THE FLATS – On the strength of three outstanding fourth-quarter kickoffs on Saturday at Virginia – including two successful onside kicks in the final 80 seconds of the game – Georgia Tech kicker Jude Kelley (Acworth, Ga./Allatoona) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Specialist of the Week, the ACC announced on Monday.
Kelley perfectly executed a pair of onside kicks – one with 1:16 remaining in the game and one with 20 seconds to go – that helped the Yellow Jackets nearly erase a 21-point deficit in the final four minutes of their 48-40 defeat at UVA. Thanks in large part to the successful onside kicks, which were recovered by Malachi Carter (Lawrenceville, Ga./Mountain View) and Juanyeh Thomas (Niceville, Fla./Niceville), respectively, Tech was able to rally from a 48-27 deficit with 3:50 remaining in the game to cut it 48-40 and had the ball at the UVA 31 yard line as time expired.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Kelley also executed a perfectly placed sky kick that pinned the Cavaliers at their own 4 yard line.
For his career, Kelley is now an astounding 5-for-5 on onside kick attempts, including 3-for-3 this season. On Sept. 18 at Clemson, his successful onside kick attempt with 1:19 to go in the game set up a potential game-tying drive that came up just inches short of paydirt in a narrow 14-8 defeat.
Kelley also executed successful onside kicks last season against Boston College and Notre Dame.
The ACC Player of the Week recognition is the first of Kelley’s career.
Kelley and the Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday when they host Virginia Tech for homecoming at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon and will also be televised on ACC RSN (Bally Sports Southeast in Georgia). Tickets for the homecoming contest, which will include a celebration of 30th anniversary of the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 national championship (delayed one year due to Covid-19), are still available and can be purchased online by clicking HERE.
2021 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL TICKETS
Stinger Mobile Passes, 3-Game Mini-Packs and single-game tickets for Georgia Tech’s 2021 home football schedule are all still on sale. Stinger Mobile Passes and 3-Game Mini-Packs are the only way to guarantee the best seats for the Yellow Jackets’ remaining home games this fall, including the return of “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” when archrival Georgia visits Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 27. Click HERE for full information on 2021 Georgia Tech football tickets and to purchase tickets online.
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