September 4, 2021

NIU Uses Late Rally to Escape Jackets

Final Stats | Postgame Notes | Multimedia | Photo Gallery

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.

In the first significant action of his collegiate career, redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan Yates totaled 162 yards of offense and accounted for two touchdowns, including a 4-yard touchdown run that gave Georgia Tech a 21-14 lead with 6:32 to go in the ballgame (Photo: Danny Karnik).

Postgame Notes

Team

The loss snapped Georgia Tech’s eight-game winning streak in Saturday night home games. It was the Yellow Jackets’ first loss on a Saturday night game since a 30-24 loss to Georgia on Nov. 28, 2009.
Georgia Tech’s 17-play, 97-yard scoring drive in the second quarter is tied for the 11th-longest scoring drive by yards in program history (longest since a 99-yard TD drive at Pitt on Sept. 15, 2018) and is tied for the 21^st-longest scoring drive by plays in program history (longest since a 17-play field goal drive and 18-play TD drive vs. North Carolina on Sept. 30, 2017).
After ranking 125th out of 127 NCAA Division I FBS teams in penalties committed last year (8.9 per game), Georgia Tech committed just two penalties for five yards against Northern Illinois, which was its fewest penalties in a game since being flagged for two against USF in the 2019 home opener (Sept. 7, 2019) and its fewest penalty yards since it had one penalty for five yards against North Carolina on Sept. 30, 2017.

Individual Notes

After entering the game in the second quarter, Georgia Tech r-Fr. QB Jordan Yates completed 12-of-18 passes for 135 yards and 1 touchdown, all career highs. He also ran 9 times for 27 yards (both career highs), including a 4-yard touchdown run with 6:32 to go in the game (first-career touchdown run) to put the Jackets in the lead.
Jr. WR Malachi Carter recorded a career-high 92 receiving yards (prev: 89 at Louisville, Oct. 9, 2020.
Fr. RB Jahmyr Gibbs’ 99 rushing yards were his second-most in eight career games (career high: 105 vs. Syracuse, Sept. 26, 2020).
R-Jr. RB Jordan Mason ran for 96 yards, which marked the 10th time in his career that he has had at least 94 rushing yards in a career. In a bit of tough luck, he has only gone over 100 yards four times in those 10 games. He has finished with 94 yards twice, 95 once, 96 once and 99 twice.
R-So. RB Dontae Smith’s 15-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter was his fourth TD run in just 54 career carries (one every 13.5 carries).
R-Fr. DB Wesley Walker’s forced fumble, which set up Georgia Tech’s go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, was the first forced fumble of his career.
The recovery on Walker’s forced fumble was by Jr. LB Quez Jackson, the second of his career (prev.: vs. Louisville, Oct. 9, 2020).

Malachi Carter had a career-high 92 yards on eight receptions, including a 22-yard touchdown catch (Photo: Danny Karnik).

Multimedia

Jordan Yates Flips for First Down and Fires TD Pass

Yellow Jackets take the lead after forcing the turnover!! @GeorgiaTechFB | #ACCFootball
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— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) September 5, 2021