Battle Of The Techs

Last Thursday, the twentieth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies stung the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets by a final score of 28-21 in Lane Stadium.

In my opinion, "The Battle Of The Techs" has become the Hokies' biggest rivalry game.  Unlike VPI's traditional rivalry with UVA, the Va. Tech/Ga. Tech match-up is always competitive...and it actually means something. When the Gobblers take on the Ramblin' Wreck, it's a war.  It's a war that determines not only who the best "Tech" is, but also who's the best team in the Coastal Division.   Since the inception of the ACC Championship Game in 2005, the winner of the annual VT/GT match-up has gone on to represent the Coastal Division in the conference title game.  The Hokies defeated the Jackets in 2005, 2007, and 2008 to advance to the ACC Championship in each of those years.  Georgia Tech won in 2006 and last year (2009) to head to the conference title game.  With the way things are shaping up, this year will be no different.

With the latest win over the Jackets, the Hokies gain a commanding two-game lead in the Coastal Division and control the road to Charlotte.  Va Tech also picks up their seventh straight win, and garner the best record in the ACC at 5 and 0.  Now to the game...

We've seen some amazing games between the two Techs since the Hokies joined the ACC in 2004.  Whether it be Bryan Randall leading the Hokies to a comeback win in 04, or Calvin Johnson putting on a wide receiver clinic to give the Jackets a win in 06...they've all been exciting.  This year's game followed suit.

Georgia Tech jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead thanks to quarterback Josh Nesbitt.  Nesbitt, who scored 3 TD's in last year's 28-23 GT win, looked to be on pace to dominate the Tech defense again.  Things looked dismal.  It appeared that Bud Foster had yet again failed to figure out a way to stop the Jackets' triple-option attack.  The Hokies' offense was halted and forced to punt on their first possession, but no one gave up.

On the Hokies' second possession Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams led the offense downfield on a 77-yard scoring drive.  Williams capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD run, and Tech was back in business.  Bud figured out how to slow up the GT rushing attack, and forced a 3-and-out.  Tyrod paired up with David Wilson this time to march down the field.  The Hokie offense made it all the way down to the GT 8 yardline.  On third down Tyrod drops back to pass.  The Jackets only rush three, he has all day to throw, eleven seconds to be exact.  It's like a backyard football game, he just has to wait for someone to get open.  He finds his target, fires it into the endzone, and it's...picked off by the Jackets.  Talk about a Buzzkill.

Bud's defense comes back out and stimey's Ga Tech.  It's another 3-and-out.  The Jackets punt it away to  the always dangerous Jayron Hoseley, but it turned out to just be dangerous for the Hokies.  Hoseley fumbles it away to the Jackets, and in VT territory no less.  The Ramblin' Wreck is set up at the Tech 47, and ready to drive up the score.  Second play of the drive, GT tailback Anthony Allen breaks off a huge 33-yard run.  The Jackets have a first and goal from the VT 10 yardline.  Tech's defense holds on first and second down.  It brings up a crucial third down for both teams.  Then the Hokies get their biggest break of the game.

Nesbitt drops back to pass, he rolls left, he fires to the front corner of the endzone, and he's...picked off by Davon Morgan.  Morgan flies out of the endzone and down the sideline.  Nesbitt tries to make the tackle, Morgan jukes him and runs through Nesbitt's arm before he's tackled.  Nesbitt's still down.  The impact of the blow broke his right forearm.  He's out.  It's a huge break for the Hokies, and an unfortunate one for the Jackets.  The first half expires.  Georgia Tech takes a 14-7 lead into halftime, but the damage is done.

A stalemate ensues in the third quarter.  The GT offense clearly misses their starting playcaller, while the VT offense is smothered by the "straight-Jacket" defense.  The Hokies finally find a rythm, as David Wilson jets for a 15-yard score to tie the game.  Bud stumps Paul Johnson's offense again for another 3-and-out, and the Tech offense comes to life.  Darren Evans bruises his way down the field.  Evans carries the ball five consecutive times, and drives the Hokies all the way down to the GT one yardline.  On third and goal Tyrod fakes the handoff and hits tight end Andre Smith for the score.  It's 21-14, and Tech takes their first lead of the game with around six and a half minutes in the ballgame.

