The game that was
Clemson, the No. 5 team in the country going into the game, proved little match for a steeled Georgia Tech team that gave the performance of the season in a 31-17 win Saturday at sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets stopped their two-game losing streak by punishing the Tigers with 383 rushing yards, which is just 23 fewer than they'd gained in their past two games combined.
What we learned
1. A fast starts make all the difference. Tech was doomed from the start in the previous two games, losses to Virginia and Miami, by falling behind 14-0 in each. The deficits forced the Jackets into situations in which their strategy of running the clock and churning out long drives worked against them. On Saturday night, Tech fell behind 3-0 early but scored the next 24 points to gain leverage.
2. Big plays don't hurt, either. The Jackets went without a 20-yard play against Miami and had just three against Virginia after accumulating 45 in the first six games. Tech's big-play capacity enables easier scores and eases pressure on an offense that is not built for long third-down conversions. Quarterback Tevin Washington's runs of 46 and 56 yards set up scores for the Jackets. Tech finished with four plays of 20 yards or more.
3. The Jackets were misread. Believed done for the year with two decisive losses, the Jackets fed off the doubt and low opinion of their team among fans and media to deliver a wallop to Clemson. A future SAT answer: Doubters are to Paul Johnson as sunlight is to plants. The lack of belief fueled the Jackets' 6-0 start. The challenge, again, will be keeping that edge.
Loose ends
The ACC confirmed Sunday that Clemson defensive tackle Rennie Moore should have been called for offsides on a goal-line play in the third quarter. Moore forced a fumble that he recovered and started a Clemson touchdown drive. … With its fourth ACC win, Tech secured a league-record 17th consecutive season with a conference record of .500 or better. … B-backs David Sims and Preston Lyons combined for 110 yards on 24 carries; they alternated series. … Guard Will Jackson left the game with a neck injury and did not return. His status for Tech's next game, Nov. 10 against Virginia Tech, is not known.
Sound bite
"Right when I saw them storm [Saturday], I got out of there real quick but I was able to see them storm the field; it's a fantastic feeling."
-- B-back Preston Lyons, unable to get to the locker room for 45 minutes the last time that Tech students stormed the field following the 2009 win over Virginia Tech
Numbers game
55,646
The attendance Saturday was the largest Bobby Dodd Stadium crowd since a Sept. 2006 game against Notre Dame.
5-0
Tech's record at home. The Jackets have to beat Virginia Tech and Georgia to win all of their games at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the first time since 1999.
What's next?
The Jackets will play rival Virginia Tech (8-1 overall, 4-1 ACC) in two Thursdays at Bobby Dodd Stadium in an ESPN-televised game. The Nov. 10 game may well determine the Coastal Division's representative in the ACC championship game. The Hokies, ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press poll, won a sloppy game over Duke Saturday by a 14-10 score.
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