Johnson tries to spark offense with QB switch

Seeking any way to shift the momentum, coach Paul Johnson pulled starting quarterback Josh Nesbitt for freshman back-up Jaybo Shaw in the third quarter. The coach did not accuse Nesbitt of keeping the ball on the option too often but a message was sent.

“I was just trying to change up and see if we could get a little jump-start going,” Johnson said. “Maybe get the ball pitched on the perimeter some.”

But once the score quickly went from 7-0 to 21-0 early in the fourth quarter, Nesbitt, with the stronger arm, took the remainder of snaps. He finished 10-for-22 for 97 yards with one interception and no sacks. It was that kind of day, 423 total yards and just one touchdown.

“We were trying some ‘load’ scheme and tried to block their linebackers and they ran through us like we weren’t there,” Johnson said. “It’s not all Josh Nesbitt’s fault.

“Anyone that wants to just throw it? Check out the pass protection on that film.”

Too many turnovers

With four more fumbles, Tech has mishandled the ball a whopping 31 times in 10 games. The Jackets managed to reclaim two of those lost balls but the two that got away — Roddy’s Jones’ mishandled punt and Shaw’s forced fumble while being clobbered by Robert Quinn — both eventuatly resulted in UNC touchdowns.

Added to one Nesbitt interception, Tech has now turned the ball over 22 times this season, compared to 24 turnovers in 13 games a year ago.