Given the short distance from the Georgia State campus, I was surprised there was not a lot more blue in the crowd. And half of that was occupied by band members. Yellow Jackets fans filled most of what they didn’t, though. All 6,000+ tickets allocated to students were sold out.

  Night games are always extra special at Bobby Dodd Stadium with the gorgeous lit view of the downtown Atlanta skyline in the background.

  Big plays, a balanced offensive attack and defensive stands highlighted the first ever meeting between the two football teams.

  On GSU’s first drive, the visitors drove downfield with the help of a Sy’veon Wilkerson 41 yard dash that came up short at the one yard line. After three blocked attempts to push it in, new head coach Dell McGee went for it on fourth and inches with a Christian Veilleux pass sailing over the head of Ja”Cyais Credle in the end zone. No points.

  The downside of a goal line stand is that you get the ball back on the six inch line. But, on a third and nine, Haynes King hit Eric Singleton, Jr. for a clutch 12 yard catch at the 14. Chase Lane got 12 more at the 35. The drive stalled, but the Jackets had at least flipped field position.

  That paid off big time on the Panthers’ first play as QB Christian Velleux was hit in the chest by a prematurely hiked ball, recovered by Tech’s Zeek Biggers at the GSU20.
Three plays later, King carried it across the goal line for a score, only to have it brought back on a holding call on Ryland Goede, moving it back to the 12.
  Brent Key also went for it on fourth and inches, but he succeeded with Haynes taking it into the end zone for Tech’s first lead, 7-3.

  Later in the second quarter, Georgia State was on the move again, driving the ball 16 plays and 87 yards in 8:24 only to be stopped short after a first and goal. They settled for a field goal and their first points to make it 7-3.

  Tech ended the half with an 11 play 75 yard drive that almost saw a King 60 yard TD run. But, it was called back by another holding call. Haynes quickly made up for it with a big 35 yard sprint down the right sideline to bring up a first and goal.  The offense lined up to go for it on 4th down as a QB keeper got what they needed. The Yellow Jackets were up 14-3 going into the half.

  Right out of the gate, GT looked sharp with catches of 18 by Malik Rutherford and14 by Chase Lane to get it to GSU’s 35 yard line. Key took a time out and called the right play with an end toss to Singleton, Jr. He was off and running untouched to the right corner end zone for a 35 yard score and the lead was extended to 21-3. The scoring drive took just four plays and 1:59.

  Georgia State got their only touchdown of the game on a wide open Dorian Fleming catch in the end zone for 24 yards. McGee needed points and went for a 2 point conversion that failed, dropped by Ted Hurst in the end zone. But, they had pulled to within 16, but still trailing 28-12.

  But, the Yellow Jackets could not be stopped as Rutherford almost broke one but was brought down from behind by Jeremiah Johnson at the 18 after picking up 31 yards. King hit Avery Boyd at the 20 with Boyd taking it in for still another score that pretty much put the game out of reach, 35-12.

  That’s all the scoring thanks to still another impressive goal line stand stopping GSU on four plays at the goal line.

  Overall, Tech racked up 499 yards of total offense (274 in the air, 225 on the ground). Five different Yellow Jackets scored a touchdown.

  “The key to it all is being able to get guys touches,” Tech coach Brent Key said. “When you have a lot of guys who can be explosive, in order to be explosive you have to get the ball to explosive playmakers. We created different ways to get those guys the ball.”

  McGee still had a positive approach after his first game as head coach. “I’m encouraged by how hard our [athletes] played tonight,” he said. “We have to clean up few details at the goal line, and limit the big plays, but I know our athletes will learn from this experience.”

  The Yellow Jackets head out on the road next week to Syracuse, who just beat Ohio Bobcats 38-22. The Panthers will have their first home game hosting the Chattanooga Mocs.