Win ends Jackets’ run of overtime agony
Georgia Tech ended a four-game losing streak in overtime games with the win over Georgia. The Yellow Jackets had fallen in overtime to Utah in the Sun Bowl in 2011, to Virginia Tech and Miami in 2012 and to Georgia in 2013. Perhaps not surprisingly, Tech had given up scores late in regulation in each of those games to send the game to overtime. Tech’s last overtime win was in 2009, over Wake Forest.
“As crazy as it sounds, losing never crossed my mind,” guard Shaquille Mason said. “They scored with, what, 18 seconds? I knew all we needed was a field goal to go into overtime. I knew if we got the field goal, we’d get the job done.”
It was the third time this season that Tech quarterback Justin Thomas either led a game-winning or game-tying drive on the Jackets’ final possession of regulation, following the game-winning drives against Georgia Southern and Virginia Tech.
Trivia buffs will note that Saturday’s game was the first overtime contest in Sanford Stadium history. Tech’s 2012 OT loss to Virginia Tech was also the first overtime game in Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium.
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
