THE FLATS – Highlighted by 154 yards and two touchdowns from wide receiver Malik Rutherford, Georgia Tech’s offense combined for 836 yards and Team Wreck ‘Em defeated Team Swarm, 42-24, in Saturday afternoon’s White and Gold Game at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Rutherford’s Team Wreck ‘Em amassed 512 yards of offense, while Team Swarm went for 322 in the fan-friendly spring game. The offenses were particularly explosive through the air, as Wreck ‘Em completed 22-of-32 passes for 380 yards (17.3 yards per completion) and three touchdowns, and Swarm completed 12-of-26 passes for 238 yards (19.8 yards per completion) and two scores.
Rutherford was the star of the show, as he led all players with his seven receptions for 154 yards. His 11- and 64-yard touchdown catches in the second half helped Wreck ‘Em break open what was a one-score game for much of the afternoon. Wideout Avery Boyd also had two touchdown receptions of 2 and 64 yards, while D.J. Moore hauled in a 55-yard scoring catch and finished the day with four receptions for 92 yards.
Taking snaps for both teams, quarterback Haynes King completed 13-of-22 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. In his first action since sustaining a season-ending injury last fall, Zach Pyron picked up right where he left off by completing 11-of-16 passes for 153 yards and a score. Zach Gibson also broke the century mark, throwing for 106 yards on 7-of-12 passing, while Brody Rhodes completed three of his five attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Head coach Brent Key was quick to point out after the game that in the interests of putting on a show for the approximately 10,000 fans in attendance, the defensive schemes were limited and the offensive fireworks were not indicative of the progress that the Yellow Jackets’ defense made this spring. The Yellow Jackets’ defenders were led on the stat sheet by Ahmari Harvey, who had a team-high-tying six tackles to go along with two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
WR Malik Rutherford (8) led all players with seven receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s White and Gold Game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. (photo: Georgia Tech Athletics/Danny Karnik)
Following the game, the team presented its 2023 White and Gold Awards:
Rock Perdoni Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award: Akelo Stone
John Davis Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award: Jordan Williams
Randy Rhino Outstanding Defensive Back Award: LaMiles Brooks
Joe Hamilton Outstanding Offensive Back Award: Dontae Smith
Calvin Johnson Outstanding Receiver Award: Malik Rutherford
Keith Brooking Outstanding Linebacker Award: Trenilyas Tatum
Pat Swilling Wreck ‘Em Award: Sylvain Yondjouen
Bill Curry I Like to Practice Award: Jaylon King
Demaryius Thomas Community Service Award: Dylan Leonard
Bobby Dodd Outstanding Walk-On Award: Jason Moore
Eddie McAshan Most Improved Player Award: Jakiah Leftwich
Billy Shaw Commitment to Excellence Award: Will Scissum
Brandon Adams Outstanding Teammate Award (player-voted): Joe Fusile
Saturday’s White and Gold Game officially wraps up the spring practice season for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets open the 2023 campaign on Friday, Sept. 1 when they host Atlantic Coast Conference rival Louisville in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
2023 season tickets are on sale now. Visit ramblinwreck.com/footballtickets/seasontix/ for more information and to purchase season tickets online.
WR D.J. Moore (3) runs into the end zone at the end of his 55-yard touchdown reception in Saturday’s White and Gold Game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. (photo: Georgia Tech Athletics/Danny Karnik)
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Postgame Press Conference
Head Coach Brent Key
RB Dontae Smith
DB Jaylon King
WR Malik Rutherford
DL Akelo Stone
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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