Preseason
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Recruiting
Schedule
The schedule for Georgia Tech's 2016 football season was announced on January 26, 2016. Schedule Source:Game summaries
vs Boston College
Trailing much of the fourth quarter 14–7, Georgia Tech surged to victory on the backs of aMercer
The Georgia Tech offensive attack rushed for 364 yards against Mercer University, a team who had only been playing football for two seasons since reinstituting the Football program. Qua Searcy piled up 91 yards on the ground. Quarterback Matthew Jordan added 2 touchdowns on the ground and Marcus Marshall enjoyed 51 yards on 10 carries and a Touchdown. The Georgia Tech defense after a slow start finished the game in a positive way. Losing 7–0 to begin the game, the Tech Defense held Mercer to just a field goal the remaining three quarters, which propelled the team to victory. Overall, Tech played very positively and as it heads into conference play, it meets Vanderbilt next weekend on September 17.Vanderbilt
Enjoying the team's fourth straight 2–0 start, Quarterback Justin Thomas and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offense totaled over 500 yards of total offense against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Thomas connected on 6 of his passes for 225 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown throw to Marcus Marshall. On the very first play of the game, Marshall took a screen in the flats and darted his way into the Vanderbilt endzone on the Yellow Jackets first play from scrimmage. The Georgia Tech defense came out strong and held Vanderbilt to just 275 yards of offense. Tech hosts #3 Clemson University on Thursday, September 22, for an ACC Showdown. Clemson, who has won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, comes in ranked the highest it ever has in a game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson began playing football in 1886.Clemson
The Clemson Tigers zipped off to a fast start via their star quarterback, Gainesville, Ga. nativeMiami (FL)
Georgia Tech suffered two scoop and scores against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes, which resulted in a huge turnaround in the game. With Tech and the Hurricanes tied at 7–7, Justin Thomas and the Jackets were driving downfield to add another score when a crucial penalty was called on Georgia Tech, knocking the white and gold out of field goal range. From then on, Miami (FL) scored on the backs of Brad Kaaya and with two ensuing touchdowns via the defense, the Hurricanes enjoyed a 28–7 lead from there and eventually took the game by a final tally of 35–21. Georgia Tech's offense did show much improvement from the prior week against Clemson, racking up over two hundred forty yards on the ground. With a looming momentous game the following weekend in Pittsburgh, Pa, Georgia Tech seeks to rebound.At Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Panthers behind their transfer quarterback Peterman got off to a quick start against Georgia Tech, when they ran a trick play by throwing a flat screen out to their offensive tackle, who apparently was an eligible receiver on the play. The Tackle took the ball over 40 yards into the endzone to give the panthers an original 7–0 lead. Georgia Tech answered on the following drive with a field goal by senior veteran Harrison Butker. Unfortunately for the Jackets, following a strong performance by Quarterback Justin Thomas, an acrobatic 96 yard Kickoff return for a touchdown by Junior JJ Green, and two more A back scores from Clinton Lynch and another by Green, the white and gold fell up short ultimately. Taking the lead with close to 5 minutes left via a JJ Green touchdown, with the Yellow Jackets up 34–27, defending a third and long against Pittsburgh, a ball was tipped off of Corey Griffin's fingertips and into the hands of a Pittsburgh Tight End who ran an extra 45 yards into the endzone. On Tech's ensuing drive it came up short on fourth down andGeorgia Southern
Georgia Tech, behind the guidance of Justin Thomas, enjoyed a 35–24 win against the Georgia Southern Eagles in Atlanta. Thomas threw for 175 yards and a touchdown and Dedrick Mills added 89 yards on 12 carries and a Touchdown. The Yellow Jacket defense enjoyed a strong day, holding the Eagles offense to a minimal number of yards. Harrison Butker missed a short field goal, his only miss of the entire season. This was the second ever meeting between Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern, with Tech earning a win in 2014. At 1–3 in the ACC, Georgia Tech seeks to rebound over the next three weeks when it faces Top 20 University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on November 5, and then the following weekend in Blacksburg Virginia facing #23 Virginia Tech. This weekend, Tech faces Duke in Atlanta in two weeks on October 29.Duke
