Yellow Jackets Have Momentum on Their Side

By David England
SouthernPigskin.com

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Something happened to Georgia Tech after the loss to BYU, and the team has been on fire of late, winning three straight conference games by 14 or more.

The holiday season is right around the corner, and with it comes the panic to buy gifts, family visits, lots of food, and the regular shake up in college football. Now, with the BCS standings falling apart as of three days ago, the main focus is rightfully on the national championship picture. But while the nation is focused on the national landscape, the ACC Coastal Division has been surprisingly competitive and entertaining this season. The media, myself included, thought the division would be for grabs on the Labor Day, as Georgia Tech battled Virginia Tech in a showdown in Blacksburg. Now, 11 weeks later, that game meant a lot less than any of us predicted.

Something happened to Georgia Tech after the loss to BYU, and the team has been on fire of late, winning three straight conference games by 14 or more. It appears that whatever Paul Johnson did is working very well.

Let's talk about the present. As of Monday, the Miami Hurricanes self-imposed a postseason ban, and Georgia Tech clinched its berth to the ACC Championship Game. This will be the Yellow Jackets' second appearance in just four years, and the last game went fairly well for the Jackets, until NCAA infractions caused Georgia Tech to be stripped of its 2009 title.

There was no bigger game in the ACC than the Blue Devils vs Yellow Jackets this past weekend, and Georgia Tech capitalized on the opportunity in a big way. The game was different than most, in that it felt like the Yellow Jackets were dominating the game, but the Blue Devils just kept hanging around. The play of the game came early in the fourth quarter as Georgia Tech was only up by four points, Tevin Washington lined up in shotgun formation and found Robert Godhigh on an underneath pattern for the eight-yard touchdown, giving the Yellow Jackets an 11-point lead that they would not relinquish.

The game was a picture perfect way to win for the Jackets. They had no turnovers, dominated in time of possession, ran more plays, and had a balanced attack. Georgia Tech pulled out the win in impressive fashion, and Tevin Washington was a key contributor. Washington was razor blade sharp in all facets of the game. The senior quarterback was efficient through the air with over 100 yards passing and three touchdowns passes. On the ground, Washington did his job with 62 yards and a touchdown.

Now, the Jackets head into the week that the Peach State waits for all year: Clean, Old-fashioned Hate.

Georgia Tech plays Georgia this Saturday in Sanford Stadium. Kickoff is at noon on ESPN.