For the first time since 1961, it’s believed that the Ramblin’ Reck did not lead the Georgia Tech Football team out on to the surface of Grant Field.
According to Ken Sugiura at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, because a lightning delay moved back kickoff, the usual on-field pregame festivities were scrapped, forcing the Reck to not take the field in its traditional place.
Also missing from action was Haynes King, who per Kelly Quinlan was a game time decision as to whether he would play due to a lower-body
injury.
In King’s stead, Aaron Philo got his first career start at quarterback, throwing for 373 yards and a touchdown pass to Isiah Canion in the first quarter to put Tech up 7-6 after Tech for the second straight week opened up on offense with multiple drives ending in turnovers.
But from there, the beatdown was on. Tech scored seven more touchdowns, outgaining Gardner-Webb in yards 680 to 326.
Both Malachi Hosley and Jamal Haynes had good games on the groud, Hosely earning 100 yards on the nose and Haynes rushing for 92 yards. Both scored twice and broke for runs of at least 45+ yards.
Malik Rutherford was back in game action after missing most of the Colorado game with an injury, leading Tech with five catches for 62 yards.
Late in the 3rd quarter down 35-6, Gardner-Webb lined up for a 45 yard field goal and missed wide right, but got to rekick after Ahmari Harvey was called for jumping offsides. The proceeding 40 yard try was then blocked by JJ dan den Berg and scooped up by Harvey who returned it to the house for a 65 yard touchdown.
Freshman quarterback Graham Knowles got in during the final few minutes of the game, needing only one pass to leave his mark hitting Dean Patterson for an 84 yard touchdown to reach our final score of 59-12.
All things considered, this went as well as it could’ve gone, maybe except for the 12 penalties. Lots of freshman got playing time and showed our depth is better than before. The starters (save for King) got some good reps in.
Every rep counts as next week is the game that most likely affects our chances at a potential ACC Championship Game appearance facing #8 Clemson in Bobby Dodd. If y’all haven’t bought tickets already, that stadium better not have a speck of orange out there.
