have used the word “puke”!
wreckmaniac
September 4th, 2012
1:55 pm
Does CMR have a new hair style this season ? His hair has more challenges than his team’s schedule.
jack
September 4th, 2012
2:19 pm
I do not know who DB coach is but after the Utah game and this one, Al needs to really consider making a change. How does a DB let a 4.3 receiver get 10 yds behind him? How does a db try for an interception with seconds to go instead of makng sure of a tackle and letting the receiver go for 30 yards?
Melanie B
September 4th, 2012
2:30 pm
Virginia Tech is horrible and we still cannot beat them pathetic
Melanie B
September 4th, 2012
2:30 pm
Virginia Tech is horrible and we still cannot beat them pathetic
Melanie B
September 4th, 2012
2:30 pm
Virginia Tech is horrible and we still cannot beat them pathetic
VTMINER
September 4th, 2012
2:55 pm
HaHaHaHa! Whine all you want. The REAL Tech won last night. It doesn’t matter who had the lead at the end of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarters. Heck, last night it didn’t matter who had the lead at the end of the 4th quarter. But at the end of the game, at least our quarterback knows how to take a sack and not throw it away. Tech, Tech, VPI! Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi!
Another game effort yields another galling Georgia Tech loss | Mark Bradley
September 4th, 2012
3:09 pm
[...] its face, it wasn’t a terrible loss. Georgia Tech came within one unmade play of upsetting the Coastal Division favorite in a charged and daunting setting, and the Coastal favorite needed overtime to prevail. All of which [...]
Alan
September 4th, 2012
3:20 pm
192 yards rushing, 3.5 yards per carry. Wow that triple option is amazing! I guess Bud Foster scouted a few high school games win this one.
Another game effort, another sobering Georgia Tech loss |
September 4th, 2012
3:20 pm
[...] its face, it wasn’t a terrible loss. Georgia Tech came within one unmade play of upsetting the Coastal Division favorite in a charged and daunting setting, and the Coastal favorite needed overtime to prevail. All of which [...]
Georgia Tech coulda/shoulda won this, but somehow it lost | Mark Bradley
September 4th, 2012
4:24 pm
[...] on blogs.ajc.com Filed Under: [...]
Mark Bradley
September 4th, 2012
4:24 pm
One note: Rod Sweeting seemed to blame himself for one of the completions on the final drive of regulation, but I’ve since seen the tape and he wasn’t at fault on either. I must have misunderstood his answer, or maybe he misunderstood my question. When he said he had “his eyes in the backfield,” he must have been referring to the long touchdown that put Virginia Tech ahead 14-10.
Santa Monica Jacket
September 4th, 2012
4:25 pm
I think the bulldog fans should worry about their own program… The dream team minus 7… Great character you guys got over there in Athens… UGA may stumble into winning the SEC east… but do you honestly think you could even dream of beating Bama… They again are head and shoulders above UGA and everyone else… Therefore where dawg fans like it or not.. They are just as irrelavent as the Jackets.. I wonder what 1-AA team Gurley will be playing for next year…
Another game effort yields another galling Georgia Tech loss | News-ON Atlanta
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
[...] its face, it wasn’t a terrible loss. Georgia Tech came within one unmade play of upsetting the Coastal Division favorite in a charged and daunting setting, and the Coastal favorite needed overtime to prevail. All of which [...]