It can become very difficult to break a pattern. When you are Clemson and Alabama, you seem to just find ways to win games even when you are not at your best. When you are Georgia Tech, you’ve got a pattern too – and in the last two years it’s been losing games when you have 2nd half leads. Against Virginia Tech and Louisville, you were able to finish them off without being threatened, but today was different.
Georgia Tech hadn’t won a 10 point or under game on the road since 2016. Saturday against UNC, Georgia Tech led 28-10 in the middle of the 3rd quarter, and then the familiar happened.
The Yellow Jackets started falling apart. The Heels scored 18 straight points to tie the game up, and it felt like Georgia Tech was about blow another 2nd half game with a defense that couldn’t make a stop, and an offense that kept turning it over. If Georgia Tech had lost this game, a bowl game would become a very tough order, and Paul Johnson would again be feeling the heat.
This time it didn’t happen. Georgia Tech came up with two critical interceptions, and scored the final 10 points behind QB Tobias Oliver. When the margin of error is so thin in the ACC Coastal, these are the type games that make or break a season. UNC fell to 1-7, and is left wondering how they found another way to lose a game. Georgia Tech now has a very real opportunity to salvage the season.
They’ve won 4 of their last 5 games, and Tobias Oliver may have taken over the offense from Taquon Marshall. Marshall is a quality option QB, but Oliver is simply bigger and stronger. The offense just seems to run more efficiently with him, and he’s led Georgia Tech to two straight ACC road wins.
With today’s victory Georgia Tech needs 1 more win to get bowl eligible, and 2 of their next 3 are at home against Miami and Virginia. Georgia is on the road, to end the season and they are probably beyond the Jacket’s reach. The goal for this season has always been to reach a bowl, and now that’s in sight as Georgia Tech exorcised some 4th quarter demons.
Georgia Tech is a team gaining confidence, learning how to win even while playing sloppy. They don’t win this game last year, or earlier this season.
Pau Johnson will be back next year, and the Jackets are going to make a bowl game I predict. How good of one is up to them, but at least they’ve given themselves a chance to have a decent season.
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