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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Fall to UNC 38-31, Lose 3rd Straight Game

By Matthew Schoettler

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Coming off of a disappointing performance against Duke, Georgia Tech hosted the the UNC Tarheels at Bobby Dodd Stadium, looking to end their two-game losing streak.

In week five of the NCAA Football season, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets came into the game a modest 2-2; while, North Carolina’s record was 3-1. Georgia Tech, coming off of a 34-20 loss at Duke, were in desperate need of a win. Starting the season off 2-0 and ranked in the top-25, the Yellow Jackets have since fallen out of the top-25, due in large-part to losing two straight.

-= Related: Georgia Tech: 5 Things to Watch vs. UNC =-

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ head coach Paul Johnson noted that the team missed over 70 assignments in their disappointing showing against a tough Notre Dame team. Johnson realized the team would need to be much more efficient against the Tarheels if they want to change their fortune. Against the UNC Tarheels, Georgia Tech started out on the right foot, scoring on their opening drive with a Justin Thomas rushing touchdown to open the scoring 7-0.

UNC failed to score on their opening drive, having to punt to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets, in turn, scored another touchdown on a 14 play, 85 yard drive. Runningback Clinton Lynch capped off the drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0 at the beginning of the second quarter. On the Tarheels’ next drive, Georgia Tech defensive lineman Adam Gotsis was ejected for targeting, forcing him to miss the remainder of the game.

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UNC could not score on the drive, having to punt again. Up 14-0 with the ball, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets continued their dominance early on. Justin Thomas racked up his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard rush on 4th down to put the Yellow Jackets up 21-0. On a side note, Georgia Tech converted two 4th downs on the drive.

With roughly five minutes left before half-time, UNC looked baffled; however, the would quickly rebound. Elijah Hood, the Tarheels running back, dominated the drive and finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 21-7. On the subsequent drive by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the team went 3-and-out and were forced to punt. The punt was nearly blocked due to a low snap that was dropped by Tech’s punter.

Oct 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Austin Proehl (7) catches a pass for a first down as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker P.J. Davis (40) pursues in the first quarter of their game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Tarheels were given good field position and made Georgia Tech pay dearly for it. Marquise Williams, UNC’s quarterback, scored on a 4-yard quarterback draw with four seconds remaining in the half, further cutting the deficit to 21-14. It was clear that the momentum was shifting in the game at this point.

Tech’s struggles continued in the second half, and UNC would continue to rack up unanswered points. Tarheel’s kicker Nick Weiler added three points with a 37-yard field goal, making the score 21-17, with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets still hanging onto the lead. Georgia Tech’s Justin Thomas would put an end to the run that the Tarheels had, throwing a 19-yard touchdown to Mikell Lands-Davis to extend their lead 28-17.

On the following drive for the UNC Tarheels, Elijah Wood scored his second rushing touchdown on the game; this one was from the 1-yard line to close UNC’s gap 28-24. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets could feel the game slipping from their grasp, and Paul Johnson wanted to kill UNC’s momentum; thus, he went for it on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but Justin Thomas was stopped, forcing a turnover on downs.

North Carolina could not score after the turnover on downs and was forced to punt. On Tech’s next drive, Justin Thomas was hit hard and fumbled the ball, leading to a UNC recovery. On the very next play, the Tarheels opened up the playbook to one of their trick plays, a reverse pass. The reverse pass led to a 37-yard touchdown from wide receiver Davis to quarterback Williams. This score gave UNC their first lead of the game, overcoming a 21-point deficit.

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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets failed to get anything going for nearly the remainder of the game, failing to convert on 4th down again. North Carolina’s Marquise Williams put the dagger in the game with a 27-yard touchdown run to put the Tarheels up by 10. The Yellow Jackets would score a 37-yard field goal in efforts to get the ball back at the end of the game, with the score now being 38-31.

UNC tried to ice the game with a 47-yard field goal; however, the kick was wide-right, giving the ball back to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with just over a minute to go in the game. Georgia Tech had to go nearly the length of the field with no time outs, but they came up short, with Thomas throwing an interception on a desperation hail-mary pass.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are in an even more difficult position now, with their goal as repeating as ACC Coastal Division Champions on the brink. The Jackets must now realistically win out to even have a shot at the ACC Title Game. Paul Johnson and his team have a lot of work to do.

Next: Georgia Tech Hosts UNC in Important ACC Contest

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