Big plays lead Georgia Tech to win over Virginia
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yards at the break.
But Virginia (2-9, 1-6) couldn't hold on with Matt Johns starting at quarterback for the first time this season. He was 27 of 44 for 220 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown to Ryan Santoro that cut the gap to 24-17 with 7:18 remaining. But Johns also had three interceptions in the second half, including the pick by Austin that finished off Virginia.
"He played well for a long, long time," Mendenhall said of Johns, who reclaimed the starting job he held last season. "He did the best he could."
Marshall finished with 127 yards on 16 carries. Thomas, who didn't play the previous week in an upset of Virginia Tech because of an injury, completed 5 of 10 passes for 122 yards in his final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
"I have a lot of great memories in this stadi- um," the senior quarterback said. "We did a lot of great things in our careers. It was a great moment."
ATLANTA ( AP) — Georgia Tech was a bit listless after its upset of Virginia Tech.
Fortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they came up with enough big plays to beat Virginia.
Marcus Marshall ran 67 yards for a touchdown, Justin Thomas threw a 54-yard scoring pass to Clinton Lynch and Qua Searcy broke loose for a 60-yard TD, leading Georgia Tech to a 31-17 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday.
As if that wasn't enough, Lance Austin sealed the win with a dazzling 24-yard interception return for a touchdown, showing off several nifty moves.
"It took us a while get going," Marshall said.
Georgia Tech (7-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) struggled through most of the first half and went to the locker room trailing 10-7. Marshall's careerlong run in front of the Cavaliers bench accounted for more than half of the Yellow Jackets' 111