Georgia Tech’s season was spiraling out of control. At 1-3 with ugly losses to bad Stanford and Colorado, Georgia Tech had held firm to the bottom of ACC power rankings for weeks.
Duke was 4-0 coming to Atlanta, and it certainly wasn’t a game that set up well for Georgia Tech.
You couldn’t blame Georgia Tech QB Alberto Mendoza for the slow start. There was a lot of blame to go around for the way the season began, from head coach Brent Key’s game management to struggles with both coordinator hires George Godsey and Jason Seymore, plus the rash of injuries and poor line play out of Georgia Tech.
The game had the feel of inevitability as Georgia Tech had squandered a 21-10 second half, and trailed 25-21 as they got the ball back with under 3 minutes left.
Where earlier in the season I’m not sure the Georgia Tech staff trusted Alberto Mendoza and his arm, they’ve cut him loose, and he’s responded. Mendoza led Georgia Tech to a TD in the 2 minutes drill that put the Jackets up 28-25 as they held on to win after a Duke missed FG. He was an efficient 23 for 30 for 218 and TD and no turnovers.
Even in the Colorado game, he led Georgia Tech to the game-winning FG attempt in the late stages of the game.
Georgia Tech doesn’t need great O-line play. They have enough skill position talent that if it is just decent, Mendoza and company can make plays.
I think Georgia Tech’s schedule is still too tough to make a bowl, but the win over Duke gives the Jackets a chance to play spoiler, get better, and set the stage for next year with Mendoza as QB.
He is a player you can build around, and he took another step in the win over Duke.
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