At the ACC Kickoff on Friday in Charlotte, N.C., the AJC asked a series of questions of Georgia Tech’s opponents in the Coastal Division. In the third segment, players from all of Tech’s Coastal opponents shared their recollections of their games against the Yellow Jackets in 2016. The final set of answers will run Friday morning, what Tech players stood out to them.
Bryon Fields, cornerback, Duke
Tech won 38-35 on Oct. 29
“I gave up a post route before halftime (against wide receiver Ricky Jeune) that I wasn’t too happy about. I should have made the play. That’s what I remember from last year’s game.”
Mark Walton, running back, Miami
Tech lost 35-21 on Oct. 1.
“The memory I have is two fumbles back to back, we scoop and score, and I think the third quarter they had the ball the whole quarter.”
Bentley Spain, offensive tackle, North Carolina
Tech lost 48-20 on Nov. 5.
“I remember it was pretty hot. I remember it was a pretty close contested game, but I’m glad we were able to get the win.”
Avonte Maddox, cornerback, Pittsburgh
Tech lost 37-34 on Oct. 8.
“I dislocated my elbow. That’s what I remember. One thing I remember is the last play of the game when we stopped them. Fourth-down stop, that’s a good memory right there because everyone was zoned in. We stopped them on fourth down.”
(Maddox’s memory wasn’t quite accurate. Tech was stopped on a fourth-and-1 at its 34-yard line with 2:25 to play, which led to the Panthers’ game-winning field goal as time expired.)
Brian O’Neill, offensive tackle, Pittsburgh
“Either (the touchdown reception) or the fourth-down stop by Matt Galambos and Tyrique Jarrett because at that point, we were like, ‘Oh, man, we have to get this stop.’ We were on the sideline like, ‘Please, please, please, please get this stop.’ And when they did, that was so cool, so I would say either the touchdown or that play because that play was way more important than my touchdown.”
O’Neill, a former tight end, scored on a 24-yard touchdown run, a misdirection lateral.
“Coach (Pat) Narduzzi said that they’d had that in their heads for a while before that, but first time I heard that was Monday morning before the game. (Offensive-line coach John Peterson) called me into his office and was like, Yeah, we’re kind of going through the base of the game plan before we go into any meetings. This is what they kind of run in general, this is kind of where our head’s at with the offensive game plan and, by the way, there’s kind of a play where they throw you the ball. I was like, Uh, cool.”
Kurt Benkert, quarterback, Virginia
Tech won 31-17 on Nov. 19.
“I didn’t play in that game. Matt (Johns) played that game. I remember a really disappointing ending. It was just a disappointing game. There were some kind of crazy momentum swings.”
Andrew Motuapuaka, linebacker, Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech won 30-20 on Nov. 12.
“That they won. We’ve got to get ’em back this year. Coming back down to Atlanta. I’m excited for that food. Last time we came to Atlanta, two years ago, that food, man.”
Part 1: What do you think of when you think of Georgia Tech?
Part 2: Most fun road environment?
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