Georgia Tech's offense had been so productive this season, its defense could always safely assume it could enjoy the comfort of big leads. Average margin of victory of its first five games: 25.8 points.
It gradually became clear it wasn't going to be that way for the Yellow Jackets against Maryland on Saturday. So it was the defense that eventually led them to a 21-16 victory.
“We knew we were going to have to carry this team and get more stops than we usually do because our offense wasn't rolling like we usually do,” Tech defensive end Izaan Cross said. “It was a hard-fought game.”
The final stand for the defense came after Maryland, down by four, started a drive from its 19-yard line with 4:11 to go. The Terrapins quickly hit for a 15-yard run and a 10-yard pass to move to the 44.
That's when Tech's pass defense, swarming all day, put the clamps on Maryland's comeback.
On second down, quarterback C.J. Brown looked to pass downfield but couldn't find an open man. He had to settle for a short pass to running back Justus Pickett, who was tackled for no gain.
Brown next threw incomplete on third down after he again scanned the field found no openings. And on fourth down, Brown couldn't connect with wide receiver Kerry Boykins, who was tightly covered by Tech cornerback Louis Young.
This time the offense merely had to run out the clock to preserve the victory. The defense had already done most of the work.
“Defensively, other than a couple of plays, we really played well,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said.
Maryland gained 333 total yards, including just 87 passing yards on 24 attempts with two interceptions. Maryland scored a field goal on a 14-play drive in the first quarter and while it had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the Terps could not do much in the middle two quarters, while Tech ran up a 21-3 lead.
Tech's defense was effective despite missing starting linebackers Daniel Drummond and Jeremiah Attaochu.
“We said you have got to pick your brother up,” Young said. “That's the mantra every week. The next guy has got to be ready.”
The only blemish for Tech's defense was Maryland's 246 yards rushing. The Terps entered the game averaging 145.5 ground yards. Last week, the Jackets allowed 195 yards rushing to N.C. State.
The Terrapins got 77 rushing yards on one sudden and unexpected play early in the fourth quarter. Brown, who had replaced Danny O'Brienin the second quarter, ran around right end and kept going down the sideline to the end zone.
A few Tech defenders appeared to have good angles to tackle Brown but he outran them.
“We were told that he was more of a runner [than O'Brien],” Cross said. “We didn't know he was that fast.”
