Georgia Tech Football: Yellow Jackets Defeat Miami Hurricanes

The game plan was simple and very effective. Run the ball down Miami’s throat, don’t turn the ball over, control the clock, and play solid defense.

Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 ACC) played solid football for 60 minutes in a 28-17 thorough victory over the Miami Hurricanes (3-3, 1-2 ACC) which snapped a five game losing streak that Tech had to the Canes’.

More from Football

Georgia Tech controlled the pace of the game and the limited possessions of the Miami Hurricanes offense.

Tech had the ball for 40:37 of the game compared to Miami who was on offense for 19:15.

The Yellow Jackets ran 72 plays on the night compared to 44 plays ran by the Hurricanes’ offense. Of the 72 plays Tech ran, 65 of them were run plays that accounted for 318 yards on 4.9 yards per carry.

The biggest stat was that Georgia Tech did not turn the ball, over unlike Miami who threw turned the ball over twice because of two interceptions thrown by Canes’ freshman Brad Kayaa.

The first half was even with Miami breaking the seal on the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kayaa to Braxton Berrios.

Tech answered with an eight play 62-yard drive capped off with a Justin Thomas 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.

After Miami scored before the end of the first quarter on a Duke Johnson 24-yard TD run, Tech was able to bring the game back to a 14-14 tie with a Tony Zenon 6-yard TD run with 10:05 left in the second quarter.

That ended up being the score going into the locker room. Then the second half happened and Tech took total control of the game thanks to running the ball with authority and tough defense.

Oct 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets safety Isaiah Johnson (1) intercepts a pass against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Tech ran the ball right at Miami and their defense could not get off the field. Tech opened up the second half with a 13 play 75-yard drive that was finished off with a B.J. Bostic 2-yard run for a touchdown to make the score 21-14 Tech.

Miami’s ensuing drive ate a lot of the clock in their own right executing 10 plays for 75 yards before stalling and having to settle for a field goal to make the score 21-17, but Tech had already dictated the pace of the game.

When Deon Hill trotted in for a TD at the end of the third quarter to make the score 28-17, Tech fans had to know that the Yellow Jackets had a stranglehold on the game.

Brad Kayaa tried to drive Miami down late in the fourth but threw an interception to Jamal Golden which sealed Miami’s fate.

Zach Laskey was the was the anchor for the Tech offense Saturday night carrying the ball 29 times for 133 yards. Charles Perkins also aided in wearing the Hurricanes’ defense down with his seven carries for 65 yards.

Justin Thomas made good decisions in the option game all night rushing the ball 13 times for 27 yards and a TD while completing 4 of 7 passes for 53 yards.

The true stars of this game for Georgia Tech was the defense who made the necessary adjustments needed to limit Miami’s Duke Johnson in the second half.

Johnson had 10 carries for 82 yards in the first half, only to be held to four carries and 18 yards rushing in the second half.

Brad Kayaa played a decent game hitting 16 of 25 for 245 yards and a TD on blown coverage by Tech’s defense. Other than that Kayaa was mistake prone throwing two interceptions on the night.

Yellow Jackets safety Isaiah Johnson had the first interception and finshed with five tackles. Keyshun Freeman and Paul Davis both had a sack apiece.

This is a huge win for Georgia Tech who is now 5-0 and 2-0 in the ACC. Next week they take on a Duke Blue Devils team that the Jackets defeated 38-14 last season.

Momentum is definitely on the Yellow Jackets side as 2014 is start to shape into a special season for Georgia Tech.