Georgia Tech’s special teams were one of the keys in its 65-10 victory against Tulane on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets blocked a punt in the second quarter and were gifted a safety in the third quarter. The mistakes led to nine points that they didn’t need. Tech has blocked 12 kicks since 2013.
“It helps a bunch,” coach Paul Johnson said of his special teams. “They helped a bunch, too, by dropping snaps and dropping punts over their head.”
Tulane’s troubles started with its first punt. Jamal Golden caught the ball at the 21-yard line and returned it 44 yards to Tulane’s 35.
That might have been the best-case scenario for the Green Wave considering what happened next.
In the second quarter, defensive back Chris Milton blocked a punt after Tulane’s Peter Picerelli bobbled the snap on fourth and 14 at his 27. Tech recovered on the 10 and scored three players later to take a 21-0 lead. It was Milton’s sixth blocked kick, including his fourth blocked punt. It was Tech’s first blocked punt this season.
“I was just trying to make a play for the team,” Milton said. “(The fumble) kind of let me get to it a little bit quicker.”
Pressure on Tulane’s next punt forced a 23-yard effort that gave the Yellow Jackets possession on the Green Wave’s 38. The Yellow Jackets took advantage with another touchdown to take a 28-7 lead just before halftime.
Their nerves still frayed, Tulane’s long snapper sailed the ball over Picerelli’s head and into the end zone for a safety in the third quarter. It was the Yellow Jackets’ first safety since Sept. 2008 at Boston College.
In the topper on a miserable day for Tulane kicker Trevor Simms. He pulled his kickoff out of bounds following a field goal that cut Georgia Tech’s lead to 51-10. With the ball on the 35, quarterback Matthew Jordan ran for a 65-yard touchdown to give the Jackets a 58-10 lead.
Johnson was also pleased with kicker Harrison Butker, saying it’s hard for opponents to return kicks unless he is going into the wind. Tulane returned five for 112 yards.
