By Matt Winkeljohn | The Good Word
There were signs Saturday that Georgia Tech could compete with mighty Clemson, as the Yellow Jackets moved the ball effectively at times and slowed the Tigers several times. Then, their football game turned into something of a tennis match.
As in tennis, unforced errors will ruin the underdog’s chances for an upset, and Tech did not fare well in that category in a 49-21 loss in Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Jackets fumbled eight times, one shy of the school record for one game, and although they lost just one of the bobbles, nearly every one that Tech recovered cost valuable real estate that was coming at a premium.
And while the home team committed a modest four penalties, their timing was terrible.
The results prompted A-back Nathan Cottrell to say, “we kept shooting ourselves in the foot,” and defensive end Desmond Branch to summarize, “most of our wounds [were] self-inflicted.”
All evidence was on the field early.
After the No. 3/2-ranked Tigers (4-0, 1-0 ACC) won the coin toss and deferred, the Jackets went on a diligent march, moving 58 yards in eight running plays to first-and-10 at the Clemson 17-yard-line.
The first play of the game went for 20 yards, a toss to A-back Qua Searcy around the left side.
Quarterback TaQuon Marshall ran six of the next seven plays, and the Tigers were found flailing.
But they found their footing, and the Jackets lost theirs.
Searcy jumped offsides.
B-back Jerry Howard lost five yards on a fumble, which Searcy recovered, and then Marshall was sacked by one of Clemson’s many large, fast defensive linemen, Christian Wilkins, and the Jackets recovered again.
These were two of 10 plays (out of Tech’s 64) that went backward for a total of 74 yards the wrong way.
Despite the drive-stalling miscues, Georgia Tech was still in field goal range at the 31, but reserve offensive lineman Jack DeFoor jumped offsides, and head coach Paul Johnson chose to punt on fourth-and-29. Touchback.
The chance to get a leg up was lost.
“We don’t even get to kick it because we jump offsides on that, so we wasted the momentum of the first drive . . . ” the head coach explained. “We can’t have the negative plays. They’re really good up front. They’re hard to block. They got big guys, and when you get the opportunity you’ve got to execute.”
Clemson’s first drive was short, lasting five plays, and it ended when linebacker David Curry and Branch combined to sack Kelly Bryant on third down to force a punt.
There was no traction to be found.
Marshall fumbled on first down, Tech recovered. Marshall was sacked on second down. On third down, Searcy couldn’t handle a pitch, and after the football went tumbling for several moments, Clemson end Clelin Ferrell recovered it for a score.
Tech trailed 7-0 late in the first quarter, but after the teams traded punts, the Jackets were fighting again. They drove to Clemson’s 26 to try a field goal. Brenton King’s 43-yard attempt went left.
A freshman soon gave the game its form.
Trevor Lawrence, a slinger from Cartersville High School, replaced Bryant and whipped the ball around. He would complete 13-of-18 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns.