GT-UVA Halftime Report

The first half is in the books! The Jackets lead the Cavaliers 21-10.

The Tech defense got going early, with two three and outs to start the game. DEs Pat Gamble and KeShun Freeman got excellent pressure and backfield penetration, which didn’t give UVA QB Greyson Lambert much time to make accurate passes. PJ Davis also paced the defense with a big sack on the first play of the game that forced a fumble, but Lambert recovered it himself.

The Jackets’ offense also had a good start. Across the first two drives, Justin Thomas and company racked up 14 points and 125 yards of offense, 28 of them coming through the air. Deon Hill and DeAndre Smelter both scored to give the Jackets their early two-score lead. After two drives by each team, Tech held a 125-6 advantage in yards gained.

UVA got it together on their third drive though, scoring their first touchdown of the game with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

The Jackets were quick to respond though. A 65-yard completion from Justin to Smelter brought the Jackets down to the UVA 6 yard line. After a negative play, Justin found Waller in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown. At this point, Justin was 4-4 for 2 TD and 104 yards. Not bad.

The Jackets defense forced another glorious three-and-out, and Justin took the offense down to the UVA 23 before Waller just barely missed a first down catch on 4^th and 11. The Tech defense would hold again though, forcing yet another UVA punt.

Justin made his first real mistake of the game on the ensuing possession though and threw a pick at the GT 25. Fortunately, the defense stopped UVA on the five and forced a field goal to make it 21-10. The Jackets drove down into UVA territory again before the drive sputtered at around the UVA 30. With under a minute to play in the half, they punted it away on 4^th and 23.

UVA drove to midfield with the remaining time but was stopped by the clock and a huge sack by KeShun Freeman.

It was another slow second quarter for the GT offense, but overall the Jackets are playing well. Here’s to a good second half!