Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Thomas Leads Tech to 38-35 Win Over Duke

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas led the team to a 38-35 victory over the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday with 459 yards and four touchdowns.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were able to snap a streak of two straight losses to the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday due to the performance of senior quarterback Justin Thomas. Thomas ran and threw for a total of 459 yards and four touchdowns, setting the Yellow Jackets up for a 38-35 victory over Duke.

After trailing 28-7 at halftime, Georgia Tech made their way back into the game trailing 35-31 by the fourth quarter. However, it wasn’t until after the two-minute warning that Thomas was able to seal the deal for the Yellow Jackets with a 50-yard run on a third-and-17 play from the Georgia Tech 21. He then completed a 21-yard game winning touchdown pass to running back Clinton Lynch.

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On Sunday, Thomas‘ performance against the Blue Devils was recognized as he was named the Walter Camp national player of the week. Thomas is also the first Georgia Tech player with 400 yards of total offense since George Godsey’s school-record 477 yards against Virginia in 2001. Additionally, he became the 39th player in FBS history with 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career after his performance on Saturday.

“That’s huge. As many people as have played the game and for me to be 39th, to do that, especially in this type of era and the quarterbacks that have come through college football, I think that’s a great accomplishment, but it’s not all me, though. The guys had to have protected and the guys had to make plays to do it for me to be in that situation, so that’s huge,” said Thomas.

VIA RamblinWreck.com:

"”It’s just me trying to be aggressive,” said Thomas of his big day.Thomas ran for 195 yards with two touchdowns and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns to become the first Georgia Tech player with 400 yards of total offense since George Godsey’s school-record 477 yards against Virginia in 2001.”Hats off to Justin Thomas,” said Duke linebacker Ben Humphreys. ”It’s probably the best game he’s had in his career. Watching on film, he’s a different player in person.”Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said Duke’s defense forced Thomas to keep the ball on option plays.”I thought he played very well today,” Johnson said. ”He made plays.”"

Next: Georgia Bulldogs: Dawgs Fall to Florida Gators

Next up, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have two straight road games against Top 25 teams, beginning next week when they play the No. 21 North Carolina Tar Heels.