Virginia Tech comes back to nip Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – During this forgettable season, the blame for Georgia Tech’s troubles has been passed like a hot potato from the offense to the defense to the special teams.

On Thursday night, before a nationally televised audience and in front of 100 members of the 1990 national championship team, it was the offense that must shoulder much of the responsibility for a 23-21 loss to Virginia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

“Right now we’re not very good,” head coach Paul Johnson said.

The Georgia Tech defense, miserable in its last game against Virginia, played well enough to win. But the offense turned the ball over three times, and the defense was at last unable to turn the Hokies away.The loss drops Georgia Tech to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the ACC. It drove a stake into the illusion that the team could somehow extend its streak of consecutive bowls to 19.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a season like this,” Johnson said, searching for words.

The Yellow Jackets gave it up on a fumble for the third time midway in the fourth quarter. The Georgia Tech defense had forced a punt and gave the ball to the offense at the 20-yard line. But Marcus Allen fumbled on the first play, and Virginia Tech’s Dadi L’Homme Nicolas recovered at the 18. The Hokies scored four plays later when Travon McMillian ran it in from the 4.

“It goes both ways,” defensive back Demond Smith said. “We just can’t seem to put it together.

McMillian caused problems all night. He carried 24 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns.Georgia Tech managed only 128 of its 258 total yards after the first quarter and fumbled the ball away three times, two of them by Broderick Snoddy, who was playing with a soft cast on his broken hand.

“They were doing the same things everybody else does,” center Freddie Burden said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said, “It was not so much adjustment but getting used to (the Georgia Tech offense). I thought we had a good defensive game plan, and I think it showed up after the beginning. I give credit to the defensive coaches and our players, holding that group to 21 points. You don’t usually do that do those guys.”

The Yellow Jackets had six offensive possessions in the second half. Three of those ended with fumbles, two ended with punts and the final possession was turned over on downs. Allen rushed for 75 yards but had the fumble that set up the Hokies’ winning score. Justin Thomas threw for 97 yards and rushed for 52.

“(Justin) is beat up, but he can’t be the only guy out there to make a play,” Johnson said.

Still, Georgia Tech had a chance to win the game and needed a field goal with 3:56 left when it took over at its own 21. The Yellow Jackets were at the Virginia Tech 40, close to reaching field goal position, when lineman Errin Joe was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of a run.

“I think we were probably in range,” Johnson said. “I felt if we could get to the 35, we’d be in good shape.”

The penalty pushed the Yellow Jackets to a third-and-20 from their own 46, and Thomas was sacked by Ken Ekanem, leaving them in fourth-and 27. Thomas’ desperation fourth-down pass was well thrown over the head of Ricky Jeune.

Georgia Tech’s offense played one of its best opening quarters of the season, racing to a 14-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets ran the ball effectively against a traditionally tough Virginia Tech defense.The Yellow Jackets struck quickly on their first possession. They used a 58-yard pass from Thomas to Jeune on the game’s second play to set up Allen’s 4-yard scoring run.

Georgia Tech’s second touchdown was set up by a turnover. Virginia Tech’s Cam Phillips caught a pass for 14 yards from Michael Brewer, only to have linebacker Tyler Marcordes come in at the end of the play and knock the ball loose. Safety Jamal Golden jumped on the ball at the 25 for his first fumble recovery of the year.

It took the Yellow Jackets eight plays to cover the 75 yards, with Clinton Lynch scoring on a 4-yard pitch around the left end for his seventh touchdown.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 11:09 PM with the headline "Virginia Tech comes back to nip Georgia Tech ."