Sports

Georgia Tech’s special-teams' woes lead to loss to Tennessee

With the game tied 28-28 Tennessee blocks a field goal attempt by Georgia Tech kicker Shawn Davis as time expires in the fourth quarter of a NCAA college football game sending the game to overtime on Monday, September 4, 2017, in Atlanta. Tennessee went on to beat Georgia Tech 42-41 in double overtime.   Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
With the game tied 28-28 Tennessee blocks a field goal attempt by Georgia Tech kicker Shawn Davis as time expires in the fourth quarter of a NCAA college football game sending the game to overtime on Monday, September 4, 2017, in Atlanta. Tennessee went on to beat Georgia Tech 42-41 in double overtime. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By Maghen Moore
Sept 5, 2017

Special teams, specifically kickers, was a topic that Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson quickly answered in his post-game news conference.

“Try a different kicker, I guess,” Johnson said after the 42-41 double overtime loss to No. 25 Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night.

Redshirt sophomore Shawn Davis missed a 47-yard field goal with 3:14 left in the third quarter, and more importantly, the game-winning, 36-yard field goal was blocked by Tennessee because it was a low kick, sending the game into overtime.

On kickoffs, Davis had only one touchback in five kickoffs. Tennessee’s returner Evan Berry brought one kick back 51 yards.

Davis came into his starting chance with a lot of pressure. The walk-on kicker replaced Georgia Tech’s career-leading scorer Harrison Butker.

Johnson says he’s going to try freshman kicker Brenton King.

“The one at the end of the game is 36 yards,” Johnson said. “He kicked that thing head high, you know... we'll give the other kid a chance and see what he does.”

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Maghen Moore

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