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How Alberto Mendoza's ill-advised scramble all but ended Georgia Tech comeback vs Stanford
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- How Alberto Mendoza's ill-advised scramble all but ended Georgia Tech comeback vs Stanford
Alberto Mendoza's start to his career at Georgia Tech continues to be a roller coaster experience. And the latest dip came in heartbreaking fashion in the final minuts of the Yellow Jackets' ACC opener against Stanford.
With Georgia Tech needing a touchdown to force overtime, Stanford's defense dialed up pressure on third-and-13, sending Mendoza scrambling backward, well beyond midfield and past the Cardinal logo.
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As defenders closed in, he unloaded the ball to avoid a sack. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, officials ruled the ball didn't cross the line of scrimmage and, because there was no receiver in the area, ruled the play an intentional grounding. That resulted in a crushing 32-yard penalty that effectively ended the Yellow Jackets' comeback hopes.
On the next ensuing play — for those not keeping track, it was fourth-and 45 from the Georgia Tech 40-yard line — Mendoza completed a pass to Jordan Allen for a 17-yard gain. Then came a fumble by Justice Haynes on a last-minute lateral pass attempt, which was recovered by Stanford, sealing the come-from-behind win for the Cardinal.
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"That can't happen," Mendoza said in a post-game news conference "Penalties set us back. We've got to be cleaner with those things. Just the operation, on my side, with the whole offensive standpoint, we've got to be cleaner. We can't come with two three-and-outs after we're rolling in the first half. We put our defense in a tough spot.
"We got to be much more detailed, myself and the whole team."
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Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, completed 26-of-39 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the 34-27 loss.
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Georgia Tech heads into its bye week with a 1-3 overall record and a 0-1 record in conference play.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Alberto Mendoza's ill-advised scramble all but ended Georgia Tech comeback vs Stanford
