THE FLATS – Georgia Tech football fell into early 14-0 hole and couldn’t rebound in a 42-0 loss to No. 20/17 Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Ole Miss (3-0) scored on its first two possessions – the second aided by a blocked punt that gave the Rebels a short field – to grab the 14-0 lead just 5:09 into the ballgame.
Georgia Tech’s defense settled in after Ole Miss’ initial blitz and kept the Rebels off the board for the next 15 minutes of game action. The Yellow Jackets had an opportunity to cut the deficit in half early in the second period when its best offensive possession of the game gave them first-and-goal from Ole Miss 7. However, not wanting to settle for a field goal against the 20th-ranked Rebels, the Jackets came up empty on fourth-and-goal from the 4 and still trailed 14-0.
Ole Miss scored on its ensuing possession and took a 21-0 lead into halftime. The Rebels then found the end zone on their first three possessions of the second half to pull away.
Linebacker Ayinde Eley remained a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets. Eley, who came into the weekend as the only NCAA Division I FBS player with at least 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season, added to those gaudy numbers with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble on Saturday. He led all players in all four categories. Fellow linebacker Charlie Thomas joined Eley in double-figures with 10 tackles.
Quarterback Jeff Sims battled to complete 18-of-32 passes for 161 yards to lead the Yellow Jackets offensively.
The Yellow Jackets leave Atlanta for the first time this season next Saturday when they travel to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF. The game will kick off either at 3:30 or 4 p.m., with television coverage on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. Kickoff time and TV outlet will be announced following the conclusion of Saturday’s games.
Ayinde Eley (2) led all players with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble on Saturday against Ole Miss (Danny Karnik photo)
Postgame Notes
Team Notes
- Georgia Tech fell to 1-2 on the season. No. 20/17 Ole Miss moved to 3-0.
- Georgia Tech faced a nationally ranked opponent for the fourth time in its last five games (at No. 6 Notre Dame – Nov. 20, 2021; vs. No. 1 Georgia – Nov. 27, 2021; vs. No. 4 Clemson – Sept. 5; vs. No. 20/17 Ole Miss – Saturday).
- Georgia Tech fell to 2-3 all-time against Ole Miss. Georgia Tech won the first two games in the series (1946, 1953 Sugar Bowl) but have lost the last three (1971 Peach Bowl, 2013 Music City Bowl and Saturday).
Individual Notes
- Georgia Tech r-Sr. LB Ayinde Eley, who entered the week as the only player in NCAA Division I FBS with at least 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season, added to those numbers with 12 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble. He led all players in all four categories.
- Eley’s 3.0 tackles for loss were a career high (prev.: 2.0 – last Saturday vs. Western Carolina).
- Georgia Tech So. DL Noah Collins set a career high with 2.0 tackles for loss (prev.: 1.0 – Nov. 27, 2021 vs. Georgia).
- Georgia Tech r-Jr. DB Zamari Walton set a career high with 8.0 tackles (prev.: 7 – Sept. 12, 2020 at Florida State).
- Georgia Tech r-Jr. DB Jaylon King’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career.
- Georgia Tech r-Fr. WR Malik Rutherford’s 38-yard reception in the first quarter was a career long (prev.: 24 vs. Pitt – Oct. 2, 2021).
Jeff Sims completed 18-of-32 passes for 161 yards on Saturday against Ole Miss (Danny Karnik photo)
Multimedia
Coach Collins Postgame Press Conference (Video)
Coach Collins Postgame Press Conference (Audio)
Student-Athletes Postgame Press Conference
Game Highlights (ACC Digital Network)
Condensed Game (ACC Digital Network)
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