Georgia Tech slowed down Georgia for much of the afternoon, but on a day when the offense wasn’t producing, not for long enough.
In the 13-7 defeat to the Bulldogs Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the final defensive series of the season summed it up – needing to get the ball back to the Tech offense, the defense accomplished its purpose by forcing a punt, but only after retreating 48 yards and letting more than three precious minutes off the game clock.
The overall performance of the Yellow Jackets’ efforts against the Bulldogs defense could be viewed in different ways.
With All-ACC defensive tackle Adam Gotsis watching from the sidelines with an ACL tear, Tech held Georgia to fewer points than in any game in the rivalry going back to 1977, but also failed to produce a turnover. The Jackets gave up 402 yards of total offense on just 59 plays for a whopping 6.8 yards per play, Georgia’s highest average in its past six games. But Tech also limited Georgia to 4-for-14 on third downs.
The failure to procure a turnover from the Bulldogs was especially felt, given the offense’s desperate need for help and the Jackets’ three impactful takeaways in the win over Georgia last season.
“Those guys, they did a good job protecting the ball,” cornerback D.J. White said. “We were going for the ball all game because we knew we needed a turnover, but we just couldn’t get one.”
The Jackets defense gave up the first big play of the game, a 34-yard touchdown run by Georgia running back Sony Michel on a fourth-and-1 play on the opening possession of the game. On the left hash, Georgia deployed both wide receivers and tight end on the left side of the line as Tech stuffed all 11 defenders within five yards of the line of scrimmage, braced to stop the run on the fourth-and-short play.
On the right side of Georgia’s line, Tech linebacker Tyler Marcordes was kicked out by Georgia right tackle John Theus and linebacker P.J. Davis was canceled by Georgia fullback Christian Payne’s lead block. With no support behind them or beside them, Tech was powerless to stop Michel, who had an easy sprint to the end zone to give Georgia a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the first half.
The Jackets gave up another critical run to Michel in the third quarter, just after Harrison Butker had missed a field-goal try from 55 yards with 1:09 in the period and Tech down 10-0. From the Tech 38, on the first play of the drive, Michel took the handoff and broke two tackles on a field-flipping 33-yard run. It set up a field goal that put Tech in a 13-0 hole with 14:10 left in the game.
Michel finished with 149 rushing yards on 24 carries; he gained 45 percent of those yards (67) on those two plays alone.
“Unfortunately, they all count,” coach Paul Johnson said.
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