Adam Gotsis said that if not for Georgia Tech’s defense, the Yellow Jackets’ losing streak to Georgia would have ended last season at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“After last year, we kind of felt like our defense let it up,” Gotsis said Saturday. “The last 12 months we’ve had that stink on us. We weren’t going to let that happen again on defense.”
The Jackets blew a 20-point lead in 2013, but the defense made winning plays in the rematch at Sanford Stadium. The Jackets made three stands near their goal line, allowed a touchdown with 18 seconds left in regulation, and then secured the 30-24 victory when D.J. White intercepted Hutson Mason’s pass in overtime.
The Bulldogs moved the ball much of the day with star tailback Nick Chubb as the focus. But the Jackets forced two turnovers inside their 3-yard line in the first half, held Georgia to a field goal after a first-and-goal at the 3 and then got the game-winning pick.
“It was great,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “That’s the way we’ve played all year. (The Bulldogs) got down there pretty quick, and then they didn’t get it in.”
Tech’s most important stand came in overtime. Tech scored a touchdown on the opening possession of extra time, but Georgia blocked the extra point, so a Bulldogs touchdown almost certainly would mean another Jackets defeat to their bitter rivals.
On second-and-goal from the 9-yard line, White stepped in front of Malcolm Mitchell and held off Mitchell to make the catch. It was a fitting finish for Tech’s defense, which allowed 388 yards on 67 plays (5.8 average) but gave up just 17 points on seven trips inside its 35.
The Jackets held Georgia to 194 yards rushing, their second-lowest total of the season, including only 54 after halftime. Chubb gained just 14 yards on nine carries after halftime and finished with 133 on 25 attempts.
“All week we heard about their o-line is so big, Heisman running back,” Gotsis said. “They kind of gave us no credit. We had a lot of guys step up today.”
Early in the game it appeared Georgia’s power running game might be too much for Tech. Chubb scored a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down on Georgia’s opening drive, but it was tough for the the Bulldogs to get in the end zone for the rest of the game.
Chubb and Sony Michel both lost fumbles while headed to the end zone in the first half. In the fourth quarter the Jackets stopped Georgia on third down at their 30. Kicker Marshall Morgan ran 28 yards for a first down on a fake field-goal play, but the Jackets held the Bulldogs on four plays inside the 3.
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