Oct. 18, 2010
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Georgia Tech, Clemson Meet Saturday In Re-Match Of 2009 ACC Title Game
Georgia Tech, riding a three-game win streak, travels to Clemson Saturday in a re-match of the 2009 ACC Championship Game (3:30 p.m./ABC-ESPN).
The last three Georgia Tech-Clemson meetings have been nail-biters, decided by a combined 12 points. The Yellow Jackets won both meetings last year — 30-27 in Atlanta and 39-34 in the ACC title game in Tampa.
Tech, 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, is coming off a 42-14 win over visiting Middle Tennessee State. Joshua Nesbitt ran for 106 yards and a touchdown, Anthony Allen ran for two TDs and the Jackets outscored the Blue Raiders 21-0 in the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets’ spread option offense is led by senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who ranks second in the ACC in rushing (92.7 ypg), and senior B-back Anthony Allen, who ranks fourth (85.7 ypg). Tech’s 3-4 defense has shown improvement over the last three weeks.
Clemson, 3-3 and 1-2, is coming off a 31-7 thrashing of visiting Maryland last Saturday. The Tigers scored on defense (61-yard interception return), special teams (87-yard kick return) and offense in the win over the Terrapins.
The Tigers have one of the ACC’s top defenses, allowing just 143.3 rushing yards and 19.3 points per game. Clemson junior Da’Quan Bowers leads the nation in sacks (1.5 per game) and in tackles for loss (2.5 per game).
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 49-24-2, including four straight wins.
Quick Notes On The Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech has won five straight ACC road games,has not lost on the road against an ACC Atlantic Divisionteam since 2007 and is 10-4 overall on the road under Paul Johnson. Georgia Tech is one win shy of becomingbowl-eligible for the 14th consecutive season. Senior quarterbackJoshua Nesbitt needs 44 rushing yards to become the mostprolific rushing quarterback in ACC history — a recordheld by former Clemson standout Woodrow Dantzler (2,761 yards from1998-01). Nesbitt, who has more rushing TDs (33) than any QB in ACChistory, needs 282 rushing yards to become just the eighth playerin NCAA history with 3,000 career rushing yards and 3,000career passing yards. Nesbitt ranks second in the ACC inrushing (92.7 ypg) and he ranks fifth nationally among quarterbacksin rushing. Tech ranks second nationally in rushing offense (328.1ypg). The Yellow Jackets finished in the top five nationally inrushing in 2008 and 2009. Tech’s defense, which allowed 26.8 pointsin its 2-2 start, has allowed just 18.3 points per game in theYellow Jackets’ three-game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets are11-2 under Johnson in games decided by five points or less. TheYellow Jackets haven’t lost back-to-back games in three seasonsunder Johnson. Georgia Tech is one conference win shy of finishing.500 or better in ACC play for the 16th consecutive season.
