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The Virginia Cavaliers knocked off the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-40 in Charlottesville, VA. UVA and Bronco Mendenhall are now 2-0 against a Geoff Collins led Jackets squad. GT is now 3-4 on the season while UVA moves to 6-2.
On the dash
The Hoos were 7-of-11 offensively on 3rd downs and Tech was only 6-of-13 on the money down. Tech did convert their only 4th down attempt. The Jackets limited their penalties to only three, but for 35 yards.
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Jeff Sims committed the only turnover of the evening with an interception. Sims has thrown only nine touchdowns with five interceptions on the season. The Jackets offensive line actually performed admirably. GT averaged 7.9 yards per carry and scored twice on the ground. The line also gave up only one sack and three tackles for loss.
GT Offense
QB Jeff Sims threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns but on only 6.8 yards per pass attempt. Sims also ran for 65 yards on 10 attempts. Gibbs ran for 132 yards on 10.2 yards per carry and a score. Sims hit four receivers for double-digit yards per catch.
Kyric McGowan caught two TDs and Kalani Norris hauled in a 37-yard TD. McGowan, a transfer from Northwestern, now has six receiving TDs on the season, and eight in his career. He’s averaging 15 yards per catch, his 2nd highest of his career.
To say hitting the transfer portal for McGowan was a success is an understatement. Ahmarean Brown, the former GT receiver who transferred to South Carolina, has only caught six passes all season long. Brown has failed to find the end zone in ‘21.
Above- Tech opened up the scoring on a play-action power pass. Sims dropped this dime in between two defenders to take the lead early in the 1st quarter.
Above- the run game got going with a big time carry from Gibbs. UVA over pursues the pullers and Gibbs sticks his foot in the ground.
Above- Sims gets protection and under throws this one a little but it’s still a TD. He didn’t step into the throw like he should have but the UVA corner was whooped on the play.
Above- When the sprint out rub concept beats you, you have to steal the concept for yourself. GT uses their own rub here inside the 10 for a nice TD on the comeback trail.
GT Defense
The Jackets defense completely fell apart against UVA. Brennan Armstrong is good, but is he really six TDs good? Apparently the answer is yes. Armstrong averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt and tossed four TDs without a turnover.
On the ground, Armstrong ran for 99 yards and two TDs on 8.3 yards per carry. GT logged only one sack and two TFLs and just one QB hurry.
Above- The Jackets have struggled in the red zone to defend against slide routes and other type of rub concepts. Here UVA uses a quick swing into two stalk blocks to beat the GT defenders.
Above- Armstrong pulls on inside zone read, has a slow cut to shake a defender, then breaks two tackles.
Above- GT brings pressure, UVA picks it up perfectly and Armstrong throws a TD over two Tech defenders. At what point does one of the DBs just turn around to find the ball.
Above- this might be one of the funniest tackle attempts I’ve seen in weeks. This is Miami level bad tackling. The defender doesn’t come to balance and buzz his feet. Instead he just dives at the offensive player like he’s not able to just step around him.
Above- UVA runs QB sweep right from the Tecmo Super Bowl playbook and GT gets pounded by their blockers. Armstrong runs over a bad tackle and is thrown into the end zone.
In the rearview
With the close loss to UVA behind them, the Jackets will host the Virginia Tech Hokies for homecoming on October 30th. Per the SP+ the Jackets are 50th overall. They’re also 47th on offense, 50th on defense and 94th in kicking. The Hokies are 43rd overall, 57th on offense, 38th on defense, and 57th in kicking.
ESPN has GT as a 60.6% favorite to win the ball game. VT head coach Justin Fuente seems to be on his last leg in Blacksburg. Odds Shark on the other hand has VT as a 2-3 point favorite to beat the Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Prediction: Georgia Tech by 3.