A quarter-by-quarter look at Georgia Tech’s 27-21 loss against Virginia on Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
FIRST QUARTER
Big play: A-back Clinton Lynch took an option pitch and sprinted untouched to the end zone to give the Yellow Jackets a 7-3 lead at the 5:18 mark. It was the longest run of Lynch's career.
Turning point: Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis, whose superior play has been one of the Jackets' few constants this season, suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury on the first play from scrimmage and did not return.
Takeaway: With Jabari Hunt not playing for reasons that were unclear — he was not on the injury report — and Gotsis now sidelined, Tech was without two of its top three defensive tackles, not a good situation. Virginia appeared eager to take advantage. A team with a 51/49 run-pass ratio, the Cavaliers ran 13 times out of 20 first-quarter plays.
Score: Virginia 10, Tech 7
SECOND QUARTER
Big play: Lynch scored again, this time on a misdirection pass that went gave him the left third of the field to himself for a 30-yard touchdown. Tech gained 153 yards in the first half, and Lynch's scoring plays had accounted for 79 of them (52 percent).
Turning point: The Cavaliers were driving midway through the quarter and had reached the Tech 39 when defensive end Roderick Rook-Chungong intercepted what looked like a screen pass and returned it to the Virginia 44, the first time Tech had started a drive on its opponent's side of the field since they played Clemson thrree games prior. It turned into Lynch's touchdown.
Takeaway: With the Tech offense operating in fits and starts, it appeared that the Jackets would need to find just enough big plays on offense and prevent enough big plays on defense to let the Cavaliers self-destruct with turnovers or penalties, something they had done often this season.
Score: Tech 14, Virginia 10
THIRD QUARTER
Big play: On a first-and-10 from the Virginia 37 midway through the quarter, quarterback Justin Thomas threw just long to wide receiver Brad Stewart on a play-action play. A touchdown would have given the Jackets the lead back at 21-20. Instead, Tech punted three plays later and Virginia drove to take a 27-14 lead on the ensuing drive.
Turning point: On the first play of Tech's second possession of the half, Virginia defensive lineman Trent Corney knocked the ball loose from Thomas on an option keeper, and Virginia recovered at the Tech 30-yard line. The Cavaliers took a 20-14 lead two plays later on a 30-yard pass play to Canaan Severin at the 8:44 mark.
Takeaway: Virginia had run 59 plays to Tech's 34. With virtually no depth on defense, the Jackets desperately needed a turnover to get off the field or were likely going to be worn down.
Score: Virginia 20, Tech 14
FOURTH QUARTER
Big play: After Tech drove 95 yards in 2:31 to cut the lead to 27-21 with 1:41 play and then recovered the onside kick, the Jackets drove to the Virginia 34, but gave the ball up on downs with 1:06 remaining.
Turning point: Virginia running back Albert Reid broke through the middle of the Tech line for a 24-yard touchdown, finishing a 13-play, 91-yard drive for a 27-14 lead with 13:15 to play and a crushing blow for the Jackets.
Takeaway: Seven days after winning on a miracle play, the injury-saddled Jackets didn't have enough magic in the bag.
Score: Virginia 27, Tech 21
About the Author
