With a last-minute drive, Georgia Tech averted a titanic collapse.
After giving up a 25-point halftime lead, the Yellow Jackets drove 72 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 42-38 win over Georgia Southern Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Tech took over at its 28-yard line with 4:12 to play in the game after receiving a monumental break. Georgia Southern quarterback Favian Upshaw had a pitch batted down by Tech safety Jamal Golden that was ruled a forward on the pass but overruled by video review to be a fumble recovered by the Jackets.
Thus blessed, the Jackets put together their only scoring drive of the half, capped by quarterback Justin Thomas’ 13-yard touchdown pass to A-back Deon Hill with 23 seconds remaining. Thomas evaded a blitz and pass pressure and found Hill running across the field.
The score averted a titanic collapse after Georgia Southern had rallied from a 35-10 halftime deficit to take a 38-35 lead with 10:46 to play in the fourth quarter. The Eagles scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the second half, each drive measuring 75 yards or more.
The largest lead that Tech has ever given up in a loss is 20 points, both in defeats to Georgia, including last November’s overtime defeat.
Tech, which had scored touchdowns on its first five possessions of the game, went dry over the next five series, until the climactic touchdown drive.
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