No. 20 Georgia Tech Sputters at Miami, Loses 24-7

And this latest trip knocked the Yellow Jackets out of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division — and almost certainly will bump them from the national polls as well.

Held to 211 yards of offense and only 134 on the ground, No. 20 Georgia Tech sputtered in just about every aspect of Saturday's 24-7 loss to Miami. The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over three times, including on their first play from scrimmage, plus allowed a touchdown on a fumbled punt return and gave up a 48-yard kickoff return that set up another Miami score.

"What's killing us right now is we're not executing," Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington said.

Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC) was held 306 yards below their season average in total offense, 214 off their rushing average and nearly 36 points off their average in scoring — all of those stats ranking among the top 10 nationally in each category entering the day. Even a banged-up Miami defensive line proved too tough, and it was the first time since 2006 that Georgia Tech didn't have a run or pass play of more than 20 yards in an ACC game.

The Jackets' long play on Saturday: 17 yards.

"I am frustrated that we couldn't find something to do better on offense," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. "Clearly they had a better plan than we did, because we couldn't get any rhythm, couldn't get anything going. We couldn't hit any good plays."

In its last 35 games, Georgia Tech has rushed for less than 200 yards only three times, all at Sun Life Stadium — 95 at Miami in 2009, 143 against Iowa at the Orange Bowl following the 2009 season, and then Saturday.

"Clearly, we had an exceptional plan on defense," Miami coach Al Golden said.

JoJo Nicholas recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown plus added an interception, Lamar Miller ran for 93 yards and a score and Mike James also had a touchdown run for Miami (4-3, 2-2), which won consecutive games for the first time this season and has now beaten Georgia Tech three straight times by a combined score of 92-34.

"Everybody talks about the ACC race or this and that," Golden said. "I'm trying to teach them the process. The process, when it takes traction, is what allows you to win multiple games in a row. That's it."

Washington threw right to Nicholas on the Yellow Jackets' first offensive snap of the game, a mistake that set Miami up at the Georgia Tech 46. It was doubly costly for the Yellow Jackets, with center Jay Finch going down with what appeared to be a knee injury and eventually getting carted off the sideline for evaluation.

The Hurricanes needed 12 plays to score from there, James going in from 2 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

Nicholas' other big plays in the first half?

Lots of hustle, and lots of help from Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech wide receiver Roddy Jones took a pitch and ran 34 yards with 4:09 left in the first quarter, fighting Nicholas off a little too vehemently for the last few of those. Jones was pulled down by an illegal horse-collar tackle, but he also got his fingers inside Nicholas' face mask while stiff-arming the Miami safety on the play.

The penalties offset, and the big gain was wiped away.

And that pretty much told the story of Georgia Tech's day.

With 10:17 left in the half, Zach Laskey dropped back to receive a punt for Georgia Tech, the bouncing ball coming straight at him as he stood at the 9-yard line. He tried to grab it as a horde of Hurricanes sprinted toward him, misplayed it and could only watch as the football kept going into the end zone. Nicholas dove on it just past the goal line for a touchdown that put Miami up 14-0.

"On that punt, my job is to get to the ball," Nicholas said. "It just so happened the ball came to me."

A 20-play, 92-yard drive put Georgia Tech on the scoreboard late in the half. Washington controlled virtually the entire series, and his 1-yard touchdown plunge with 1:02 left cut Miami's lead in half.

"A heck of a drive," Johnson said.

Miami had a heck of an answer.

Travis Benjamin ran the ensuing kickoff back 48 yards, and Harris hit Tommy Streeter with a 32-yard gain on first down to get Miami to the Georgia Tech 14. Two plays later, Miller ran up the middle for a touchdown from there with 25 seconds left in the half, restoring the 14-point cushion and getting help from a sealing block by guard Jon Feliciano.

It was a costly celebration. Feliciano got hurt jumping around after the score, leaving the game with a leg injury. He rejoined his teammates on the sideline late in the third quarter, on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his left ankle. An X-ray was negative, but Golden is not sure of Feliciano's status.

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Miami 24, Georgia Tech 7: Miami’s Defense Tames Georgia Tech

Lamar Miller rushed for 93 yards and a score for Miami (4-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which won consecutive games for the first time this season.

Miami’s defense was dominant, holding the Yellow Jackets more than 300 yards and nearly 36 points below their season averages entering the game.

Mike James also had a touchdown run for Miami, which has beaten Georgia Tech three straight times by a combined score of 92-34.

“Everybody talks about the A.C.C. race or this and that,” Miami Coach Al Golden said. “I’m trying to teach them the process. The process, when it takes traction, is what allows you to win multiple games in a row. That’s it.”

Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-2) came into the contest averaging 517 yards a game. The Yellow Jackets got only 211 on Saturday, their lowest total since a loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl after the 2009 season.

In its last 35 games, Georgia Tech has rushed for less than 200 yards only three times, all at Sun Life Stadium — 95 at Miami in 2009, 143 in the Orange Bowl and 134 in this one.

“It’s frustrating every time you lose,” said Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington, who threw for 63 yards and ran for 36 more — a team high. “All week long we had a good game plan to come out and get a victory. It’s frustrating for me because I feel I let the team down.”

Washington threw right to Nicholas on the Yellow Jackets’ first offensive snap of the game, a mistake that set up Miami at the Georgia Tech 46. It was doubly costly for the Yellow Jackets, with center Jay Finch going down with what appeared to be a knee injury. Finch was carted off the sideline for evaluation.

