In
a heated rivalry that has spanned 109 games over the decades, this
year's edition shaped up to be one of the best. Both teams are playing
as good as any in the nation coming in at 9-2 each. The Bulldogs came
within a hair of playing next week in the SEC Championship game.
Unfortunately, Missouri beat Arkansas the night before taking that honor
for themselves. UGA knows that one slipup in Jacksonville cost them a
shot at not only the SEC Championship but an almost certain spot in the
first ever College Football Playoffs as well.
Now, they know that only one game remains on the schedule. They're
hoping that, with a win here, they'll be in a top tier bowl. The one
most often mentioned is the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta at the
Georgia Dome. But a loss to the Yellow Jackets drops them down several
notches in the bowl options.
Georgia Tech comes in a something of a surprise. Picked by few to win
more than a half dozen games this season with many calling for Paul
Johnson's head, the coach has them on a roll with an ACC Coastal
Division Championship and a probable trip to the Orange Bowl, win or
lose next week in the ACC Championship Game against unbeaten Florida
State.
Teams that normally give the Yellow Jackets fits like Virginia Tech and
Miami have fallen this season. I firmly believe that Tech will win in
Charlotte next week just as I believed that the Bulldogs would have
knocked off Alabama if they had they chance next week. That's how well
both teams are playing. UGA enters the game as an odd twelve point
favorite. I say odd because I think this will be a very close game that
either team could win.
Georgia began The Nick Chubb Show from their 25 with the
back carrying the first play for six. Chubb then caught a pass for 24
more to the GT45. He added 12 more on the ground to the 33. Finally,
someone else touched the ball as Malcolm Mitchell caught one for
13 to the 20. Hutson Mason went back to Chubb on a handoff that
added another dozen for a first and goal to go at the 10. UGA went for
it on fourth and one with Chubb taking it in to put Georgia up 7-0. The
impressive opening drive took ten plays and 75 yards in 4:03.
On Tech's first drive, it looked like the potent offense would be stopped
early but Justin Thomas scrambled free on a third and six for a
first down at the 36. Another quick first down on a 14 yard completion
to DeAndre Smelter to midfield. That's as far as they got. That's
as far as they got with the Dawgs taking over at their 20.
Sony Michell took his turn with a pair of runs to get a first down
at the UGA32.
But the Tech defense held forcing a punt which Jamal Golden took
at the GT24.
Synjyn Days got the Jackets a quick first at the 36 with a pair of
carries. No more as Tech continued to struggle to get any traction on
offense. UGA took over at their 21.
Mitchell pulled in a completion and moved it 13 yards. But Chubb stole
the show with an explosive 65 yard run to the one yard line. He may have
stolen the show, but the Jackets stole the ball when Chubb, trying to
dive over the pile had it stripped out by Isaiah Johnson aborting
a sure fire score.
A roughing the passer penalty got Tech out o the hole moving the ball to
the 18 as the first quarter came to an end.
A reverse to Smelter picked up 8 as Lorenzo Carter and Damian
Swann were banged up on the play. Zach Laskey entered the
game and got the first down at the 33. Thomas eluded a pass rush and
found Smelter at the 41.
Thomas kept it for five as Johnson called his first time out. On a third
and five, Smelter caught a pass and maneuvered up field for 17 yards to
the UGA38. Laskey got another first on a pair of carries to the 26. But
the Jackets could only make it to the 20. Harrison Butker 37 yard
field goal attempt was blocked by Ray Drew with Swann taking the
ball to the 41. Score still UGA 7, Tech 0.
Chubb began the next drive with a 10 yard run. Then a 12 yard
completion to Jonathan Rumph. Ten more by Chubb got the Dawgs to
the GT32. Mark RIcht went for it on a fourth and one and coverted
when Chubb took it to the 25. But a Mason sack by Keshun Freeman
set the Bulldogs back seven yards to the 32. Mason made up the
difference with an 18 yard pass to giving UGA a first down at the 14.
Michell broke free and made it to the end zone only to fumble when
Quayshawn Neely knocked the ball loose. Tech avoided another score
with a goal line turnover with 3:04 left in the first half.
A game that was supposed to be high scoring had been dominated by both
defenses so far.
With the touchback, GT began at their 20. Charles Perkins got big
yardage for 25 yards to the GT45 as Aaron Davis limped off the
field. Thomas went right and tossed it to Perkins who took it 8 yards
for
another first at the UGA45. With 1:10 left to go, Tech went for it
on 4th and 2 at the 37 as Georgia called its first time out. The gamble
paid off with Perkins picking up three. On a third and ten, Thomas hit
Deon Hill for 10 to the 24 to bring up another fourth down with
Tech converting again on a 13 yard gain by Days to the 12 with 27
seconds to go. Thomas carried it for six as Johnson called his second
time out with probably two plays left. TE Darren Waller reached
up and came down with a touchdown in the corner of the end zone to tie
the game at the half, 7-7.
