As it expected to do, Georgia Tech had plenty of touches for its A-backs in the run game Saturday night in its 28-17 victory.
Miami has defended the Yellow Jackets in such a way that has left the A-backs opportunities to make plays on the perimeter. Last year, for example, the A-backs ran 22 times for 164 yards, the most carries they had in any game last season. By way of comparison, Tech’s A-backs had four carries in the win over Virginia Tech.
On Saturday, A-backs had 17 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns. B-back Zach Laskey racked up a career-high 29 carries while quarterback Justin Thomas had 13 carries - nine fewer than his total against Virginia Tech - for a season-low 27 yards. Miami, well aware of Thomas’ playmaking ability, schemed him to either give the ball to Laskey on the triple option or pitch to the A-back.
“They just took the QB run out of most of the game, so I just distributed,” Thomas said. “I don’t mind doing it.”
A-back Charles Perkins, back in the lineup after missing the Virginia Tech game with a leg injury, made vital contributions with both his blocking and running. On the 75-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, Perkins contributed a 25-yard run off an option pitch — the longest run of the night — to pick up a first down on a third-and-4, with fellow A-back Deon Hill making a critical block. On the scoring play later in the drive, a 2-yard run by A-back B.J. Bostic on third-and-goal, Perkins cleared the way by blocking cornerback Ladarius Gunter off his feet.
“I felt great,” Perkins said. “It hurt to be out two weeks ago, but we got the win, that’s all that matters. It felt great to be able to come back out healthy and help my team win the game.”
In the second quarter, A-back Tony Zenon scored the second touchdown of the game on an option pitch from Thomas, scoring on second-and-goal from the Miami 6 with help from a perimeter block by Hill.
Hill scored Tech’s fourth and final touchdown with 11:31 to go in the fourth quarter, scoring on a triple-option play that Miami misplayed, leaving Hill free for an 8-yard run on a fourth-and-2 play.
Two they got, two they didn't: Tech's defense forced two turnovers inside the 20-yard line and thought it had another Saturday night.
Safety Isaiah Johnson tipped a pass by Miami’s Brad Kaaya and intercepted it at the 10-yard line. Johnson returned it to the 29 with 5:57 left in the first half. The offense couldn’t convert the turnover into points, leaving the game tied at 14.
The Jackets thought they had recovered a fumble on the 4 with 4:02 left in the third quarter. The officials overturned the call on review, ruling that the pass wasn’t caught before being fumbled by D’Mauri Jones. The Hurricanes kicked a 27-yard field goal to cut Tech’s lead to 21-17.
In addition, the Jackets thought they had another turnover near midfield on Miami’s next drive when running back Duke Johnson was stripped and Isaiah Johnson recovered on the 48 with 10:11 left in the game and the Jackets leading 28-17. Once again, the ruling on the field was changed after the play was reviewed because Johnson’s knee was said to be down before the ball came out.
With 1:11 left in the game, Jamal Golden intercepted a pass in the end zone to secure the victory.
Both Johnson and Golden gave credit to the extra film study they were able to do during the open week last week. Golden said that the team had detected a Miami tendency to throw over the middle when stacking its receivers in or near the red zone.
“I knew (Kaaya) was going to do it,” Golden said. “It was just a matter of the quarterback throwing the ball. The ball was in the air, so I just tried to go up and make a play.”
Return game improves: Tech's kickoff return team produced much better Saturday night than it had in the first four games, play that coach Paul Johnson had labeled "horrendous."
Special-teams coordinator Ray Rychleski devoted extra attention to the unit during the open week to find a fix.
In the first four games, of the 15 returns that weren’t touchbacks, only three had reached the 30-yard line, which is the team’s goal. On Saturday night, Golden returned Miami’s first kickoff to the Miami 38 and the second to the 31. With the improved field position, Tech scored touchdowns on both possessions.
“Coach Ray really pushed on that going into the off week and worked kick return really hard,” Golden said. “You could tell that we had been working on it because the seams opened up a little more, and I feel we’ll continue to get better.”
Etc.: Defensive end Kyle Travis made his first career start, in place of Roderick Rook-Chungong, who started the first four games. Travis, a senior who largely has played special teams throughout his career, had previously played defensive tackle, but was given a chance to play end against Virginia Tech. Rook-Chungong subbed for him later in the game. … Saturday was the first time that Tech's permanent captains, right guard Shaquille Mason, linebacker Quayshawn Nealy and quarterback Justin Thomas, went out for the coin toss. The players were elected last week during the team's open week. … Ten Tech All-Americans were introduced on the field during the first half — James Breland, Durant Brooks, Marco Coleman, Joe Hamilton, Leon Hardeman, Craig Page, Rock Perdoni, Lucius Sanford and Ken Swilling.
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