Georgia Tech takeaways: Five yards from a comeback, miles from consistency

Georgia Tech was five yards away from making No. 18 Tennessee nervous on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets faced second-and-goal to start the fourth quarter. A touchdown would have drawn them within seven points, after trailing the Volunteers 31-10 early in the second half.

A sack, short pass and an incompletion in the end zone on fourth down essentially ended the comeback bid. The Volunteers won 45-24 in a contest that wildly pinballed perceptions of Georgia Tech’s ceiling, seemingly by the minute.

There was a version of these Jackets that led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown. And there was the one that gave up 17 straight points in the second.

Then they stormed back to the Tennessee 5-yard line, with a chance to make the Volunteers sweat. That comeback bid crumbled down the stretch.

Here are takeaways from Tech’s second consecutive loss to open coach Brent Key’s fourth full season:

Can’t do that

After Tennessee needed just three plays on its first drive to reach the end zone, quarterback Alberto Mendoza showed the kind of poise Tech needs from its starting quarterback.

He completed three passes on third down — two to tight end Kevin Roche Jr. and one to receiver Jordan Allen — to move the Jackets down the field for a field goal.

The drive covered 14 plays and took nearly six minutes off the clock. Settling for three points wasn’t ideal, but answering Tennessee with a sustained drive was how Tech could compete against a program of its caliber.

Mendoza followed that with disastrous results on Tech’s next four drives. He threw an interception that was returned for a Tennessee touchdown, Tech punted twice after running just six plays combined and Mendoza added another interception with the Jackets in field-goal range.

Tennessee capitalized on all of it, building a 24-10 lead by halftime.

Growing pains were expected with Mendoza starting just his second career game and offensive coordinator George Godsey still feeling his way through his first season calling plays.

And there wasn’t much margin for error with a schedule that started with Colorado and Tennessee.

Mendoza, who finished Saturday 26-of-40 for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, said the rugged early slate will prepare the offense for what’s to come later this season.

“I’m very excited to learn from our mistakes,” he said. “Obviously, I did have a couple. I think it’s a blessing to play these hard opponents starting off.”

Fundamental flaw

Tennessee rushed for 299 yards, the most Tech has given up on the ground since Boston College ran for more than 300 in 2023.

The Volunteers averaged 6.6 yards per carry, which put true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon in manageable down-and-distance situations for most of the game. Tennessee converted 8 of 14 third downs and also converted a fourth-and-short attempt.

Just like against Colorado, Tech’s secondary limited the Vols through the air. Brandon completed just 48% of his passes, but two of his 10 completions went for touchdowns and he never really faced a high-pressure drive after Tennessee’s second-quarter barrage of points.

The Vols didn’t need to rely on Brandon’s arm because they could run the ball — and run it often.

“I just feel like they made good adjustments from the sideline,” Tech senior linebacker E.J. Lightsey said. “When we got what we wanted from them, it was a good play for us, a negative play and stopping the run. But when they went to the sideline, they made good adjustments. We’ve just got to adjust faster and just be more efficient with it.”

Waiting for the big play

Tech has just two offensive touchdowns through eight quarters this season.

Only Washington State has fewer, with one.

The Jackets have an elite playmaker in Justice Haynes. The senior Michigan transfer had 81 rushing yards, 36 yards receiving and two total touchdowns against Tennessee.

And Roche has emerged as one of Mendoza’s favorite targets. He has 10 catches for 103 yards in his first two collegiate games.

Still, Tech’s longest offensive play of the season was a 42-yard reception by Dalen Penson against Colorado. No play went for longer than 22 yards against Tennessee.

Against the Vols, the Jackets lacked the explosive plays needed to keep pace.

“We’ve got to dial them up and take those shots,” Key said, “and have confidence those guys are going to make those plays.”

Banged up

The Jackets had three offensive linemen go down during the game. Tackles Ethan Mackenny and Malachi Carney and center Jameson Riggs were forced out because of injuries.

Their replacements, including center Will Reed and tackle Markell Samuel, were on the field for most of the game.