Frank Beamer is now 21-9 all time on Thursday night and a flawless 6-0 against Georgia Tech in those games. Virginia Tech gave coach Frank Beamer his 1st retirement gift, rallying from an early 14-point deficit to beat Georgia Tech 23-21 on Thurs. night & move a step nearer to turning in to eligible for a 23rd straight bowl appearance.
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Virginia Tech Hokies running back Travon McMillian (34) celebrates a touchdown run with offensive lineman Wade Hansen (77) in the second quarter of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. A split of the final two games on their schedule, against North Carolina and rival Virginia, would keep Beamer’s vaunted 22-year bowl streak intact.
Georgia Tech (3-7, 1-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) regained the lead early in the third quarter on Brant Mitchell’s 32-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“The mike linebacker (Motupuaka), nobody ever touched him, so he was out there on the option pretty much every play”, coach Paul Johnson said.
It scored on its first possession and jumped out to a 14-0 in the first quarter, but Virginia Tech responded with two touchdown before halftime.
Georgia Tech defender Rod Rook-Chungong tips a pass at the line of scrimmage for an incomplete pass to Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, November 12, 2015, in Atlanta. Every other drive started inside the Georgia Tech 40-yard line, and the Jackets weren’t capable of going that far without the aid of a chunk play, which they didn’t get.
The Hokies aren’t world beaters – they are 103 in the country in yards per play – but it was still a level of defensive play I wasn’t sure the Jackets could attain without defensive tackles Adam Gotsis and Jabari Hunt and linebacker P.J. Davis in the second half.
After recovering a fumble at the Virginia Tech 45, the Yellow Jackets finished off the short drive with another 4-yard touchdown run, this one by Clinton Lynch. “I thought the defense, after the beginning, played great”. Then, getting the ball back with just under 4 minutes left in the half, Virginia Tech drove for a tying score. Brewer hooked up with Isaiah Ford for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Virginia Tech got the ball to start the second half, but it was Georgia Tech that reclaimed the lead. McMillian had his fourth straight 100-yard game, putting up 135 yards on 24 carries shining brightly as a star in the making. Aside from Jeune’s 58-yard pass, the Jackets’ longest play went for 16 yards. The Yellow Jackets offense managed just 115 yards for the rest of the game.
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After it was over, Beamer did a little dance in the locker room.
