Sept. 10, 2011
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) – One week after rolling up over 600 yards and 60 points, Georgia Tech proved it could score quickly through the air or grind it out on the ground with its triple-option attack.
Tevin Washington threw for two long touchdowns and ran for two scores, and Georgia Tech (2-0) pounded Middle Tennessee State (0-2) 49-21 Saturday night before MTSU’s record crowd of 30,501.
The Yellow Jackets, who took a 28-0 second-quarter lead, scored on their first play from scrimmage. Washington hit Tony Zenon down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown only 14 seconds into the game.
Georgia Tech then went to the ground for all 17 plays on its next possession to score on a 98-yard drive after MTSU had downed its first punt at the 2. Tech took 9:25 off the clock, had five different ball carriers and made six first downs before Washington scored on a 2-yard keeper for a 14-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets finished with 596 total yards, 382 on the ground. Washington left in the third quarter after completing 5 of 8 passes for 202 yards, while David Sims and backup quarterback Synjyn Days led Tech’s rushers with 91 yards each.
MTSU started its second possession at its 40 after Tech’s kickoff went out of bounds, and Logan Kilgore hit Anthony Amos for a 20-yard pass on first down. But the drive stalled at the Tech 29 and Alan Gendreau missed wide left on a 46-yard field goal attempt.
The Yellow Jackets went back to the air and scored on the next play, a 71-yard pass from Washington to Stephen Hill. Hill was hit by defenders around the 32, but broke loose for a 21-0 lead with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
An interception by Tech’s Isaiah Johnson stopped MTSU at the Tech 10, and this time the Yellow Jackets mixed up the pass and the run to build a 28-0 lead with 10:45 to go in the second quarter. Washington connected with Hill for 43 yards and Roddy Jones and Sims had 14-yard carries on the seven-play drive before Washington kept on the option for a 7-yard touchdown.
Johnson also came up with a fumble recovery on the Blue Raiders’ next drive, but Tech had to punt for the first time 7 minutes before halftime.
MTSU finally got on the scoreboard 3:12 before halftime after an 11-play. D.D. Kyles dragged defenders into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown run.
Georgia Tech was the third Atlantic Coast Conference visitor to MTSU’s Johnny (Red) Floyd Stadium since the Raiders moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1999. But the Yellow Jackets were the first to blow out MTSU; Virginia won by only two points in 2007 and Maryland lost in 2008.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on another touchdown midway through the third quarter when Orwin Smith’s 2-yard TD run capped an 11-play, 6-minute drive that covered 85 yards.
Georgia Tech put in Days on the next series, and he directed two touchdown drives. The redshirt freshman ran keepers for 10 and 28 yards before scoring on a 5-yard run with 1:27 left in the third.
Middle Tennessee was celebrating its centennial with a birthday cake unveiled at halftime of the home opener.
