Aug. 28, 2008
Georgia Tech Postgame Notes
August 28, 2008 vs. Jacksonville State
Georgia Tech’s win tonight gives the Yellow Jackets…
… an overall record of 1-0
… a 1-0 all-time record vs. Jacksonville State
… a 1-2 all-time record when playing on August 28th
… an all-time record of 654-442-43 all-time in 116 years of football
In season openers, Tech is now…
… 80-32-4 all-time
… 65-13-3 when playing their season opener at home
… 57-9-1 at Bobby Dodd Stadium
… winners in four of their last five and eight of their last 10 season openers
In home openers, Tech is now…
… 85-25-4 all-time
… winners in nine of their last 10 home openers
Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson…
… is the fifth consecutive Tech coach to win in his Yellow Jacket career debut – although it should be noted that George O’Leary lost his first game, but as interim head coach, during the 1994 season and 108-39 all-time in 12 seasons as a head coach
… has never lost in his first game at a new school; he won his career debut at Georgia Southern in 1997, his Navy career debut in 2002 and he won in his Tech career debut tonight
… is 1-0 all-time at Georgia Tech
… improved to 3-0 all-time vs. Jacksonville State
First-Time Starters (12)
Offense: Josh Nesbitt, Joseph Gilbert, David Brown, Roddy Jones, Jonathan Dwyer, Lucas Cox, Tyler Melton.
Defense: Derrick Morgan, Mario Butler, Brad Jefferson, Kyle Jackson, Dominique Reese
Notes
… Tech’s first six touchdowns of the season were all by two freshmen – Roddy Jones and Jaybo Shaw – and two sophomores – Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer (two each). All four of those players are in-state products.
… Tech’s first six touchdowns all resulted in drives of three minutes or less, and four of those were of two minutes or less
… Georgia Tech did not punt the first time it faced a fourth-down situation, converting on a fourth-down attempt in the first quarter; last season Tech did not have a fourth-down attempt until the second game of the season and was 7-of-17 (41 percent) for the year.
… The first three big plays of the game for Tech – an interception by Morgan Burnett, a TD run by Jonathan Dwyer and a TD plunge by Josh Nesbitt – were all made by Yellow Jacket sophomores.
… Tech missed a PAT, and that is mildly significant considering it was the first missed PAT since Dan Burnett’s miss vs. NC State on Oct. 4, 2003. The Yellow Jackets had made 156 consecutive.
… Tech’s 41 points were the most in a season opener since 2002, when the Jackets scored 45 points against Vanderbilt in Chan Gailey’s first game as Tech’s head coach
… Tech recorded 349 yards rushing, the third highest total in the last eight years (389 vs. Samford, Sept. 8, 2007; 371 vs. Tulsa, Jan. 4, 2004)
… Tech’s defense did not allow a first down until two minutes into the second quarter
… Tech had seven plays of over 20 yards
… Tech had 46 rushes in the game, but no player carried the ball more than 11 times
… Four different Tech players rushed for at least 50 yards in the game
… Tech had 14 possessions in the game, and punted just one time
Andrew Gardner, Sr., OT
… Made his 40th consecutive start – the longest streak on the team and unofficially tying for the longest streak in the nation
Darryl Richard, Sr., DT
… started for the 31st time and for the 16th consecutive time
Vance Walker, Sr., DT
… Made his 18th career start and 14th consecutive start
Morgan Burnett, So., S
… recorded his first multi-interception game of his career
… recorded his fourth and fifth career interceptions
… he also had Tech’s first INT of the season last year (in game 4 vs. Virginia)
Jonathan Dwyer, So., B-Back
… rushed for his first and second touchdowns of the season and the 10th and 11th of his career
… had his second career 100-yard rushing game; he had 138 yards vs. Samford last season
Josh Nesbitt, So., QB
… earned the first two rushing touchdowns of his career (last season he had one passing TD and on rushing TDs)
Derrick Morgan, So., DE
… recorded his first two career sacks
Roddy Jones, r-Fr., A-Back
… rushed for his first career touchdown
Scott Blair, So., K/P
… handled kickoff, place-kicking and punting duties – at least in the first half
… entered the night with one career point – an extra point vs. Samford last season
Mohamed Yahiaoui, Jr., K/P
… saw his first career action since 2006
