BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Georgia Tech lost its best player and likely its hope of defending its ACC title on a cold Virginia night.
Joshua Nesbitt, who earlier became the most productive rushing quarterback in ACC history, was lost for the second half after breaking his right arm late in the second quarter. He is out for the remainder of the regular season. With their captain and emotional leader out, the Yellow Jackets' defense played its best game this season, but the offense couldn't build on the lead that Nesbitt helped produce, eventually losing to Virginia Tech 28-21 on Thursday. It was the first time the Jackets have lost back-to-back games under coach Paul Johnson.
"We faced some adversity and they came back, it was just two or three plays that kind of turned the game," Johnson said. "It's disappointing when you put that much effort in and you don't get a win."
Even if Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3) were to win its remaining two ACC games, and Virginia Tech were to lose its three, the Hokies would have the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Jackets will host Miami on Nov. 13 with a new quarterback because Nesbitt is out for the season. The Jackets need one more win to become bowl eligible for the 14th consecutive year. Nesbitt said he would try to return for a bowl game.
Nesbitt left the game late in the second quarter when he was injured trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception near the goal line. Without Nesbitt, Tech turned to the mostly untested Tevin Washington.
After some expected hiccups, Washington looked like Nesbitt, passing and running the Jackets 80 yards to tie the game at 21 in the fourth quarter. The drive included a 42-yard pass to Tyler Melton on the first play, then a broken play that Roddy Jones turned into a first down, a 13-yard run by Washington, and a 9-yard scoring run by Orwin Smith with 2:34 to play in the game.
But the lead didn't last long because of another error by Tech's special teams.
David Wilson took the ensuing kick, cut to his left and sprinted 90 yards for the touchdown to give the Hokies a 28-21 lead with 2:23 remaining. Kicker Scott Blair was the only Jacket who had a chance to bring him down, and he couldn't get enough of his feet to trip him at Tech's 35-yard line. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown Tech has allowed since last season at Vanderbilt.
"That play was a killer," Johnson said.
Tech tried to pull out one more drive, but Washington was intercepted in the end zone by Rashad Carmichael on a pass intended for Melton with eight seconds remaining.
Tech was able to tie the game because the defense played arguably its best game of the season. After the Jackets' defense stymied Tyrod Taylor for most of the second and third quarters, the Hokies tied the game on a 15-yard run by Wilson with 13:32 remaining in the game. The Hokies converted a fourth down and took advantage of an odd pass-interference call against Mario Butler on the drive that gave the Hokies a first-and-10 on the 15-yard line. Wilson's run came one play after the penalty.
The Hokies took a short-lived lead with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to tight end Andre Smith on third-and-goal at the 2-yard line with 6:34 remaining.
The Jackets opened the game crisply, and it started in an unusual place: special teams.
Embry Peeples returned the opening kickoff 42 yards, the team's longest return of the season. After a pitch to Smith gained 27 yards, Anthony Allen carried the ball on five of the next seven plays for 27 yards to set up Tech with second-and-goal at the 1. From there, Nesbitt plunged into the left side of the line for a touchdown with 11:20 remaining.
The Jackets added another touchdown, and grabbed a piece of history, on their next score. After the Hokies were forced to punt on their next possession, Nesbitt sprinted 71 yards up the middle of the Hokies' defense to give the Jackets a 14-0 lead with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter. The run also gave Nesbitt the record for career rushing yards by an ACC quarterback.
Virginia Tech answered with a 77-yard scoring drive, ending with a 4-yard run by Ryan Williams to the left side that cut Georgia Tech's lead to 14-7 with 14:56 remaining.
The Jackets had a chance to seize control after two Hokies' miscues. First, Taylor was intercepted by Rod Sweeting on third-and-goal, after Taylor had more than 10 seconds to throw because the Jackets rushed three players. Instead of taking a knee in the end zone, Sweeting tried to return it and was tackled at the 7-yard line. Tech went three and out, but caught a break when the Hokies fumbled the punt, allowing Tech to take over on the 47-yard line.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
