Georgia Tech rushes for 372 yards, tops Bowling Green
ATLANTA — There were all kinds of moving parts Saturday in Bobby Dodd Stadium, where Georgia Tech rushed for touchdowns the first seven times it had the ball, yet the Yellow Jackets didn’t so much surprise Bowling Green in a 63-17 win as they ran circles around the Falcons.
And threw over them. And blew threw them.
Tech (2-3) ran 31 fewer plays than Bowling Green (1-4) yet was never threatened while snapping a three-game losing streak and doubling the pass-happy Falcons in yards gained per play (9.5 to 4.5).
Nobody was surprised that the Jackets ran the ball 88 percent of the time, racking up 372 rushing yard on 49 carries. That’s what they do; Tech entered the game ranked No. 3 nationally in rushing at 331 yards per game. Plus, Bowling Green came in last the nation against the run, giving up 333.5 yards.
There were a few surprises, too, like when Johnson called a passing play on Tech’s first snap, and senior TaQuon Marshall connected with wide receiver Jalen Camp for 33 yards.
“I was pretty shocked because normally we go into a running play,” said Camp, who on Tech’s next possession pulled in a 37-yard reception on a day when Marshall completed 5-of-6 passes for 160 yards — 32 yards per completion.
Bowling Green never figured out Tech’s spread-option offense, especially the triple option plays. They were so flummoxed and under-sized that coaches subbed in reserve offensive lineman Tim Blair (who’s 6-foot-6, 285 pounds) on defense to try to slow the pounding.
“We still haven’t gotten a stop. .. “Bowling Green coach Mike Jinks said. “We knew they would pose a problem with their scheme and having a limited time to prepare for it.”
Tech did most of the running with quarterbacks Marshall and Tobias Oliver and fullback Jordan Mason scoring a pair of touchdowns each on the ground.
Bowling Green rushed for one yard in the first half, when Tech took a 28-10 lead. The Falcons made most of their progress through the air, where sophomore Jarret Doege completed 27-of-44 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.
Tech scored as many touchdowns through Bowling Green passing game as the Falcons, and set up a couple other scores, too.
Linebacker Victor Alexander sacked Doege in the third quarter, forcing a fumble, and reserve end Antwan Owens returned that 21 yards to set up a 16-yard Tech drive for the Jackets’ sixth consecutive rushing score.
In the fourth quarter, Tech linebacker David Curry intercepted a Doege pass in the end zone.
And on the Falcons’ next drive a Doege pass was tipped into the air. Tech end Anree Saint-Amour chased it down, and returned the interception three yards for a touchdown.
“My eyes got real big . ... “Saint-Amour said after his first career score. “Desmond Branch made a great play on the ball, tipping it up there, and once I saw the ball I was like, ‘Dang, this is my moment; catch the ball Anree.’”