Georgia Tech’s passing attack early was by design. With Georgia committing to stopping the run with aggressive run support, the Yellow Jackets had chances to make plays through the air, starting with a 68-yard pass play to wide receiver Darren Waller, which was Tech’s longest play from scrimmage of the season.
“We knew that we were going to try to hit some big pass plays, and we did in the beginning,” quarterback Vad Lee, who took several snaps out of the shotgun. “If only we could have hit some of those plays towards the end, where we could have finished.”
Lee finished 11-for-23 for 232 yards with two touchdowns against two interceptions. He was 3-for-4 for 137 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter and 8-for-19 for 95 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions the rest of the game.
Lee also ran the ball more effectively than in recent games, gaining 63 yards on 14 carries, including two touchdowns. The rushing total was his highest total since the Syracuse game. His play helped Tech convert 7 of 15 third downs.
“I thought he had a really good game,” coach Paul Johnson said. “He played well.”
Ties record: Tech defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu earned a share of school history with a four-sack game Saturday. The effort tied Greg Gathers' school record of 31 career sacks and also gave him the third-highest single-game total, behind Marco Coleman and Pat Swilling.
Attaochu’s takedowns were timely. His first came on a second-and-4 on Georgia’s opening possession, creating a third-and-12 that resulted in a punt. His fourth, in the fourth quarter, took place on a second-and-6 with Georgia on the Tech 9-yard line. Out of third-and-12 on the next play, Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason threw incomplete. The Bulldogs had to settle for a game-tying field goal with 4:17 to go.
Bowl possibilities: Tech's bowl-game picture is muddled. The Chick-fil-A, Russell Athletic and Sun bowls, which have the first three picks of ACC teams after the BCS bowls, appear unlikely to take Tech at 7-5. The next bowls after that are the Belk, in Charlotte, N.C., and Music City, in Nashville, Tenn. Executives for both bowl games have said in recent weeks that they have interest in Tech, but both said a win over Georgia would make the Jackets a far more appealing candidate. The next bowl after the Music City is the AdvoCare V100 Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Tech’s bowl destination will be known Dec. 8, the day after the conference championship games. Tech has been to the Sun Bowl in each of the past two seasons.
Gurley breaks free: Tech defended Georgia running back Todd Gurley well in the first half, holding him to 29 yards on eight carries. Strongside linebacker Brandon Watts was particularly effective in neutralizing Gurley, whom coach Paul Johnson compared with Herschel Walker during the week. After halftime, though, Gurley gained 93 yards on his final 12 carries, three of which went for touchdowns. His last carry, a 25-yard run on the first play of the second overtime, gave Georgia its first lead of the game.
“He can break that first tackle and get another 3, 4 yards, if not more,” nose tackle Adam Gotsis said. “That’s what really suits him. Real deceptive, as well. I feel like he comes up to the line a bit slow and then once he hits the line, it’s like a burst of speed and just breaks through a few tackles.
Painful loss: A second consecutive senior class will graduate without beating Georgia on the field. There were seniors in last year's class who were part of the 2008 win as redshirts.
“I wanted to play hard and win this game, especially for our seniors,” Lee said. “I can imagine how they feel right now about not being able to beat Georgia. That game matters a lot here, and it was special.”
Tech’s seniors played their final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium and were honored before the game on the field.
“It’s a lot of emotions, because it’s the last game at home, we had the lead most of the game,” A-back Robert Godhigh said. “Losing in overtime always hurts and then losing to Georgia is the ultimate hurt. So it definitely hurts a lot.”
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