Notebook: Tech defense makes plays when needed

Georgia Tech’s normally stout defense was torched for 488 yards and quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for five touchdowns.

But the defense forced three consecutive punts in the third quarter. That’s when the game turned.

“We put a little bit more pressure on ‘em than we did in the first half,” coordinator Dave Wommack said. “If you lay back on [Stafford], we found out the hard way that he’s good enough to pick you apart with those good receivers.”

Corner Jahi Word-Daniels missed his fifth consecutive game with a hamstring injury and safety Dominique Reese, trying to come back from a knee injury, played little.

“The kids just kept fighting and fighting,” Wommack said. “I know it wasn’t a great defensive performance, but by golly our offense stepped up and we won as a team.

“We were preaching to ‘em that we were just two scores down,” Wommack added, referring to the 28-12 halftime deficit. “All of a sudden, we were one score up.”

… Junior linebacker Shane Bowen has been diagnosed with a displaced cervical vertebra. Bowen underwent shoulder surgery in February, and the injury was discovered during a routine check-up of his shoulder last week. Bowen had been scheduled to start Saturday; now his career might be over.

… Morgan Burnett scored the first touchdown of his career on a 35-yard interception return in the first quarter. It was his seventh pick of the season, tying for fourth-most in Tech history.

… On a tackle eligible play, right tackle Austin Barrick caught a lateral and ran 11 yards to set up Scott Blair’s 28-yard field goal, putting Tech ahead 38-28 late in the third quarter. Barrick was two yards short of a first down. “I should have lowered my shoulder, but I remembered back to my tight end days and tried to make the cut-back,” Barrick said. “I’m a little bit heavier these days.”

… Sure-handed senior Andrew Smith has stabilized Tech’s previously shaky punt returns.

… True freshman safety Cooper Taylor led the Jackets with nine tackles.

… Roddy Jones rushed for the most yards for a Tech back against Georgia in the series history. Only Jerry Mays, who had 207 yards in 1989, and Robert Lavette, who had 203 in 1982, had cracked the 200-yard marker.

… Defensive tackle Vance Walker returned from an ankle injury and split snaps with Elris Anyaibe.

… Linebacker Anthony Barnes was helped off the field with a leg injury in the third quarter.