Under considerable heat for a lack of productivity, the Georgia Tech defense came through with its best game of the season. The Yellow Jackets got the better of No. 14 Virginia Tech, coming up with four turnovers (one on special teams), stymying the Hokies running game and creating more pass rush pressure than they had all season.
It was not expected, at least externally. Georgia Tech entered the game ranked 95th in FBS in yards per play at 6.09. The Yellow Jackets had been shredded for 559 yards by Duke two weeks ago and 636 last Saturday by North Carolina, the latter total the second most given up by Georgia Tech in school history.
With an effective passing game complimenting a commitment to run, Virginia Tech looked like the next in line to decimate the Jackets. However, Georgia Tech met the moment, limiting the Hokies to 5.5 yards per play and sacking quarterback Jerod Evans five times. On 12 Hokies possessions, not counting one to end the first half, Georgia Tech procured eight stops by way of punt, turnover or fourth-down stop.
“I think probably, our defensive players probably got tired of hearing how bad they were,” coach Paul Johnson said.
Defensive tackle Patrick Gamble confirmed his coach’s suspicion. Gamble, a captain, has had to answer for Tech’s weak pass rush, among other things. The Jackets entered the game with eight sacks, 124th in FBS.
“That just adds fuel to the fire,” he said of the criticism from fans and media. “We heard it all.”
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof reduced the game plan, cornerback Lawrence Austin said.
“Just keeping the calls simple, sticking to two or three calls, just going out there and playing fast,” he said.
Austin intercepted Evans twice, once in the end zone. Evans had thrown two interceptions all season prior to Saturday, a stretch of 253 pass attempts.
Georgia Tech held the Hokies to 121 rushing yards – a season low for Virginia Tech – and 3.7 yards per carry. The only game in which the Hokies gained less per carry was against North Carolina in Hurricane Matthew. For Georgia Tech, it was a bit of a reduction from the last two weeks, when Duke (254 rushing yards, 6.86 yards per carry) and North Carolina (283, 8.09) ran at will.
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