Turner powers Va. Tech past Ga. Tech
Virginia Tech receiver Tre Turner’s career-high 187 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven receptions led the Hokies to a 26-17 victory over the host Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday in Atlanta.
Quarterback Braxton Burmeister went 15-for-25 passing for
254 yards and two scores and added 46 rushing yards as the Hokies (4-4, 2-2 ACC) ended a three-game losing streak. Virginia Tech’s Malachi Thomas added a teamhigh 103 rushing yards on 25 carries, with teammate Raheem Blackshear amassing 83 yards on 14 carries.
The Hokies outgained the Yellow Jackets 491-366.
Georgia Tech’s Jeff Sims went 15-for-26 passing for 183 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 113 yards on 11 carries for the Yellow Jackets (3-5, 2-4), who lost for the third time in four games.
Turner had four catches for 168 yards in the first half, which were more yards than the junior had amassed in any full game of his career as a Hokie.
After the Hokies led 20-7 at halftime, the teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, with Georgia Tech’s Brent Cimaglia and Virginia Tech’s John Parker connecting from 37 and 43 yards, respectively.
Georgia Tech pulled to within 23-17 in the final seconds of the third quarter, when Sims threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Adonicas Sanders.
But Virginia Tech secured the win when John Parker Romo’s fourth field goal of the game, a 21-yarder, pushed the lead to 26-17 with 4:21 remaining.
The Hokies took a 7-0 lead when Burmeister found a wide-open Turner for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 9:51 left in the first quarter.
After the Yellow Jackets tied the game when Sims found Kyric McGowan for a 36-yard touchdown reception, the Hokies took the lead for good on their next possession. Tayvion Robinson capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive when he caught a fouryard pass from Burmeister for a 14-7 lead with 2:20 left in the opening quarter.
Virginia Tech extended its lead to 20-7 on pair of second-quarter field goals by Romo, who connected from 23 and 43 yards.