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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost an important game to the University of Virginia last Saturday in Charlottesville. Both teams needed the win in order to be ranked third in the ACC.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers won the game. The game was not decided until the end when the Cavalier's scored a controversial touchdown with only 1:15 left in the game.
At the start of the game on Saturday, Tech was 4-3 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, while Virginia was 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the ACC.
Neither team seemed to control the game. Both teams received numerous penalties, played terrible defense and missed key plays. In the first quarter alone, both teams combined for nine penalties and two turnovers.
Throughout the game, both teams continuously exchanged leads. This was mainly due to the fact that neither team's defense played well.
Tech's defense continuously missed tackles allowing the Cavalier's offense to score.
"We couldn't stop them, we couldn't get any pass rush at all," Tech senior linebacker Keith Brooking said. "Virginia didn't do anything different than what we saw them do on the films, but we couldn't stop them."
On a positive note, Tech's offense was very impressive. After being in an offensive slump in their last two starts, Tech's offense was much improved.
Quarterback Joe Hamilton had a career day. He passed for 337 yards by completing 21 of 26 passes. Hamilton's success was partly due to the fact that his offensive line was able to effectively protect him, which allowed him time to throw the ball.
"My protection was great most of the game," Hamilton said. "The only time I ran was when I wanted to."
Not only was Hamilton effective in his passing game, he was able to continuously confuse Virginia's defense by running the ball himself. Hamilton rushed for a total of 31 yards.
Tech's receiver Derrick Steagall also had a career day. He caught seven passes which resulted in a record-breaking 223 yards. Steagall's most impressive catch was a touchdown completion for 74 yards.
"It was very frustrating. From a personal standpoint, this was the game that I'll enjoy the most from my Georgia Tech career. A win would have topped it off," said Steagall.
On their opening drive, the Cavaliers drove into Tech territory but fumbled the ball, giving Tech a break. However, Tech immediately turned the ball over, which resulted in a Cavalier touchdown.
On their next drive, Tech missed an opportunity to score a touchdown after being on the one-yard line. Tech had to settle for a field-goal after fullback Charles Wiley was stopped short of the end-zone on third goal from inside the one.
Virginia responded by marching down the field and scoring as Cavalier quarterback Aaron Brooks found Bryand Owen for a 20 yard touchdown pass to give Virginia a 14-3 lead. With the game in danger of slipping away, the Jackets got back in the game on one play as on the play after the kickoff, Hamilton found a wide open Steagell who outran his defender for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10.
The defense came up with a big stop on Virginia's next possession as Jerry Caldwell intercepted Brooks and returned the ball to the Virginia 35 yard line. The offense capitalized as Phillip Rogers ran in from three yards out to give Tech their first lead of the game 17-14.
However, Virginia responded by driving the length of the field for a touchdown to regain the lead 21-17 just before the half. The key play of the drive was a 40 yard completion from Brooks to Germaine Crowell, who had a field day against Tech's secondary catching six passes for 128 yards for the game.
Although Virginia led at the half, Tech took the lead on their opening drive in the second half with an impressive 80 yard drive. Hamilton found Steagall for a 53 yard completion down to the Virginia 8 yard line, setting up Wiley's 5 yard scoring run, giving Tech a 24-21 lead.
Tech's lead again was temporary as the Cavaliers immediately answered with a 84 yard scoring drive of their own. Crowell continued to torch the secondary as he caught a 53 yard pass, and a 15 yard touchdown pass.
On their next drive, the Jackets scored a touchdown on an 85 yard drive.
Once again, Steagall was impressive, as he got behind the Virginia zone on third and 19 catching a 57 yard pass from Hamilton.
On the next play, Wiley ran six yards for his second touchdown giving the lead back to Tech, 31-28.
The see-saw lead changing appeared to be done when the Jackets stopped Virginia's next possession, and began driving themselves.A pass interference call against Virginia gave the Jackets the ball deep in Virginia territory and the Jackets were poised to score again.
However, the Jackets made a rare offensive mistake. They fumbled the ball on the next play and gave Virginia the ball back and put pressure back on the Jacket defense.
Virginia impressively marched down the field with several big gains on screen passes. The Jackets appeared to tighten up near the goaline before the controversial call. Although the officials didn¹t cost Tech the game, they played a role in the Cavaliers winning touchdown.
The same official, who called the controversial pass interference play against Tech in the game against Notre Dame, called a pass interference penalty against Tech cornerback Kofi Smith on second and goal from the Tech 16.
This penalty moved the Cavaliers to the two-yard line where they eventually scored with 1:15 remaining on the clock.
Tech¹s chances for a bowl bid basically comes down to the last three games of the season. The top four teams in the ACC make a bowl appearances.
In order to secure fourth place in the ACC, Tech needs to win two of the next three games. The final three games of the season are against Duke, Maryland and the University (sic) of Georgia.
³We¹ve got three games left,² said O¹Leary. ³Obviously we need to get six wins to reach our goal [of going to a bowl]. We have opportunities to win three games, and if we turn the ball over like we did today, we have opportunities to lose three games, too. We had a chance to get thing done today and we didn¹t. There were way too many big plays.²
Saturday, the Jackets travel to Durham, North Carolina for an ACC matchup with the Duke Blue Devils.
Gametime for next Saturday against Maryland has been set for 3:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised regionally by ABC.| Questions or comments about this page? Feedback | Copyright © 1997 by Gregory S. Scherrer, Editor and by the Student Publications Board |