It’s the game all of Georgia has been waiting for; Clean Old’ Fashion Hate, Georgia Tech vs. Georgia, to answer the ultimate question: Who Runs This State? This year landed the Yellow Jackets in Athens, GA for the early afternoon game. Sanford Stadium played host to a sold-out crowd which looked 95% Georgia, 5% Georgia Tech (by fan base).
Georgia immediately went to their run game to start things off. Nick Chubb kicked off the 1st drive for the Bulldogs and scored the first touchdown. The 10 play, 75 yd drive was all from the legs of Nick Chubb.
After 3 exchanges, the Bulldogs has possession once again and relied on Chubb to get their yardage. After a 75 yd drive UGA was well on their way to scoring again until Chubb fumbled the ball on the Georgia Tech 3 yd line (the fumble was recovered by GT).
But the action didn’t stop there. After Tech marched downfield, they had to settle for a FG. That FG attempt was then blocked by UGA’s Ray Drew and recovered by Damian Swann. Georgia Tech’s Defense was holding solid, keeping the pressure on Hutson Mason as he was floored by Keshun Freeman for the big sack. If that wasn’t enough, once UGA got to Tech’s 1 yd line another running back, Sony Michel, fumbled the ball again for the Bulldogs (recovered by Quayshawn Nealy).
The Yellow Jacket’s offense finally found its rhythm as QB Justin Thomas found Darren Waller for the 7 yd touchdown reception. After the completed extra point, the Jackets went into halftime with the game scored 7-7.
On a freak play, Justin Thomas was somehow stripped at the 1 yd line and Damian Swann returned it 99 yds for the touchdown. The back and forth continued between these two teams, as Marshall Morgan tried a 49 yd FG but it was blocked by Adam Gotsis. Georgia Tech responded with a 4 yd Zach Laskey touchdown.
The 4th Quarter turned into a shootout and became the turning point in the game. Points were coming from everywhere and even more freak plays were happening. This time in a 30 yd Georgia Tech kickoff that was recovered by Georgia Tech. A group of Georgia players thought the ball would bounce out of bounds, but while 4 players were staring at the ball and fell to Lance Austin.
With Georgia up 24-21 in this crazy game of FG blocks and 2 yd fumbles, Tech put the game into overtime with a dramatic 53 yd FG that barely passed the crossbar. Zach Laskey scored his 3rd touchdown in the 1st overtime but the Extra Point was blocked yet again by Ray Drew.
With tensions high and the suspense even higher, the Bulldogs opted with a pass within 10 yards instead of leaving it with Chubb and threw an interception. With that interception Georgia Tech won the game 30-24 and left 93,000+ fans in disarray.
Tech moves on to play in the ACC Championship next Saturday against Florida State.
-Jon J.
Photo: Hakim Wright