Marcus Marshall steps up in first start for Georgia Tech

ATLANTA -- Marcus Marshall found out he would be making his first career start during the pregame warmups. After being the backup for Patrick Skov all season, Marshall got his chance and took advantage of it.

The true freshman went for 58 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball. He had another 58-yard run at the end of the third quarter to set up a touchdown.

"I was excited," Marshall said. "It wasn't something we'd talked about all week."

Marshall finished with 10 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the Raleigh, North Carolina, native, who now leads the team with 439 yards.

Skov had four carries for 4 yards and one touchdown.

"I think Marcus is a little more athletic," head coach Paul Johnson said. "Patrick Skov is a really hard-nosed, tough kid. He's really tough and is going to get you some hard runs. Marcus is probably going to get you more big runs. He needs to learn to hold onto the ball."

Marshall ran for 184 yards in the season opener against Alcorn State but was not heard from for three weeks. He had one carry against Notre Dame, five against Duke and did not play against North Carolina. He returned last week to gain 45 yards against Clemson.

BIG PLAY RETURNS

The Georgia Tech rediscovered the big play Saturday.

During the previous four games, the Yellow Jackets had only seven plays of 25 yards or longer. They had six of them against Pittsburgh, two on rushes by Marshall, two on rushes by Justin Thomas and two on passes from Justin Thomas, one to Michael Summers and one to Ricky Jeune.

"I think everybody was doing their assignments and doing them well," Marshall said.

Thomas had runs of 51 and 45 yards, his first big plays since the Tulane game. He had a 34-yard pass to Summers and a 29-yard completion to Jeune. Thomas has 12 big-play passes this season.

"We just executed a little better," Johnson said.

INJURY UPDATE

Georgia Tech didn't lose anyone with a long-term injury Saturday, although a number of players were shaken up and taken to the trainer's table.

Linebacker P.J. Davis injured his right ankle on Pittsburgh's opening drive and had to be helped off the field. After having the ankle examine and re-taped, he was able to go back in the game on the next possession. Davis wound up leading the team with nine tackles.

Wide receiver Brad Stewart limped off the field with an injured left ankle. He had ice on the leg and did not return. Of all the players who were injured, Stewart's was the most substantial.

Defensive end KeShun Freeman left the field for a possession but returned the next. He had his left knee iced after the game. Freeman had four tackles.

A-back Broderick Snoddy, offensive lineman Errin Joe and defensive back Demond Smith were unable to play.

ETC.

The Yellow Jackets have lost five consecutive games for the first time since the 1994 team that went 1-10. ... Georgia Tech extended the team's streak to 15 consecutive games with a touchdown pass when Thomas connected with Jeune in the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets have the third-longest streak in the ACC. ... Thomas rushed for 95 yards, the most since he went for 121 in his MVP performance against Miss State in the Orange Bowl.

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Marcus Marshall steps up in first start for Georgia Tech ."