The Jackets won't go away quietly though.  They ramble all the way down the field, and Orwin Smith scrambles 9 yards for a touchdown.  The game is all tied up at 21 with just two and a half minutes remaining.  The Tech offense will have a chance to put this one away...or will they?

Georgia Tech kicks off, but it's a short kick.  David Wilson grabs it at the ten, and proceeds to do what he does best...run fast.  He flies past the Yellow Jackets' special teamers, and cuts it up the sideline all the way to the house.  It's a 90 yard kickoff return touchdown to put the Hokies back up immediately.  It's 28-21 Va Tech.

That should do it right? Case closed? Nope, not quite yet.  The pesky Yellow Jackets keep buzzing around.  Georgia Tech magically finds a passing attack through back-up QB Tevin Washington.  Since it is Georgia Tech, the passing attack was just one pass but it was a big one.  Washington dials in a 38 yard pass to Kevin Cone to bring the Jackets down to the VT 37.  The clock is just ticking away.  Paul Johnson haphazardly sandbags all three of his timeouts, as the clock goes down under a minute.  Washington rushes down to the Tech 16 yardline.  Fourteen seconds left.  Timeout GT.  The Jackets have two chances at the most to get in the endzone.  Washington drops back, he's got a man open.  He fires to the corner of the endzone...and it's intercepted by Rashad Carmichael.  Game over. Hokies WIN!  It's the fly-swatter for the Jackets.

This is by far the most resilient Virginia Tech team I've ever seen.  Not only have the Hokies bounced back from an 0 and 2 start, they've also come from behind to win games.  That's something Tech just hasn't been able to do in the past.  In the opener against Boise State, the Hokies came back from being down 17 to take a lead until the final minute of the game.  Against East Carolina, Tech trailed by 10 points twice in the game, and then bounced back to win 49-27.  Once again Tech fell behind by 17, this time against 25th-ranked NC State.  The Hokies rallied back for a 41-30 win in Raleigh.  And of course in this game Tech was down 14-0, but battled back to win 28-21.  This team just won't give up.  Resiliency is a hard trait to obtain, but it's a great trait to have.  It sure makes me sleep a lot better at night. But with that being said...

The beginning of this game was scary.  I was like, "here we go again."  Luckily Bud figured out how to slow up the triple option attack just enough to where our offense could outscore them.  Davon Morgan helped him out a bunch when he crushed Nesbitt's forearm.  Bottom Line: Bud's got to figure out a better way to stop that rag tag triple option attack, for my sake at least.  I hate watching those jobbers rattle off huge runs against us.  It's bad for our reputation.  We need to tighten up the defense overall, as we have a habit of giving up huge plays this season.  I'm not too worried though, Bud will get it done.

The offense also scared me.  Seven points in the first half doesn't cut it for me.  Not when we have the athletes that we have.  With that being said, the three-headed running back scheme is working out well.  We've been spreading the wealth, and everyone's been sharing the load.  Evans, Williams, and Wilson each had a distinctive drive of their own in this game that resulted in a touchdown.  If we keep triple-wielding with the runningbacks, we may keep all of them for 4 years because they want have the stats to go pro.  It's a good situation to be in.  Our receivers need to step it up to keep our offense balanced.  Other than Jarrett Boykin, no one is really doing much.

Not red-shirting David Wilson is the best decision of the year.  He came through and won this game for us with the big kick-off return TD.  It was a big relief for Tyrod and the offense, and a big relief for me when he ran that puppy back.  I'm assured that we would'nt have won that game if it made it to overtime. They had momentum.  They could score once they reached the red-zone, and we were slowing up.     Thanks Frank for not red-shirting David Wilson, and thanks David for winning the game for us.

Once again history repeats itself with another Va Tech/Ga Tech thriller.  Hopefully history will also repeat itself when it comes to the winner of this battle going on to the ACC Championship.  One thing's for sure though, it's up to the Hokies to decide.