Though their streak of blocking a field goal was stopped at two games, Georgia Tech’s (3-0, 1-0 ACC) special teams had another solid day in Saturday’s 38-7 win over Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Harrison Butker once again proved a weapon on kickoffs, putting 4-of-7 for touchbacks. The three returned by the Commodores were the first against Butker this season. They averaged 19 yards per return. Butker had been 10-of-10 on touchbacks, including his first in Saturday’s game.
The one part of Tech’s special teams that had not been playing well performed on Saturday.
Tech punter Ryan Rodwell, inconsistent in the opening win against Boston College and benched against Mercer, contributed against Vanderbilt. He got the start after another week of competition and averaged 42.5 yards on four punts. He had one downed on the 1-yard line. Another was almost stopped from rolling into the end zone.
“It was good,” a smiling Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “Maybe he got the message. I’m proud of him. He did a great job.”
J.J. Green continued his excellent work this season as a kick returner with two for 50 yards, including a long of 33. He was averaging 24 yards per return before Saturday.
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