The game that was
Thirsting for revenge, Georgia Tech demolished Kansas 66-24 with an offensive explosion that set NCAA, ACC and school records. Tech produced 768 yards (school record), 604 rushing yards (ACC and school record) and averaged 12.1 yards per carry (NCAA, ACC and school record) against Kansas, which beat the Yellow Jackets 28-25 last September in Lawrence, Kan.
What we learned?
One
The A-back stable is potent
A-backs Orwin Smith, Roddy Jones and Embry Peeples combined for 499 rushing and receiving yards on 17 touches, a ridiculous 29.4 yard average. Clever play calling and excellent blocking helped spring all three for big yardage. Repeatedly. Tech scarcely even needed A-back Tony Zenon, who opened the win over Middle Tennessee State with a 73-yard touchdown reception.
Two
The defense is coming around.
After an ineffective first half in which the Jackets allowed three scoring drives in excess of 60 yards and permitted Kansas to convert 7 of 10 third downs, Tech closed the door in the second half. Kansas, which put up 45 points the week prior, averaged 4.1 yards per play after averaging 6.0 in the first half and scored only a late touchdown.
Three
The Jackets are going national.
Tech made the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls for the first time since the loss to Kansas last year. Tech is ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll and No. 25 in the AP poll. The Jackets jumped from 34th in the coaches' rankings and from 38th with the writers. They'll be on ESPN this Saturday with a noon kickoff against North Carolina at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Loose ends
Tech coach Paul Johnson gave credit to wide receivers Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton for their blocking despite their lack of participation in the passing game. Hill, who had come into the game averaging 181.0 yards per game, had one catch for four yards. … Johnson acknowledged a time management error at the end of the first half which enabled Kansas to drive for a field goal as time expired. … Inside linebacker Julian Burnett led the team in tackles for the third game in a row with nine stops. He has 29 for the season.
Numbers game
2
Of Tech's three highest all-time totals for total offense yards, two were set this year, Kansas Saturday (school-record 768) and Western Carolina (662). Tech wracked up 706 against The Citadel in 1948.
Sound bite
"I think they knew what we were about to do. It got to a point where they were kind of reading our defense and knowing what we were gonna run." – Kansas cornerback Tyler Patmon, to the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, about the Tech offense.
What's next?
Tech will open ACC play Saturday against North Carolina at home at noon. The Tar Heels beat Virginia 28-17 in both teams' conference opener. North Carolina is 3-0.
About the Author
