From the very first play, Georgia Tech showed Kansas things would be different this year.
The Yellow Jackets called "36″ on their first play, and junior A-back Orwin Smith ran 95 yards untouched for a touchdown. It was a counter play that Kansas coach Turner Gill said the Jackets hadn't run this season.
That set the tone for big plays from the Jackets in their 66-24 blowout win at Bobby Dodd Stadium. They avenged a 28-25 loss at Kansas last season.
“We came into the game thinking we got our tails whipped last year but we made a lot of mistakes,” Smith said. “When we came out with that first play, it gave everybody confidence.”
On a day when Tech seemed able to pick how and when it would gash Kansas for big plays, Smith still stood out.
He finished with 265 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns that totaled 162 yards — he also had a 67-yard scoring catch in the third quarter. Smith's rushing and receiving yards accounted for 35 percent of Tech's school-record 768 yards of offense. He became the first Tech player to gain 100 yards rushing and receiving in a game.
Smith averaged 37.9 yards each time he touched the ball from scrimmage. He also had 49 yards on three kick returns for a total of 314 all-purpose yards.
So far this season Smith has been an early catalyst for Tech.
Smith scored two first-quarter touchdowns in the season-opening victory against Western Carolina, including one on a 77-yard run. He topped that with the first TD against Kansas, which was the second-longest score from scrimmage in Tech history and longest running play.
Smith said he was surprised when he heard the play call in the huddle, then eager once he saw Kansas overreact to Tech's motion before the snap.
“I saw a big seam,” Smith said. “The main thing I was worried about was my receivers [blocking]. They gave a tremendous effort getting down field. It was a team effort to the end zone.”
With that run Smith surpassed his previous collegiate-high for rushing yards in a game (88). Smith had two carries for a total of 37 yards on Tech's next possession and had 150 yards on just four attempts in the first half.
Smith wasn't done with the big plays: Quarterback Tevin Washington found him for the 67-yard touchdown pass that pushed Tech's lead to 38-17 in third quarter. That play also surpassed his previous collegiate-high of 51 yards receiving.
“Today was his turn,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said of Smith. “In the third quarter I guess they felt they though they had to stop the run so they were firing guys out of the secondary and we took advantage of it. Tevin [Washington] made the throws and it just happened to be Orwin.”
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