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Jackets Climb to No. 13

Oct. 8, 2006

After Saturday’s come-from-behind victory over Maryland, Georgia Tech enters its open week at No. 13 in this week’s Associated Press poll, the Yellow Jackets’ highest ranking since 2001.

Tech stands at No. 15 in the USA Today coaches’ poll as well as the Harris Poll.

With its fifth straight win, Tech improved its record to 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the ACC. The five-game winning streak is the Jackets’ longest since winning seven in a row in 2000.

The Yellow Jackets now await 12th-ranked Clemson (5-1, 3-1 ACC), which plays Thursday against Temple in Charlotte, N.C.

JOHNSON ON A ROLL

In the last three games, all-America wide receiver Calvin Johnson has 22 catches for 413 yards and five touchdowns. He leads the ACC in receptions (35, 5.8 pg) and receiving yards (559, 93.2 pg) and his eight touchdown catches are second nationally.

Johnson began his hot streak with a career-best 165 yards receiving on six catches with two touchdowns to lead Georgia Tech to a Thursday night victory over Virginia, 24-7. Despite missing the week of practice with a leg injury, Johnson caught the two longest touchdowns of his career on plays of 58 and 66 yards.

Then he led the Jackets to a 38-27 victory at 10th-ranked Virginia Tech with six catches for 115 yards, including touchdown catches of three and 53 yards on consecutive drives in the first quarter. He was chosen the Cingular All-America Player of the Week and was named ACC Offensive Back of the Week for the second straight week and the third time this season.

Johnson tied his career best with 10 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in Tech’s win over Maryland.

MORE ON JOHNSON

Calvin Johnson recorded his third straight 100-yard game against Maryland, only the third Tech player to do so. Kelly Campbell had three straight in 2000 (Wake Forest, 147; Duke, 127; Clemson, 209), and Harvey Middleton had three in a row in 1997 (Duke, 106, Maryland, 109, Georgia 140).

Johnson’s effort also marked the 10th 100-yard receiving game of his career, tying the Tech record, also held by Middleton and Campbell.

CHOICE CUTS

Tashard Choice rushed for a career-best 138 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Georgia Tech to a 27-23 victory over Maryland. His 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winning score.

Choice, who ranks third in the ACC in rushing, recorded his second straight 100-yard effort after rushing for 105 yards and two scores last week in the Jackets’ win over Virginia Tech.

The junior from Riverdale, Ga., raised his Georgia Tech career rushing total to 1,015 as he became the 32nd 1,000-yard rusher in school history. Choice also had 100 yards rushing as a freshman at Oklahoma for a career total of 1,115 yards.

BIG-PLAY K

Senior linebacker KaMichael Hall has turned in big plays in Georgia Tech’s last two victories.

Hall made one of the key plays in Tech’s 27-23 comeback victory over Maryland with his fourth-quarter fumble recovery at the Terps 17-yard line, setting up the go-ahead score. He had a game-high 11 tackles, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.

In the win at Virginia Tech, Hall had 11 tackles, including two sacks for minus-23 yards as he helped Tech hold the Hokies to just 42 yards rushing. He broke up two passes and forced a fumble that the Jackets recovered.

The Houston, Texas, native is Tech’s leading tackler with 41, including three sacks, 4.5 TFL, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

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