THE FLATS – Jordan Yates set a Georgia Tech record with four touchdown passes in his first-career start, while the Yellow Jackets’ defense limited the option offense of Kennesaw State to 272 yards in a 45-17 victory on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Tech, which built a 35-point lead and gave up just a field goal through three-and-a-half quarters, evened its record at 1-1, while the Owls dropped to 1-1.
Yates, who completed 17-of-23 passes for 254 yards, became the first Yellow Jacket to ever throw for four touchdowns in the first start of his collegiate career. His four TD passes also tied for the third-most ever in Georgia Tech history, just one shy of the single-game school record shared by Eddie McAshan (1972 vs. Rice) and Joe Hamilton (1999 vs. Clemson).
The Yellow Jackets seized the momentum early, stopping the Owls on their first possession before Yates drove the offense 81 yards on eight plays for a touchdown, tossing a 6-yard pass to Jordan Mason for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Owls moved the ball to the Tech 22 on their next possession, but Jordan Domineck forced a fumble on a pitch Owls’ quarterback Xavier Shepherd, recovered the ball and took it back 70 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Jackets’ lead. On the 70-yard scoop-and-score, Domineck delivered a vicious stiff arm to fend off an attempted tackle by Shepherd, then followed a bevy of blockers into the end zone for the score.
The teams traded field goals in the second period, with Brett Cimaglia hitting from 31 yards out for the Jackets, before Tech extended its lead to 24-3 on a 4-yard toss from Yates to Kyric McGowan, capping a 46-yard drive at the 3:13 mark.
Tech took the third quarter kickoff and went 80 yards on just six plays for another touchdown, with Yates connecting with Kalani Norris for the final 16 yards and a 31-3 lead. Tech capitalized on the second of two interceptions by Charlie Thomas to score again early in the fourth period, with Yates hitting McGowan again for a 39-yard TD to give the Jackets their largest lead at 38-3.
The Owls rallied to score twice in the fourth quarter, getting nearly half of its total offense for the game on those two possessions and cutting the Jackets’ lead to 38-17. But Dontae Smith scored the Jackets’ final touchdown from 10 yards out with 6:53 to go to account for the final margin. Smith finished the game as Tech’s leading rusher with 82 yards on just eight carries.
McGowan caught six passes for 91 yards, including the two touchdowns, to lead the Jackets’ receivers.
In addition to Domineck’s scoop-and-score and Thomas’ two interceptions, Tech was led defensively by linebackers Ayinde Eley and Quez Jackson, who shared the game-high with 10 tackles apiece.
The Yellow Jackets go on the road for the first time next Saturday when they visit Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on either ABC or ESPN.
Jordan Yates threw for four touchdowns on Saturday, the most ever by a Georgia Tech quarterback in his first-career start (Photo: Danny Karnik).
Postgame Notes
Team
- With the win, Georgia Tech evened its record at 1-1.
- Georgia Tech has won at least one of the first two games for 32-straight seasons.
- The game was the first-ever between Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, which are separated by just 22 miles on Interstate 75.
- Playing in its first game against an opponent from the Atlanta metropolitan area since 1928, Georgia Tech moved to 12-2 all-time against opponents from the metro area.
- Georgia Tech moved to 3-0 all-time against opponents from the Big South Conference.
- Georgia Tech’s 70-yard touchdown on a fumble return by r-So. Jordan Domineck was the Yellow Jackets’ third fumble return for a touchdown in their last six games. Domineck also scored on a recovery of his own fumble in the end zone last season vs. Duke (Nov. 28, 2000) and DB Zamari Walton scored on 93-yard fumble return last season vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 31, 2020).
- Georgia Tech’s 28-point margin of victory is its largest in three seasons head coach Geoff Collins (prev.: 23 in 56-33 win over Duke, Nov. 28, 2020).
- Georgia Tech’s 45 points were its third-most in three seasons under Collins. The Yellow Jackets scored 46 in a 46-27 win over Louisville on Oct. 9 of last season and 56 in a 56-33 win over Duke on Nov. 28 of last season.