As the second half started, Georgia Tech had to be encouraged at
that they had hung tough so far. But, they also should be concerned
that, without two goal line turnovers by the defense, this game would be
quite different.
The visitors had to ball first and began in the hole after a blocking in
the back penalty on the kickoff. Starting from their 8, Days almost
broke one but still got 13 to the 21. A toss to Hill got them 12 more
followed by 11 more to the 41. Tech continued their relentless drive as
Laskey made it 23 yards to the UGA19. Days barreled for 15 yards through
defenders for a first and goal at the 4. Then, another goal line
turnover, but this one on the other side as Swann pulled the ball from
Thomas' hands as he was trying to cross the goal line and took it 99
yards for a 14 point turnaround. UGA 14, GT 7. The longest fumble return
in UGA history.
The momentum was moving in the Bulldogs' direction as the Jackets picked
a bad time to go three and out. A bad punt gave UGA great field position
at the GT36.
But, the Tech defense kept UGA from taking advantage of the great spot
returning the favor with Adam Gotsis blocking the attempted 49
yard field goal giving the Jackets good position from their 37.
The Yellow Jackets were still in the game. Laskey galloped free for 19
yards to the UGA44. Hill took a toss in the backfield and beat the
defense to the sidelines and a six yard first down run. Thomas
sacrificed himself with a last second toss to Hill for a 17 yard gain to
the UGA 16. Dennis Andrews added six on the ground to the 10.
Laskey got them another first and goal with six yards to the four. Back
where they were just a few minutes ago. But, this time, they broke
through to tie the game at 14 on another Laskey run.
Chubb took a pass for an 11 yard gain to the 35 to start the Dawgs'
drive. On a third and ten, Rumph pulled in a pass for 16 yards to the
GT48. Mitchell reached into the sky a came down with a great catch for
17 more to the 29 as the game moved into the final quarter. Time of
possession so far, GT 27:27, UGA 17:33.
The Bulldogs would get to the 31 when Tech got a key sack on Mason. But,
in a bit of trickeration, Marshall Morgan faked a field goal and
scurried to a fooled defense taking it 28 yards to the three. But,
again, the Tech defense held. This time the field goal was for real from
19 to put Georgia up 17-14.
The Yellow Jackets defense had given them a chance to go ahead starting
from their 20 with 11:13 remaining. Days limped off the field after
getting a first down at the 32. Laskey got them another first at the 40.
Hill took a toss and rambled for 15 to the UGA40 as Leonard Floyd was
shaken up on the play. With 6:28 remaining, Tech called its first time
out on a third and two at the 32, on the outside range of Butker's field
goal range. Johnson's play worked as Laskey got five to the 27. Still
another first down to the 14 with the clock still ticking down to just
over five minutes. Laskey made it official with a go ahead TD run. Tech
was up by four 21-17 with 4:22 left. The Yellow Jackets scoring drive
went 13 plays going 80 yards using up 6:51 of the clock.
UGA needed a touchdown to win but with plenty of time left.
Then, Johnson pulled a fast one and converted a successful onsides kick
with Lawrence Austin recovering it at the UGA27. Laskey took it
to the 14 as the Bulldogs called their first time out with 2:41
remaining. But, another game changing play as Thomas simply dropped the
ball on a third and 13 run. The Dawgs still had a shot needing 69 yards
to go ahead.
Chris Conley got them to midfield on a 19 yard catch. Michell
carried it for six. Then Mitchell got another first with a catch and run
to the 37. Michell got another first to the 21 with just over a minute
left. But they needed seven, not three. Conley got them 16 more making
it first and goal at the five with 41 seconds to go. A third down catch
by Conley at the one was overturned on review. Chub could only get two
bringing up a fourth and goal with 22 seconds left. It was an all or
nothing play. Make it and Georgia wins. Don't and they lose. They made
it as Mason found Mitchell in the end zone putting Georgia up 24-21 with
only 18 ticks on the clock remaining.
But, this masterpiece was not over. Thomas would carry it for 21 yards
just enough to give Butker a shot at a 53 yard field goal to tie it as
time ran out and send it into overtime.
Georgia won the toss. Laskey carried for seven to the 18, then for seven
more to the 11. The back did the rest falling into the end zone. But, in
a game of bizarre happenings, Drew blocked the extra point making it
just a six point lead. Georgia still needed a touchdown but could win
with it instead of tying it.
Mason hit Conley to bring up a first and goal at the 10. Then, from
celebration to exasperation as D.J. White stepped in front of
intended receiver Mitchell giving the Jackets an unbelievable win
snapping UGA's seven game winning streak over Tech in the process.
There were a half dozen times that this game looked like it was lost for
the Yellow Jackets. But, a resilient team and an opportunistic defense
that forced five turnovers made the difference and made the hour drive
back to Atlanta a happy one. Next up for the 10-2 Jackets, what looks
like an exciting matchup in Charlotte against FSU. For 9-3 Georgia, it
would be wait and see what bowl they will wind up with.