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closeNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Warren Norman was a dangerous player, and the tape was sure to prove it, Georgia Tech A-back Roddy Jones said.
“Shoot, they don’t need me to say anything,” Jones said to The Telegraph last week. “They’ve got the film to see how good he is.”
But even that apparently wasn’t enough, as Norman — Jones’ former high school teammate at metro-Atlanta’s Chamblee — showcased his speed and athleticism for a second time in as many weeks. Sprinting for an 80-yard touchdown on a second-quarter squib kick, the Vanderbilt kick returner and former track star picked up his second return for a touchdown in two weeks, and his third of the season.
It marked the first time in school history that a Vanderbilt player had returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and only the second time in SEC history that it had happened. Previously, a returner at Tennessee held the previous mark, picking up three kickoffs for touchdowns in a game in 1980.
The return also allowed the Commodores to cut into a two-touchdown Georgia Tech lead, tot make the score 28-21. Moments later, Vanderbilt struck again to tie the game 28-28 before the half.
GOING BOWLING A Chick-fil-A Bowl representative was in attendance Saturday, taking a look at Georgia Tech.
He said the bowl committee and the Atlanta Sports Council has been quite impressed with the Yellow Jackets’ this season and that the team is among a host of programs being considered for the New Year’s Eve game.
While it is still early in the bowl selection process, a number of ACC and SEC teams will be scouted in the remaining regular season weeks. There is a chance, the representative said, that someone will attend the Nov. 28 Georgia-Georgia Tech game at Bobby Dodd Stadium to scout both teams.
By 6 p.m. the Sunday following the conference championships, the bowl will announce its selections.
Also in attendance Saturday were representatives from the Liberty Bowl as well as Florida Citrus Sports.
STILL TRUCKING
A week after knocking down a Virginia defensive back with a ferocious stiff arm, Georgia Tech B-back Jonathan Dwyer provided another highlight early in Saturday’s game.
On the Yellow Jackets’ first series, he shook off one defender near midfield, side-stepping his way through an arm tackle, before slipping past another Commodores player.
The junior running back then went on to continue a 38-yard run. Sprinting around defenders, he was finally wrestled down at Vanderbilt’s 15. Four plays later, the Yellow Jackets scored their first touchdown.
EARLS GETS IN
Georgia Tech junior defensive back Correy Earls got into Saturday’s game early in the second half and helped the Yellow Jackets force a clutch fourth-down.
Coming in on a key third-down, the Central product — who had been a receiver until this season — contributed to Commodores quarterback Mackenzi Adams tossing an incomplete pass to bring about a punt.
While Earls has starred on special teams this season, making several key stops on kickoff coverage teams, he has not seen action on defense.
In the spring, Earls spoke with Georgia Tech coaches and decided to move from receiver to safety.
QUICK HITS
Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt’s second touchdown pushed him into 10th place on the Yellow Jackets’ career rushing list. He also took command of first-place on the school’s career rushing list for quarterbacks, passing Shawn Jones. ... Roddy Jones’ 39 yards rushing in the first quarter set a new season-high. He had previously rushed for 29 against Florida State. ... Vanderbilt quarterback Larry Smith suffered a pulled hamstring on a 35-yard first-quarter run, and was not expected to make a return. On Adams’, first series, the Commodores took a 14-7 lead after a 47-yard pass placed them into near Georgia Tech’s goal line. ... If fans in attendance had no idea Saturday was Halloween, they found out quickly when the Vanderbilt band took the field. During pregame festivities, the Commodores’ “Spirit of Gold” marching band came out in mismatching costumes to celebrate the holiday.
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