Tech’s Dwyer has a career day

Jonathan Dwyer’s career as a starter isn’t going too badly. In four games as Tech’s B-back, Dwyer has run for 100 yards three times. Dwyer bounced back from a 28-yard performance against Virginia Tech a week ago with a career-high 141 rushing yards that included his 88-yard touchdown run. It broke a 61-year-old school record, held by Bob McCoy and his 87-yard run.

On the run, Dwyer got downfield blocks from backs Lucas Cox and Roddy Jones, whom Dwyer was trying to direct as they ran downfield together.

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Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Jonathan Dwyer gets past Mississippi State defensive back Derek Pegues. Tech’s B-back had a career-high 141 rushing yards.

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“I was looking out for them, trying to see who they needed to block so that I could score,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer called the record “a great honor.”

“It’s real easy as a quarterback when you have him right behind you,” freshman quarterback Jaybo Shaw said. “All you have to do is get it to him because he’s going to make a play.”

Offensive line cleared path

Coach Paul Johnson gave the offensive line credit for much of the team’s success running the ball. In the win over Boston College and the loss to Virginia Tech, the interior of the offensive line failed to keep opposing defensive tackles from pushing through the line of scrimmage.

Saturday, Mississippi State defensive tackle Jessie Bowman, who last week was named the SEC defensive lineman of the week, was held to one tackle.

“I think what [the linemen] were doing is we weren’t getting blown up inside, so we could get the play started and get [the ball] to the edge,” Johnson said.

Georgia Tech ran for 438 yards, its highest total since 1978. The Jackets ran for 278 yards against Virginia Tech and 162 against Boston College.

Tech’s B-back Dwyer said, “The offensive line did a great job today. We were just clicking.”