Tech’s Michael Johnson had field day with Bulldogs

Mississippi State redshirt freshman Quentin Saulsberry drew the assignment — or was it the short straw? — of blocking Michael Johnson Saturday.

Often the right tackle was left one-on-one against Tech’s 6-foot-7 defensive end.

Enlarge this image

Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Tech’s Michael Johnson sacks Mississippi State’s Tyson Lee in the fourth quarter. The defensive end blocked a field goal, deflected two passes, recovered a fumble and had a fourth-down sack

BY THE NUMBERS

• How They Scored • Tech stats • ACC Standings
• Post-game blog
• PHOTOS: Tech 38, MSU 7
• Tech rolls past MSU
• Terence Moore: Johnson seeks perfection
• Furman Bisher: Tech shows true colors
• Grade Tech's performance
• More on Tech

“I was always taught there’d be days like this,” Saulsberry said.

Johnson was unstoppable. The senior recovered a fumble, blocked a field goal, had a fourth-down sack, deflected two passes and put several clean shots on quarterback Wesley Carroll.

Johnson sprinted on and off the field like he could run all day.

“I wanted to start doing that again,” he said. “It helps me get more focused into the game, running on and off the field, and my teammates feed off that. I had been pulling back a little bit so I wouldn’t get dehydrated, but I can’t worry about that. I’ve got to go out and play until I have nothing left.”

With Tech leading 14-0, the Bulldogs lined up for an 18-yard field goal. Johnson came up the middle and blocked it.

“That was Derrick Morgan, Vance [Walker] and Darryl [Richard],” Walker said, referring to the rest of Tech’s front four. “As long as they can push the guys back, I’m learning better how to get in behind them … It’s easy to block it when you’re close.”

Johnson, who blocked two kicks last year, beat Saulsberry cleanly a few times and Carroll paid the price. He also planted backup Tyson Lee into the grass. The Bulldogs double-teamed Johnson more as the game progressed.

“Seemed like he was in the backfield all day,” Carroll said. “Just one of those freakish bodies. He’s like 6-7, 260. I mean, he’s just a great athlete.”

Johnson was asked what he thought of the Bulldogs’ strategy against him.

“Everybody’s got to do what’s best for their team,” he said. “If it’s best to go one on one, then go ahead.”