The Hurricanes needed 12 plays to score from there, quarterback Jacory Harris extending the drive with a 13-yard pass to Phillip Dorsett on fourth-and-3 from the 39, and James capping it with a 2-yard run for a 7-0 Miami lead.

Nicholas’ other big plays in the first half included lots of hustle, and lots of help from Georgia Tech.

“Something we’re doing ain’t right,” Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson said.

Yellow Jackets wide receiver Roddy Jones took a pitch and ran 34 yards with 4 minutes 9 seconds left in the first quarter, fighting Nicholas off a little too vehemently for the last few of those yards. Jones was pulled down by an illegal horse-collar tackle, but he also got his fingers inside Nicholas’s face mask while stiff-arming the Miami safety on the play. The penalties offset, and the big gain was wiped away.

With 10:17 left in the half, Nicholas again found himself in the right place at the right time for Miami.

Zach Laskey dropped back to receive a punt for Georgia Tech, the bouncing ball coming straight at him as he stood at the 9. He tried to grab it as a horde of Hurricanes sprinted toward him, misplayed it, and could only watch as the football kept going into the end zone. Nicholas dived on it just past the goal line for a touchdown that put Miami up, 14-0.

“On that punt, my job is to get to the ball,” Nicholas said. “It just so happened the ball came to me.”

In the first half alone, Georgia Tech failed on a fake-punt attempt, had the interception to help create one Miami touchdown and then the blown punt return to give the Hurricanes seven more points. Nonetheless, with 1:02 left in the half, the Yellow Jackets were within 14-7.

A 20-play, 92-yard drive got Georgia Tech on the scoreboard. Washington completed all three of his passes during the marathon possession and also rushed the ball nine times for 22 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

“We never hit any big plays,” Johnson said. “We had a heck of a drive in the second quarter to get back in the game, then we give up the touchdown.”

That they did.

Travis Benjamin ran back the ensuing kickoff 48 yards, and Harris hit Tommy Streeter with a 32-yard gain on first down to get Miami to the Georgia Tech 14.

Two plays later, Miller ran up the middle for a touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half, restoring the 14-point cushion and getting help from a sealing block by guard Jon Feliciano.

It was a costly celebration. Feliciano was hurt jumping around after the score, leaving the game with a leg injury. He rejoined his teammates on the sideline late in the third quarter, on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his left ankle. An X-ray was negative, but Golden was not sure of Feliciano’s status.

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Run Game Lifts Virginia Past No. 12 Georgia Tech

The Cavaliers (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) sealed the victory by holding onto the ball for the final 6 minutes, making five first downs to get inside the Yellow Jackets' 5.

But they didn't need to score, and when quarterback Michael Rocco took a knee for a 3-yard loss on the game's final play, thousand of fans surged onto the field at Scott Stadium.

Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1), off to its best start since 1966, came in with one of the nation's top offenses, but it was held to just two pass completions and a season-low 296 yards by a Virginia defense that made the most of an extra week to prepare for the tricky triple option.

Kevin Parks ran for one touchdown for Virginia, Rocco hit Tim Smith for a 37-yarder and Clifton Richardson had a 22-yard run, all in the first half, as Virginia built a 24-14 lead.

Georgia Tech almost struck very quickly to start the second half, with Tevin Washington running 85 yards on the first play from scrimmage, but the play was called back by a penalty.

The Yellow Jackets then did it the hard way, using 19 plays and converting two fourth-and-1 plays and a fourth-and-5 before Washington scored on a 1-yard run. The fourth-and-5 was initially a fourth-and-10, but defensive tackle Nick Jenkins was called for being offsides, and Washington ran for 23 yards on the next play to the Cavaliers' 5 and scored two plays later.

The teams traded punts the rest of the way until Virginia took over at its 23 with just under 6 minutes left. Jones started with runs of 11 and eight yards, caught an 18-yard pass from Rocco to convert a third-and-6 from the Virginia 49 and the Cavaliers never gave it up.

Virginia gained 407 yards against former coach Al Groh's 3-4 defense.

Washington finished with 115 yards on 26 carries, but was 2-for-8 passing for 24 yards.

The Yellow Jackets erased a 14-0 deficit with two touchdowns in 98 seconds in the second quarter. Washington capped an 80-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, and Rod Sweeting intercepted a Rocco pass three plays later and returned in 32 yards for the tying touchdown.

Freshman David Watford came on at quarterback for one series for Virginia, and led a 72-yard scoring drive with a big assist from Richardson, also a freshman. He bulled his way for a first down on third-and-1, and also carried it the last 22 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

When Chase Minnifield intercepted a deep pass by Washington on the ensuing series, Rocco came back and led them 41 yards in eight plays to Robert Randolph's 36-yard field goal.

Virginia struck quickly at the start with two touchdowns in the first 8:20.

The Cavaliers drove 73 yards after the opening kickoff, a drive kept alive by Rocco's 14-yard pass to Jones on third-and-4 from the Yellow Jackets' 42 and his 8-yard pass to Tim Smith on third-and-3 from the 23. Two plays later, Parks took it in from the 6, his seventh score.

The Yellow Jackets were penalized twice on their opening series, riling up the small crowd at Scott Stadium, and when Rocco hit Smith for 37 yards and a 14-0 lead, it got really loud.

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