Defensive coordinator Ted Roof made good on his plan to use more players to combat Virginia Tech’s up-tempo pace. Backup linemen Francis Kallon, Kyle Travis, Patrick Gamble, Tyler Stargel and Antonio Simmons all were put into the game as early as the second and third possessions. It was the first career game for Simmons, a first-year freshman. (Simmons, in fact, tweeted on Friday that the team’s flight was his first plane trip.) Kallon was playing his second game of the season.
While Georgia Tech was stout against the run through the first half, limiting the Hokies to 47 rushing yards on 18 carries, the extra bodies on the line did not produce much effect in the pass rush. Quarterback Michael Brewer through with only infrequent disruption, completing 17 of 23 passes in the first half for 203 yards. He was sacked once and threw an interception to safety Corey Griffin, the latter after a pressure by linebacker Tyler Marcordes.
