Florida State struggled to stop Georgia Tech’s run game Saturday night in the Yellow Jackets’ 22-16 win.
Tech coach Paul Johnson said he was proud of how his team was able to bounce back from its mistakes against the No. 9 team in the nation and snap its five-game losing streak.
“It was a fast game. There were three possessions (for each team) in the second half,” Johnson said. “You’re not going to accumulate a lot of yards, but that’s a good way for us to play.”
Entering Saturday’s game, the Seminoles’ rushing defense ranked 19th in the nation, allowing 113.5 rushing yards per game on average. The Jackets rushed for 261 yards on 49 carries, topping their conference rushing average of 218.8 yards per game.
In their past two games, against Miami and Louisville, the Seminoles allowed only 119 rushing yards on 49 carries.
Justin Thomas led the Jackets (3-5, 1-4) in rushing yards with 88, and he scored one touchdown. Thomas’ touchdown was the second rushing touchdown the Seminoles’ defense has allowed this season.
Marcus Marshall followed Thomas in rushing yards, with 13 carries for 58 yards.
“I knew my role was going to be important tonight, and I was going to make sure I did my job with or without the ball,” Marshall said. “You have to keep trusting in the plays and that your teammates will keep getting their jobs done.”
A-back Isiah Willis said he knows the Jackets were the better team Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium because they got away with a win.
“They’re definitely a good team,” Willis said. “It was our job to make plays on the perimeter. That’s just how our offense goes.”
Willis had seven carries for 29 yards against the Seminoles (6-1, 4-1).
The Jackets’ offense with 328 total yards to the Seminoles’ 280.
“We did some screwy things, but we did enough good things to win,” Johnson said. “They didn’t blink, guys just kept playing and you have to be proud of them for that.”
In conference games this season, the Jackets’ offense averaged 218.8 yards per game.
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