Tech Ends UGA's BCS Run; Victory Bitter-Sweet

Besides bragging rights, a lot was riding on this in-state rivalry for the Georgia Bulldogs. A win would put them in a good position as far as the BCS was concerned. A loss would almost certainly knock them out of the running for a BCS berth.

For Georgia Tech, their fate didn't even ride on this game. They would be scoreboard watching throughout the afternoon, as Virginia had to defeat Virginia Tech in order for the Jackets to have a shot at a BCS berth. Still, the Yellow Jackets were trying to end a 7-game losing streak to the Dawgs.

Georgia got off to a fast start, scoring within 4 minutes, as Matthew Stafford threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Tripp Chandler. It was Chandler's first touchdown reception of the year. Later in the first quarter, Stafford threw another touchdown pass, only this one was to the other team. Georgia Tech would botch the PAT snap, making the score 7-6 Georgia. Stafford would wind up with four touchdown passes in the first half, three to senior Mohammad Massaquai. And Georgia's defense held Georgia Tech's option offense to just 6 points in the first half. The halftime score: 28-12 in favor of Georgia.

In the third quarter, it would take only twelve seconds for Tech to score, as Jonathan Dwyer would score on an option run. That opened the flood-gates for Tech, as Dwyer and Roddy Jones would run for 2 touchdowns each. White's first touchdown run came after a Georgia three-and-out. On the ensuing kickoff, the Dawg's return man, Richard Samuel, fumbled at the Georgia 24 yard-line. Dwyer would run it in on the next play, making the score 35-28 in favor of the Jackets. Georgia would make it interesting, but Tech would never relinquish the lead, as they went on to win 45-42. Stafford threw for 5 touchdown passes, a career high. And sophmore Knowshon Moreno would also run for a touchdown. But ultimately, it boiled down to Georgia Tech's option offense simply being better than Georgia's run-and-gun.

For Tech, the victory was bitter-sweet, as early in the fourth quarter of the Jackets-Dawgs game, Virginia Tech defeated Virginia, ending any hopes of a BCS berth for Tech. However, assuming Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno remain at Georgia, I see good things in both these teams' future, for at least another year. Even if neither team is going to a BCS game this year.