- Georgia Tech outgained Kennesaw State, 412-272, marking the second-straight game to open the season that the Yellow Jackets have outgained their opponent by at least 100 yards. Last Saturday, Georgia Tech outgained Northern Illinois by a 429-301 margin.
Individual Notes
- Georgia Tech r-Fr. QB Jordan Yates made the first start of his career in place of Fr. Jeff Sims, who was injured last Saturday vs. Northern Illinois and available only in an emergency situation on Saturday.
- In his first start, Yates completed 17-of-23 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.
- Yates became the first player in Georgia Tech history to throw for four touchdowns in his first-career start.
- Yates’ four touchdown passes are tied for the third-most in Georgia Tech single-game history and are the most by a Yellow Jacket since Justin Thomas threw four touchdown passes vs. Georgia Southern on Sept. 13, 2014.
- Georgia Tech Sr. WR Kyric McGowan caught two touchdown passes (4 and 39 yards). The graduate transfer from Northwestern has three touchdown receptions in his first two games at Georgia Tech, which is one more than the two that he caught in his first four collegiate seasons.
- Georgia Tech r-Jr. RB Jordan Mason’s 6-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was the 17th touchdown of his career, but his first receiving touchdown. His previous 16 scores all came on runs.
- For the second time in Georgia Tech’s last five games, r-So. DL Jordan Domineck forced a fumble, recovered it and scored a touchdown on the same play. On Saturday, Domineck forced a fumble on an attempted pitch by Kennesaw State QB Xavier Shepherd, picked up the loose ball and ran 70 yards for the score, dropping Shepherd with a vicious stiff arm along the way. On Nov. 28 of last season vs. Duke, Domineck recovered a fumble that he forced on a strip sack in the end zone for a touchdown.
- Domineck’s 70-yard fumble return was the third-longest official fumble return in Georgia Tech history, behind only Zamari Walton’s 93-yard return for a touchdown on Oct. 31 of last season vs. Notre Dame and Kofi Smith’s 90-yard return for a touchdown on Nov. 21, 1998 vs. Wake Forest (fumble returns did not become an official NCAA statistic until 1992).
- Georgia Tech Jr. LB Charlie Thomas had two interceptions, becoming the first Yellow Jacket with two interceptions in a game since A.J. Gray vs. North Carolina on Sept. 30, 2017.
- The interceptions were the first two INTs of Thomas’ career.
- Georgia Tech So. WR Kalani Norris caught his first-career touchdown pass in the third quarter (16 yards).
Kyric McGowan celebrates with Georgia Tech fans following the second of his two touchdown catches on Saturday against Kennesaw State (Photo: Danny Karnik).
Multimedia
ACC Digital Network Highlights
Jordan Domineck’s Scoop-N-Score (ACC Digital Network)
Jordan Yates Shines Versus Kennesaw State (ACC Digital Network)
ACC Digital Network Condensed Game
Head Coach Geoff Collins Postgame Press Conference (Video)
Head Coach Geoff Collins Postgame Press Conference (Audio)
Student-Athletes Press Conference
Around Social Media
"All three phases they were elite."@LyndsayRowley caught up with @CoachCollins and @jor_yates after @GeorgiaTechFB's 45-17 win. pic.twitter.com/5NMlNKo3bs
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 11, 2021
First drive. First points.
Start fast, @GeorgiaTechFB. pic.twitter.com/G2Pl3me7LN
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 11, 2021
That boy stiff armed Hiz teammate into a block🤣🤣 https://t.co/VPg7VJkASm
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) September 11, 2021
Found his target.@jor_yates adds to the @GeorgiaTechFB lead. pic.twitter.com/MDWfzo5W4A
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 11, 2021
Perfect placement 🎯@jor_yates | @GeorgiaTechFB pic.twitter.com/b0nW3OEdB9
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 11, 2021
Shades of @calvinjohnsonjr on this @L3G3ND_25 pick 👀@GeorgiaTechFB | @ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/dQkosY2joE
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 11, 2021
Today’s bigger than football 🇺🇸 https://t.co/p8LJps720H
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) September 11, 2021
