Tech Digs Early Hole in Loss at Pitt

PITTSBURGH – For the second-straight road game, Georgia Tech fell into an early hole and couldn’t climb out of it in a 34-11 loss to Pitt on Saturday evening at Acrisure Stadium.

Despite forcing a season-high three turnovers, Georgia Tech trailed 17-3 at halftime and saw the deficit expand to as large as 27-3 in the second half of its third-consecutive defeat.

The Jackets were outgained by a 270-77 margin in the first half, but a pair of forced fumbles by Jonas Duclona and Taje McCoy and recoveries by Duclona and Zachary Tobe – one that snuffed out a Pitt scoring opportunity in Georgia Tech’s own end zone and one that led to a Tech field goal with three seconds to go in the half – kept the Yellow Jackets within striking distance going in to the second half.

However, despite tightening up a bit defensively after the break, the Jackets’ offense couldn’t get anything going until the fourth quarter, when sophomore quarterback Grady Adamson led Tech to 132 of its 238 total yards and its only touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run that came on the first play after freshman Trae Steveson, Jr.’s first-career interception.

Adamson amassed a career-high 125 yards of total offense (63 rushing, 62 passing) in just one quarter of work.

Defensively, Duclona had a career day with 10 tackles and two pass breakups to go along with his forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Georgia Tech looks to snap its three-game skid next Saturday (Nov. 7) when it hosts Louisville at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• Georgia Tech dropped to 2-6 on the season and 1-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
• The loss was Georgia Tech’s third-straight.
• Georgia Tech fell to 6-13 all-time against Pitt, including a 2-6 record against the Panthers in Pittsburgh.
• The loss was Georgia Tech’s eighth in its last 10 games versus Pitt.
• Georgia Tech lost despite winning the turnover battle (3-2) for only the second time this season (prev.: 2-0 vs. Mercer – Sept. 19). The Yellow Jackets fell to 16-4 under head coach Brent Key when committing fewer turnovers than their opponent.
• Georgia Tech’s three forced turnovers were a season high (prev.: 2 vs. Mercer – Sept. 19) and were its most against an NCAA Division I FBS opponent since it forced three against NC State on Nov. 21, 2024).
• Georgia Tech’s 11 points and 238 yards of offense were both season lows (prev.: 13 points and 288 yards vs. Colorado – Sept. 3).
• Pitt’s average starting field position was its own 40 yard line, while Georgia Tech’s was its own 26. Six of the Yellow Jackets’ 16 possessions started inside its own 20, while nine of Pitt’s 17 started beyond its own 40.
• Georgia Tech was a combined 4-for-23 on third and fourth downs. Its average third down to-go distance was 7.6 yards.
• Georgia Tech trailed at halftime for only the third time this season (also vs. Tennessee – Sept. 12 and at Virginia Tech – Oct. 17).

Individual Notes

• So. QB Grady Adamson amassed a career-high 125 yards of total offense (63 rushing, 62 passing) in just one quarter of work.
• Adamson’s 63 rushing yards on just six carries (10.5 avg.) were a career high (prev.: 3 – last Saturday vs. Boston College).
• Adamson’s 18-yard touchdown run was the first touchdown of his career.
• 132 of Georgia Tech’s 238 total yards came on the four possessions led by Adamson. The Yellow Jackets had 106 total yards over their 12 offensive series before Adamson entered the game.
• Sr. DB Jonas Duclona’s 10 tackles and two pass breakups were both career highs (prev. six tackles – twice, most recently for USF vs. UAB on Nov. 22, 2025 and one pass breakup, most recently vs. Boston College last Saturday).
• Duclona had his first forced fumble and fumble recovery as a Yellow Jacket on one play in the second quarter (forced fumble at the GT 2 yard line, recovered in the end zone for a touchback). The forced fumble was the second of Duclona’s collegiate career (vs. Boise State for USF in 2025) and the fumble recovery was the first of his collegiate career.
• Sr. DE Taje McCoy's forced fumble in the second quarter was his second of the season (prev.: vs. Mercer - Sept. 19).
• Sr. CB Zachary Tobe's fumble recovery in the second quarter was his first of the season and second of his career (prev.: vs. No. 12 Clemson - Sept. 13, 2025).
• Fr. CB Trae Stevenson, Jr.’s interception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
• Fr. WR Darnell Collins made the first reception of his career in the second quarter (6 yards).

Multimedia

Head Coach Brent Key Postgame Press Conference (Video)

 

Head Coach Brent Key Postgame Press Conference (Audio)

 

Student-Athletes Postgame Press Conference (Video)

ACC Digital Network Highlights

ACC Digital Network Condensed Game

Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.

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