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THE FLATS – Backup quarterback Jordan Yates led Georgia Tech back from an early two-touchdown deficit and put the Yellow Jackets ahead with a rushing TD midway through the fourth period, but Northern Illinois put together a last-gasp 80-yard drive for a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 38 seconds left to capture a 22-21 victory Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Tech had a decided statistical advantage in the game, out-gaining NIU in total yards, 429 to 301, ran 78 offensive played to the Huskies’ 59, and amassed 273 yards on the ground. Jahmyr Gibbs accounted for 99 yards on 20 carries, while Jordan Mason picked up 96 yards on 15 attempts.
After Tech fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter, Yates came on to lead the Yellow Jackets 97 yards in 17 plays, putting the Jackets on the board with a 22-yard pass to Kyric McGowan with 47 seconds to play in the half. In the third quarter, he moved Tech 77 yards on just five plays in 2:23 for the game-tying score, with Dontae Smith covering the final 15 yards on the ground for the TD.
A Northern Illinois fumble midway through the final period set Tech up at the Huskies’ 25-yard line, and the Yellow Jackets struck quickly for the go-ahead score on a 4-yard rush by Yates, giving Tech a 21-14 lead.
After an exchange of punts, Northern Illinois took the ball at its 20 with 2:42 left, and transfer quarterback Rocky Lombardi took the Huskies down the field in nine plays, taking 2:04 off the clock, and hit Clint Ratkovich on a 3-yard pass with 38 seconds to go. NIU went for two, and Lombardi connected with Tyrice Richie in the back of the end zone for the game-winning two-point conversion.
Tech had one last chance after that, moving to the NIU 43-yard line with one second to go, but Gavin Stewart’s 60-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Offensively, Georgia Tech was unable to take advantage of its large edge in yardage, mainly due to missed opportunities, especially in the first half. The Yellow Jackets drove into NIU territory on each of their five first-half possessions but scored only seven points, on the 17-play, 97-yard touchdown drive right before halftime. The Jackets converted four first downs on the 97-yard march, including runs of 12 yards by Mason on third-and-7 and highlight-reel-worthy runs of 12 and 11 yards by Yates on third-and-10 and third-and-10. Tech’s other four first-half possessions ended in not converting on fourth-and-4 from the NIU 39, two missed field goals and a fumble at the Huskies’ 41.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets did not allow NIU to pick up a first down on eight of its 12 possessions. However, the Huskies racked up 15 first downs on its other four offensive series, which included three touchdown drives.
The Yellow Jackets will try and rebound at noon next Saturday when they entertain Kennesaw State at Bobby Dodd Stadium.