Virginia Tech Hands Georgia Tech Its First Loss Of The Season
Sep 26, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Brandon Facyson (31) celebrates an interception with cornerback Kendall Fuller (11) in the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
For the first time this season, the Georgia Tech offense couldn’t get anything going, and the Virginia Tech Hokies rolled to a 17-10 victory while handed the Yellow Jackets their first loss in the process.
The games have steadily become more difficult for Georgia Tech and the defensive line of the Hokies was just too much for them to handle. Defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins was a force all night and helped limit the Jackets to just 129 rushing yards–far and away the fewest the team has put up all season.
Hopkins changed the way Vad Lee and the rest of the team ran the offense, and forced the sophomore QB to put the ball in the air much more than usual. Lee had 24 passing attempts and converted on just seven of them for 144 yards. He also threw two interceptions on the night.
The Georgia Tech offense is clearly built to run the ball and when it struggles as much as it did against Virginia Tech, it’s going to lead to some rough games. Tonight was clearly one of those The Hokies limited big plays on the ground, with the longest rush being 15 yards from Lee. No Georgia Tech runner had over 20 carries which hasn’t happened until now.
Even though Virginia Tech’s defense was the biggest reason for the win, you have to give some credit to their quarterback, Logan Thomas. The 6’6″ 255 pound senior was extremely effective with the ball the entire night. He threw for 221 yards after converting 19 of 25 attempts and also rushed for 58 yards with 16 carries. He grabbed two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing) in the first half and didn’t give the ball up a single time.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets did a great job of stopping the run of Virginia Tech, (the team only finished the game with 55 yards on the ground) but Thomas found a way to beat them through the air.
The season has been bright so far for Georgia Tech, and most likely still is, but they are going to have to do better in the passing game when the running game just isn’t working. That doesn’t happen too often for them, but clearly Virginia Tech has shown that the fourth best rushing offense in the nation can be stopped.
Paul Johnson and his players now have the chance to rebound and make a huge statement next week when they go to Miami for what is now the biggest game of the season.