Oct. 25, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
Yellow Jackets Off Saturday, Play At Virginia Tech Nov. 4 Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, two teams that have combined to win the last three Atlantic Coast Conference championships, meet in Blacksburg (Va.) on Thursday (Nov. 4) in an ESPN nationally-televised game (7:30 p.m./ESPN).
The Yellow Jackets are the defending ACC champions. The Hokies won ACC crowns in 2007 and 2008 (also in 2004).
Georgia Tech, 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the ACC, is coming off a 27-13 loss at Clemson last Saturday. The Yellow Jackets committed too many errors on special teams, and could not slow down Tiger running back Andre Ellington (166 yards rushing, 3 TDs).
The Yellow Jackets are led offensively by senior running back Anthony Allen (86.5 yards rushing per game) and senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt (81.4 ypg), who rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the ACC in rushing.
Virginia Tech, 6-2 and 4-0, has been on a roll since stumbling out of the gate. The Hokies have reeled off six straight wins, including a 44-7 thrashing of Duke last Saturday, since losing September games to Boise State and James Madison.
The Hokies are led on offense by senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who leads the ACC in pass efficiency (171.1) and ranks second in total offense (266.1 ypg).
The Jackets (317.4 yards per game) and Hokies (214.8 ypg) are the ACC’s top two rushing teams.
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 4-3. Georgia Tech won last year’s meeting, 28-23, in Atlanta.
Quick Notes On The Yellow Jackets
— Georgia Tech (3-2 ACC) needs to beat Virginia Tech (4-0), then hope the Hokies lose another game, for a chance to repeat as ACC Coastal Division champions.
— The Yellow Jackets had won five consecutive ACC road games before falling at Clemson last Saturday.
— Georgia Tech is one win shy of becoming bowl-eligible for the 14th consecutive season.
— Senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt needs 42 rushing yards to become the most prolific rushing quarterback in ACC history — a record held by former Clemson standout Woodrow Dantzler (2,761 yards from 1998-01).
— Nesbitt, who has more rushing TDs (33) than any QB in ACC history, needs 280 rushing yards to become just the eighth player in NCAA history with 3,000 career rushing yards and 3,000 career passing yards.
— Nesbitt ranks fifth in the ACC in rushing (81.4 ypg) and he ranks fifth nationally among quarterbacks in rushing.
— Tech ranks second nationally in rushing offense (317.4 ypg). The Yellow Jackets finished in the top five nationally in rushing in 2008 and 2009.
— The Yellow Jackets are 11-2 under Johnson in games decided by five points or less.
— Tech is 8-2 under Johnson when having more than seven days to prepare.
— The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost back-to-back games in three seasons under Johnson.
— Georgia Tech is one conference win shy of finishing .500 or better in ACC play for the 16th consecutive season.
