Ramblin’ Wrecked: Hokies Survive Georgia Tech In Overtime, 20-17

It is easy to see what Big 12 or Big Ten coaches like about their respective conferences’ scheduling practices: figure out what you’ve got during non-conference tune-ups, then get rolling into the “real” season. Unless you are contending for a national title, the conference race is what truly matters, so your non-conference games are basically the preseason.

Other conferences, however, sometimes force you to be ready from the opening (long) weekend of the season. While conference mates like Mississippi State and Missouri were taking on FCS foes, South Carolina was traveling to Nashville to kick off Week 1 of the season and face Vanderbilt in a demanding, meaningful slog. Four nights later, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech wrapped up the long weekend with a game that very well could have already decided the ACC Coastal Division.

Virginia Tech responded by moving the ball when it mattered most, driving 56 yards on six plays to set up Journell’s successful game-tying attempt. The Yellow Jackets opened overtime with the ball, but Washington threw an interception to Kyle Fuller on third down. On the ensuing possession, Journell ended the game with an 18-yard chip shot.

Logan Thomas played well for Virginia Tech, throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-38 passing. For Georgia Tech, Washington threw for just 96 yards (10-of-15 passing, one touchdown, one interception) but ran 19 times for 63 yards on the ground.

The severity of Davis’ injury is uncertain. He left the field under his own power but was holding his shoulder and talking to the trainers on his way to the sideline.

Why yes, that was a Virginia Tech shirt reading, “GOBBLE GOBBLE, BITCHES,” that you saw on your television Monday night. Via @lukezim:

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The junior started 12 games in 2011, helping lead Georgia Tech to some of the best rushing numbers in the nation. Finch is a mauler and definitely provides some of the toughest blocks to execute in the Yellow Jackets’ option system.

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There’s Frank Beamer, preparing to defend his punter’s role in a foibled special teams play from earlier, when the Jackets called time so Virginia Tech could sit on the ball one more time. Beamer was then asked for his thoughts on the timeout that interrupted the interview, and everything got super meta in Blacksburg.

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The 6’4, 226-pound Coles caught 36 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns in 2011 and provides a solid red-zone target for VT quarterback Logan Thomas. Coles missed all of spring practice after his PCL surgery.

Thomas finished the first half just 12-for-23 passing with 90 yards for a meager 3.9 yards per pass attempt. He did manage 40 yards on the ground. Thomas completed passes to six different receivers in the first half, but Coles did not pick up a reception.

In what has proven to be a defensive stalemate, neither team has been able to grab the upper hand. The No. 16 Hokies have been a one-man show on offense, with quarterback Logan Thomas doing most of the work. Thomas has only thrown for 90 yards on 12-of-23 passing, but he’s also gained 40 yards on the ground to lead Frank Beamer’s squad.

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Yes, Georgia Tech is wearing a honeycomb pattern on all of its gear tonight that sort of makes it look like its players have yet to be broken out of the boxes they were shipped in. You should go ahead and get used to it, because this is going to be the full-time look for the Jackets this year. The only non-honeycombed item will be the helmet:

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Atlantic Coast Conference foes square off when No. 16 Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech under the lights on Monday, Sept. 3.

The Hokies ended their 2011 season on a few sour notes; first getting demolished by Clemson in the ACC Championship game, 38-10, and then losing a tight 23-20 overtime contest to the University of Michigan in the BCS’s Sugar Bowl to finish their campaign at 11-3.