The N.C. State defense entered Saturday’s game tied for 65th in yards per play in the country, 124th in third-down conversion and, according to fbsdrivestats.com, 106th in the country in points per possession. Perhaps Georgia Tech’s offensive excellence was not a surprise, but it was another impressive showing regardless.
Tech, ranked 11th in the country in yards per play and first in third-down conversion rate, racked up 549 yards of offense and averaged 7.6 yards per play, shy of the season bests in each category (612 yards against Pittsburgh and 8.9 yards per play against North Carolina). The Jackets offense did score six times in their first seven possessions despite starting only one possession inside N.C. State territory. The 56 points tied the season high set against Pittsburgh.
Tech’s 479 rushing yards was the fourth-highest in an ACC game and Tech’s most in an ACC game.
“I thought we were real efficient offensively,” coach Paul Johnson said.
Quarterback Justin Thomas was effective in making option reads. Despite the fact that coaches weren’t sure how N.C. State’s defense would line up prior to the game – they typically have an idea based on how defensive coordinators have played them previously – Thomas handled at least one pre-snap check correctly. On a third-and-10 at the Wolfpack’s 34-yard line on the opening drive, Thomas had a pass play called, but the Wolfpack lined up three players to the right of the line. Thomas checked out of the play and called a run play for Days to the offense’s right. Days ran 18 yards for a first down, one of eight third-down conversions in 10 tries.
“There wasn’t anybody over there,” Thomas said.
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