Bouncing back from a 1–3 start in the ACC, Senior Superstar Quarterback Justin Thomas racked up over 451 yards of Total Offense alone, tallying 195 yards on the ground and 257 yards through the air. Georgia Tech enjoyed a strong start to the game offensively, taking a 28–7 lead at halftime against the visiting the Duke Blue Devils from Durham, North Carolina, a team who had defeated Georgia Tech over the last two seasons, in 2014 and 2015. Georgia Tech won the Orange Bowl in 2014 and only lost three games, one of them being at hands of Duke. At the beginning of the Second half, Georgia Tech suffered two crucial turnovers which Duke turned into instant touchdowns, cutting the lead to 28–21. A Field Goal by Harrison Butker in the 3rd quarter gave Georgia Tech some leeway with a 31–21 lead, but Duke ensuingly scored two touchdowns to take the lead 35–31 with 6 minutes left in the game. With Georgia Tech needing a score, it was sacked on 1st and 10 from the 15, sending Tech back to its own 8-yard line. It was facing a 2nd and 17 with the clock running, one play before being sacked, and momentum completely on the side of the Duke Blue Devils. Matters were looking bleak. Justin Thomas avoided three rushers on 2nd and 17 in the endzone, avoiding a safety, and darted 61 yards down the sideline as the clock continued running and time began to slowly fade away in the game. Then, an acrobatic catch by Clinton Lynch from Thomas for a score sent the crowd into ecstasy and heartbeats began to relax. Needing a three and out to relax a bit, the Tech defense stood strong and Duke acted like it was going for it on 4th and 3 from its own 39 but the Quarterback quick snapped and punted the ball. From there, facing a third and seventeen, Justin Thomas avoiding a number of defenders and trecked 51 yards for a first down with 2 minutes remaining, allowing the White and Gold to run out the clock. This was Georgia Tech's second come from behind ACC victory in 2016, with the first coming in dramatic fashion overseas in Dublin, Ireland.At North Carolina
Seeking to stay in the hunt for the 2016 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship in Orlando, Florida, Georgia Tech traveled to Chapel Hill North Carolina on November 5, 2016 seeking a win againstAt Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech fired back at critics and the media the following weekend in dramatic fashion in Blacksburg, Virginia. On the opening kickoff of the ballgame, Ocee (Fla.) native Terrell Lewis spearheaded the Virginia Tech kick returner, and the ball was knocked loose where Knoxville (Tenn.) native Nathan Cottrell dove onto the ball and hung on for the Yellow Jackets. From there, the Georgia Tech offense and defense took a stand for themselves and manhandled the Virginia Tech offense in every way. The Georgia Tech defense brought immense pressure the entire game, pressuring Virginia Tech quarterback Athens (TX) native Jeron Evans. Tech sacked Evans six times and pressured him eleven times. Coaches Speed, Roof, and McCollum brought the heat the whole game and the Tech defense stood up immensely. Georgia Tech blocked a field goal attempt which was recovered by Lance Austin, who is famous for his epic blocked field goal return in October 2015 which propelled Georgia Tech to victory over top 5 Florida State University on the final play of the game. His twin brother Lawrence Austin enjoyed two acrobatic interceptions, which showed off his impeccable vision. The Georgia Tech offense, without fifth year senior veteran Justin Thomas, was thrust into victory mode behind an offensive line with three true freshman starting, Jahaziel Lee, Parker Braun, and Kenny Cooper. Redshirt sophomore Matthew Jordan of Jackson, Alabama made his first collegiate start at Georgia Tech, and his ability to lead the offense turned out to be a significant aid in the game. Jordan enjoyed a 55-yard touchdown scamper and sophomore Marcus Marshall enjoyed another 50-yard touchdown on top. Tech enjoyed a 30–7 lead with 5 minutes left and the final tally ended in a 30–20 victory for Georgia Tech.Virginia
On Senior Day for Justin Thomas, Patrick Gamble, Harrison Butker, and Roderick Rook Chungong, Georgia Tech surged to victory in front of 48,500 fans at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Their careers included two ACC Championship game appearances, one Orange Bowl Championship, one Sun Bowl Championship, and one Music City Bowl appearance. Justin Thomas was just yards shy of becoming the Georgia Tech leader in all-time total offense. He threw 5 of 11 completions with a long touchdown pass to Sophomore Clinton Lynch. The Georgia Tech defense played very well, with Lance Austin and Corey Griffin making two crucial interceptions. Tech would face archrival University of Georgia on November 26 in Athens, where it would seek an upset as an underdog.At Georgia
Trailing UGA 14–27 with only 9:30 left in the game, the Yellow Jackets embarked on a 7 play, 94-yard touchdown drive that ended in a 5-yard touchdown run by Dedrick Mills to make it a 21–27 game with 6:28 remaining on the clock. On the ensuing Bulldogs drive, georgia was able toKentucky
Georgia Tech took an early lead on a strip-six fumble return forced by DT Pat Gamble, and finished by LB PJ Davis. Eventually, Georgia Tech won 33–18.Rankings
References
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