The game that was
Georgia Tech failed to score on its first play from scrimmage for the first time this season, but hung on to defeat North Carolina 35-28 on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the Yellow Jackets’ ACC opener. Tech fell behind for the first time this season and then later gave up a 28-14 second-half lead, but came through with a late-game touchdown drive and two defensive stops. Tech is 4-0, 1-0 in the ACC and ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll.
What we learned
1. Tech is the real deal. Georgia Tech's first three opponents could be dismissed as FCS (formerly Division I-AA) — Western Carolina, non-BCS automatic-qualifier conference — Middle Tennessee State, weak BCS AQ conference – Kansas. But North Carolina was undefeated and has one of the more talented rosters in the ACC. The Jackets scored 35 points with almost 500 yards of offense and easily left 10 more points on the field. The Jackets have flaws, but their legitimacy as an ACC contender can't be argued.
2. The Jackets have pass-rush capability. After producing five sacks in their first three games, Tech had seven Saturday against the best offensive line the Jackets have played to date. North Carolina had given up one sack through its first three games (or 72 pass attempts). As Tech advances into the ACC schedule, it would hardly be surprising if defensive coordinator Al Groh flips open more and more pages of the playbook.
3. Tech's ACC positioning looks increasingly better. The Jackets' opponents over the next four weeks all lost this past weekend, and none to a particularly reputable opponent. N.C. State lost by 30 points to Cincinnati, Maryland was blown out by Temple, Virginia lost to Southern Miss 30-24 and Miami lost to Kansas State 28-24. In all except the N.C. State-Cincinnati game, the ACC team was at home. Those four teams are a combined 6-8. Tech has an opportunity to make considerable hay in the next month.
Loose ends
Following the game, Johnson said he believed there were no serious injuries in the game. ... Darren Waller’s block of a second-quarter North Carolina punt was Tech’s first since Nov. 2008, a stretch of 32 games. ... Tar Heels defensive linemen were illegally head-slapping Tech offensive linemen, according to center Jay Finch. … Johnson said “I was kind of kicking myself” for not going for it on a fourth-and-1 from the North Carolina 48-yard line with about 10:30 left in the game. ... The Jackets have scored in every quarter this season. ... North Carolina has lost its past seven games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and 12 of its past 14 overall to Tech.
Numbers game
213 Tech’s point total through four games. Only one other team in ACC history has scored 200 or more points in its first four games (Florida State, 1995, 238 points).
Sound bite
“I’m not going to lie to you. It kind of surprised me.” — Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill of his leaping, one-handed catch on the sideline in the first quarter.
What’s next?
Tech can avenge one of its 2010 losses when it travels to Raleigh to play N.C. State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Wolfpack, who beat the Jackets 45-28 last September behind then-quarterback Russell Wilson’s 368 passing yards, lost 44-14 to Cincinnati on Thursday to fall to 2-2.
