September 1, 2018

Tech Blanks Alcorn State in Season Opener

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THE FLATS — Georgia Tech football opened the 2018 season with a 41-0 shutout win over Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Georgia Tech (1-0) scored on its opening possession and never looked back, to pick up its first shutout win since a 56-0 white-washing of Syracuse in 2013, a span of 57 games.

The Yellow Jackets rushed for 439 yards and surrendered just 77 yards on the ground, en route to a 543-146 advantage in total yardage. The Jackets also averaged 7.5 yards per play, compared to just 2.9 for Alcorn State (0-1).

Quarterback TaQuon Marshall accounted for two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing) and B-back KirVonte Benson came off the bench to run for two scores for Georgia Tech. Redshirt freshman B-back Jordan Mason scored in his first-career start and senior wide receiver Brad Stewart caught the second touchdown pass of his career to round out the offensive scoring.

Tech’s defense actually outscored the Braves all by itself, as junior linebacker David Curry ran a fumble back 15 yards for a touchdown in the second half of the rout.

Georgia Tech hits the road for the first time this season next Saturday when it visits USF. Kickoff is set for noon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will be televised nationally on ABC or ESPN2 (network determined regionally).

Team Notes

Georgia Tech won its season opener for the 16^th time in the last 20 seasons and the ninth time in 11 seasons under head coach Paul Johnson.
The Yellow Jackets moved to 88-34-4 (.714) in 126 all-time season openers.
Georgia Tech moved to 11-0 in home openers under Johnson. It was the Yellow Jackets’ 12^th-straight home-opening win overall and 19^th victory in its last 20 home openers.
The Jackets moved to 95-25-4 (.782) in 124 all-time home openers (Tech did not play any home games in 1897 or 1898)
The shutout was Georgia Tech’s first in 57 games, dating back to a 56-0 home win over Syracuse on Oct. 19, 2013. It came in defensive coordinator Nate Woody’s first game with the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech rushed for 439 yards, surpassing the 400-yard mark on the ground for the fifth time in its last 12 games, dating back to the beginning of last season.
Georgia Tech had three players with 75 rushing yards or more (BB
Jordan Mason – 85; QB TaQuon Marshall – 77; BB KirVonte Benson – 75) for the first time since last season’s opener versus Tennessee (Marshall – 249; Benson – 124; AB Nathan Cottrell – 79).
Georgia Tech’s 8.1 yards per carry were its most since it averaged 9.4 yards per carry in a 31-28 loss to Pitt on Oct. 17, 2015.
Junior linebacker David Curry’s 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter was Georgia Tech’s first fumble return for a touchdown since P.J. Davis returned a fumble 38 yards for a score against Kentucky in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (Dec. 31, 2016).

Individual Notes

Nine players made their first starts for Georgia Tech on Saturday – r-Fr. BB Jordan Mason, Jr. WR Jalen Camp, Jr. RG Brad Morgan, Jr. NT Brandon Adams, Sr. OLB Jalen Johnson, So. SS Tariq Carpenter, Sr. FS Malik Rivera*, So. CB Jaytlin Askew and r-Fr. CB Tre Swilling.

* Rivera started 18 games in three seasons at Wofford before transferring to Georgia Tech as a graduate student for this season.

Two Yellow Jackets scored their first career touchdowns – Mason (28-yard run in first quarter) and Jr. LB David Curry (15-yard fumble return in third quarter).
Senior QB TaQuon Marshall’s nine completions were a career high (prev.: 6 at Virginia – Nov. 4, 2017).
Sr. WR Brad Stewart’s four receptions were a career high (prev. 3, three times).

Multimedia

Highlights (ACC Digital Network)