April 12, 2003
Sophomore cornerback Reuben Houston had an interception and blocked a potential game-winning field goal on the final play to lift the Georgia Tech defense to a 26-24 victory over the Rambling Wreck offense in Tech’s spring football game, Saturday before 4,000 fans at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field.
The scrimmage pitted the first team offense against the first team defense, and the second team offense against the second team defense. The defense was credited with points as follows: six points for a defensive touchdown, three points for an interception or fumble recovery, two points for forcing the offense to go three-and-out, and one point for holding the offense without a score on any series.
The offense took a 24-15 lead on Michael Sampson’s 65-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second half, but the defense moved ahead 25-24 by stopping the offense on five straight possessions, including a fumble recovery by linebacker Gerris Wilkinson.
Backup quarterback Brian Camp drove the offense down to the 19-yard line in the final three minutes, but Dan Burnett’s 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Houston, who intercepted Damarius Bilbo’s first pass of the day but also gave up a long touchdown play early in the scrimmage.
Tech’s top two quarterbacks both made big plays with Bilbo hitting senior Jonathan Smith for a 35-yard touchdown pass and senior A.J. Suggs connecting with junior Levon Thomas for a 44-yard scoring strike.
The sophomore Bilbo was 6-for-15 for 135 yards, while Suggs completed 7-of-10 passes for 119 yards. Each threw one interception. Camp was 6-for-13 for 58 yards.
“We threw the ball deep fairly well, but we’re not crisp and we’re not where we need to be,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey. “A.J. played pretty well and made some good throws. D-Bo (Bilbo) was sporadic. He looked good sometimes and not so good sometimes.
“Like we’ve said all along, the job will open right up until the fall.”
Sampson, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, was the rushing standout with 12 carries for 111 yards, including the long touchdown run. Sophomore P.J. Daniels added 54 yards rushing on 11 carries.
“I thought we did some good things running the football,” said Gailey. “For Michael Sampson, this is the second scrimmage in a row that he’s played well and made some big plays. P.J. Daniels ran the ball well, too.
“Michael has done a great job, and he’s moved to the front of that pack right now. I thought he did a good job of running inside and when he got on the perimeter.”
Junior Mark Logan was the leading receiver with five catches for 57 yards. Thomas caught three passes for 92 yards, while Smith added two catches for 55 yards.
Defensively, Houston and linebacker Tabugbo Anyansi had interceptions, and Wilkinson and defensive end Eric Henderson recovered fumbles. Defensive tackle Travis Parker had two sacks and a forced fumble.
One negative for the Tech offense was turnovers and penalties. The offense turned the ball over four times (two interceptions and two fumbles) and had several false start penalties.
“We’ve got to eliminate that,” said Gailey of the penalities. “That’s just a total lack of discipline on their part, and we’ve got to straighten that out.”
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