Tech Beats Itself in First Loss of the Season 

By Don Stone - Tech Express

    The game Saturday in Virginia was odd in several ways. First...the Georgia Tech loss itself. This season, with a 6-0 start, that was, indeed, unusual.
     But, there was also the overall feel of the game. Tech was trailing virtually the whole game. But, it always seemed that they were right around the corner from righting the ship and going ahead.
        "We have to do a better job as an offense, throwing the ball and catching," said Yellow Jacket quarterback Tevin Washington. "We didn't complete the drives and get the first downs that we needed. We put ourselves in the position to win the game, and we didn't do it."
        The defense appeared to be the biggest problem maker. Tech was giving up huge chunks of yardage on every play. They had no answer for Perry Jones who ran for 149 yards alone in Virginia's ground game.
        "When a team can come out and run the ball like they did, it can be hard for us to win," said Yellow Jacket cornerback Rod Sweeting. "They executed, they were well prepared, and they ran the ball down our throat all day."
        But, in reality, for the most part, the Cavaliers didn't score any more than any other team has this season. Western Carolina and Middle Tennesee State got 21 points. Kansas, 24. North Carolina 28. Maryland 16. It was only a few late game meaningless scores by NC State that got them their 35.
        So, Virginia putting up 24 points was actually very normal for Tech's defense. It just stood out more because of Tech's offense only got 21, normally scoring two or even three times that number this season.
        Early in the game, Tim Smith caught a pass for 37-yards and Clifton Richardson had a 22-yard run. Right off the bat, Tech was in a 14-0 hole, looking like they were going to get blown out.
        But, within a 98 second span late in the first half, the Jackets got 14 points of their own on a a 7-yard touchdown run by Washington, capping an 80 yard drive. Sweeting quickly followed by intercepting a Rocco pass three plays later and returning it 32 yards for the tying touchdown.
        Everything seemed normal again. Tech had tied it 14-14.
        Although the Cavs continued to get first down after first down and eat up clock, not many more points were put on the board.
        So, defensively, not a lot was different. It just appeared so due to the closeness of the game.
        Georgia Tech moved the ball throughout the game, but shot themselves in the foot most visibly on two key plays.
        Washington broke loose for a stunning 85 yard touchdown run only to see a flag on the ground, bringing it all back. A 66-yard pass to Orwin Smith to Virginia's 14 yard-line in the second half was also wiped out by another devastating block in the back penalty.
        "The penalties killed us offensively in a game where we had a hard time getting them off of the field," said head coach Paul Johnson. "We killed ourselves twice in the first half. Things should have been over after the very first play, but we got pinned by a penalty to call us back from a long touchdown run so we ended up eating the clock."
        "If you play with fire for long enough, you get burned," admonished the coach..
        Either one of the penalties would have made the end result a different story.
        The season is far from lost, however. At 6-1, Tech remains in first place in the ACC Coastal Division. But, they needed this win as the real meat of their schedule lies in wait. The Jackets have three straight difficult conference games ahead. The rest of the season starts Saturday with a road trip to 3-3 Miami, who is coming off a 30-24 road win at North Carolina. The Hurricanes have been struggling with consistency this year with losses against Maryland, Kansas State and Virginia Tech mixed in like a club sandwich with alternating wins  vs Ohio State, Bethune Cookman and the Tar Heels. If that patter continues, then its Miami's turn to lose again.
        Then, a short rest sets up a key Thursday night ESPN game with #12 Virginia Tech, who is also 6-1 and just a bit behind the Jackets in the division at 2-1 with one less ACC game played. The Hokies' only loss this season was to #7 Clemson, who will be the Jackets' next opponent.
        7-0 Clemson comes to Bobby Dodd for a huge game on October 29. Those three weeks will dictate whether Georgia Tech will be in Charlotte for the ACC Championship game or watching at home.
        A breather with Duke comes before the regular season closes with a resurging Georgia team. After two losses to start the season, the Bulldogs have rattled off five straight wins and, with South Carolina losing star running back Marcus Lattimore for the season, appear to be the frontrunner to win the SEC Eastern Division.
        The loss on Saturday dropped Georgia Tech ten spots in the national polls to #22.