Nov. 3, 2012
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) – Orwin Smith ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Georgia Tech stymied a Maryland offense led by linebacker-turned-quarterback Shawn Petty in a 33-13 rout Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets (4-5, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 20-0 at halftime and 27-0 late in the third quarter before Maryland finally scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Petty to Stefon Diggs. Petty also threw a 23-yard TD pass to Diggs on the game’s final play, but the injury-depleted Terrapins (4-5, 2-3) dropped their third straight.
Maryland has lost four quarterbacks for the season with injuries, so coach Randy Edsall was forced to turn to Petty, a true freshman signed as a linebacker. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound left-hander ran for 24 yards on 17 carries and completed 9 of 18 passes for 115 yards. He also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
The Yellow Jackets finished with a 401-259 advantage in total yardage, including 205-61 in the decisive first half.
Georgia Tech backup quarterback Vad Lee ran for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and starter Tevin Washington also rushed for a score, the 34th of his career – one short of the school and ACC record for quarterbacks held by Joshua Nesbitt.
The Yellow Jackets amassed 370 yards rushing against the nation’s fourth-ranked defense against the run (77.6 yards per game before Saturday).
Georgia Tech took a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter when Washington capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard run. Smith kept the march alive with a 17-yard run on a fourth-and-3 from the Maryland 35.
The Yellow Jackets capitalized on a Petty fumble to make it 13-0 early in the second quarter. After Jeremiah Attaochu recovered the loose ball at the Maryland 33, Smith scored from the 5.
Another three-and-out by the Terrapins followed, and a 17-yard punt provided Georgia Tech the ball at the Maryland 49. Seven plays later, Lee scored for a 20-0 lead.
At that juncture, the Yellow Jackets had a 170-22 advantage in total yardage and Maryland still had not yet picked up a first down.
The Terrapins finally moved the chains for the first time with 6:38 left in the half when Georgia Tech was called for roughing the kicker on a punt.
