BOBBY DODD STADIUM — Georgia Tech football suffered a humiliating defeat to Boston College, losing 49-27 while allowing 399 rushing yards to the Eagles. Tech falls to 2-5 on the season and 1-3 in ACC play.
Tech started with a 10-0 lead on an opening drive touchdown by tight end Kevin Roche, Jr. and an Aidan Birr field goal, but from that point on were outscored 49-17. Boston College scored on 7 of 9 drives (not counting kneeldown drives) after the 3:18 mark in the 1st quarter. According to Game on Paper, Boston College had a 54% success rate (99th percentile) and a 62% success rate on run plays alone.
Quarterback Alberto Mendoza threw two interceptions, one that wasn't necessarily his fault that bounced off of Dalen Penson. Both were picked off by Charlie Comella, who returned the second one 53 yards to put BC up 35-20 in the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach.
In the postgame press conference, Tech head coach Brent Key didn't elaborate much on what kind of changes may come out of this game, but noted that Boston College beat them 14 times on the same run play. If that's what's happening in a single game, changes are more than overdue.
Now, injuries have been insane for Tech. Coming into the game, 16 guys were out, almost all of whom would see the field if they were healthy. Josh Petty did end up playing, starting the second half on the offensive line.
Aside from the injuries, Tech's defense played like they were a practice squad. There was no pervasive intensity. Any run play felt destined to go for many many yards (BC ran 8.5 yards/rush). Adjustments were not working and not putting guys in position to succeed. Heck, our guys were out of position regularly, a problem that has existed since game 1 of the season.
Sure, the offense scored 27. One of those touchdowns was in true garbage time, so let's give ourselves an actual 20 points. It ain't enough. Isaiah Fuhrmann dropped two first downs in the game. Justice Haynes managed one long run for a touchdown but Tech was so poor on late downs, recording on 3 successful late down plays according to Game on Paper. Three total. We will never win a football game doing that.
If you asked me right now, Tech will not win another game this season. The only games they've been competitive in have been against other bad teams. Everyone else we play going forward has a better coach than we do right now. Programs have to be developed to get better and have sustained success. We're at that point in Brent Key's tenure where we need to be seeing the product of program development, but I don't think I'm alone in saying we're feeling like we're watching a lot of the same old classic Tech that couldn't get out of its own way.
How It Happened
1st Quarter
Tech started with two nothing runs by Justice Haynes before Alberto Mendoza hit Jordan Allen for 43 yards to keep the driv alive. Two plays later, Mendoza ran for 27 to put Tech with goal to go. From four yards out, Mendoza connected with Kevin Roche, Jr. in the back of the endzone to put the Jackets up 7-0.
Boston College had short field to start after a late hit penalty on the kickoff by Tech. Running back Bo MacCormack III on a run then 3rd down completion got the Eagles in the red zone. An offensive holding pushed BC far back creating a 3rd & 29 that resulted in an incompletion. Their 48 yard field goal attempt flew wide left.
With the ball back, Tech largely moved the ball via BC penalties (roughing the passer, unsporstmanlike conduct, & neutral zone infraction) and got to goal to go. After a Justice Haynes run gave Tech 3rd & goal from the 1, Tech was called for two penalties of their own (false start and holding), eliminating a potential touchdown catch by Jordan Allen and forcing an Aidan Birr 32 yard field goal to make it 10-0.
2nd Quarter
After three MacCormack runs to put BC in Tech territory (which happened at end of 1st quarter), the Eagles were faced with a 3rd & 8 from the Tech 25, which they hit on a pass to Nedrick Boldin, Jr. for the score. The point after was missed, leaving Tech ahead 10-6.
Tech's three and out on the next drive had a mix of a comedy of errors. With 3rd & 1 to go, Mendoza hit Roche past the first down line, but in trying to get extra yards Roche went backwards, creating 4th down and inches. Not realizing he was on hot mic, PA announcer Ryan Cameron through the whole stadium said "oh we're punting? NOOOO!!" The punt went 19 yards.
Once again, Boston College blitzed Tech up the middle with multiple first down runs by Nolan Ray. On first & goal from the seven, MacCormack scored on a run up the middle. Again, they missed the point after, taking the lead 12-10.
Aside from the occassional first down, both teams traded punts for their next two possessions, taking the game to the 3:07 mark with the Jackets in possession. Tech gained first downs from a Jordan Allen catch, Jaivon Plummer catch, and a defensive pass interference call in the endzone to setup first and goal. Tech only moved mere feet before a 3rd & 5 pass to Jordan Allen was left a yard short. Aidan Birr's 20 yard field goal gave Tech the lead back into halftime at 13-12.
3rd Quarter
Starting the half with the ball, BC rushed for 52 yards and easily scored on a two yard MacCormack touchdown rush. Opting to go for two, Mason McKenzie's pass was broken up in the endzone, leaving BC's lead at 18-13.
Tech got good utilization from Tre Maddox on their next drive, driving the pile on a run and converting a first down on a quick screen pass to get to midfield. Mendoza on his next throw was intercepted after the ball bounced off Tech's receiver and was caught by BC's Charlie Comella.
Boston College needed minimal effort to score their next touchdown, getting two first downs before Mason McKenzie ran it in from six yards out to make it 25-13.
After a Tech punt, BC again clobbered Tech on the ground with runs from McKenzie and MacCormack plus Mekhi Dodd to get to goal to go entering the 4th.
4th Quarter
Tech got a lucky break with McKenzie slipping on a 2nd & goal run, creating a 3rd & goal from the five where McKenzie threw a bad ball while rolling out that fell incomplete. The proceeding field goal put BC up 28-13.
Thankfully, the jolt the Jackets needed came right up, starting with a 46 yard completion to Dalen Penson to set up a 15 yard rushing touchdown for Justice Haynes to make it 28-20.
I could repeat other paragraphs I've written so far about BC just running down our throats, because that's what happened on the next drive to make it 35-20 with 9:34 left (Mason McKenzie 16 yard TD run).
Facing 3rd & 11 on Tech's next drive, Mendoza threw his second interception of the game, once again to Charlie Comella who returned it 53 yards for a pick six, extending BC's lead to 42-20.
Tech then brought in Grady Adamson at QB, where he completed five of six passes and finishing the drive with a 30 yard touchdown pass to Dalen Penson to make it 42-27.
Boston College scored one more garbage time touchdown with 3:14 left in the game to get us to our final score of 49-27.
