Troy University Athletics
Yellow Jackets Sink Troy with Fourth-Quarter Surge
9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
ATLANTA, Ga. -- For the second time in as many weeks, the Trojans will have to settle for close against an Atlantic Coast Conference foe on the road.
Georgia Tech scored 21 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter on Saturday at Grant Field, turning a 14-14 nail-biter into a comfortable 35-20 Tech victory over the Trojans.
Tech improved to 2-1 on the year with the win while dropping the Trojans, who visit Nebraska next Saturday, to 1-2.
"We knew their offense was problematic with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Ball," Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. "Their offensive line was pretty mobile and did a good job. We made some plays and they made some plays, but they seemed to make big plays when they really needed to."
Turnovers were again the story for Troy late in the game as the Yellow Jackets converted a pair of interceptions into touchdowns to seal the victory.
Tech was also able to do something that neither Alabama State nor Florida State could do, run the ball against the Troy defense. The Jackets, led by quarterback Reggie Ball, piled up 320 yards on the ground, the most by an opponent since Nebraska gained 330 on Sept. 1, 2001 - Troy's first-ever game in Division I-A.
The loss for Troy was also costly for the Trojans, who saw junior linebacker Marcus Richardson go down with a shoulder injury in the first half. Richardson spent the second half in street clothes with his left arm in a sling.
"We lost a couple o guys today, hopefully not for the year," Blakeney said. "I am proud of our team. We were not as deep as they were, but we have to keep pressing and try to get our next opportunity at Nebraska."
For the second straight week, the Trojans opened the second half strong, mounting an eight-play drive, covering 80 yards, to knot the score at 14-14. Haugabook had a pair of huge completions in the drive, one to Toris Rutledge for 33 yards and the second a 25-yard strike to Banks for the touchdown. Against Florida State seven days ago, Troy also had an eight-play, 80-yard drive on its first chance after intermission.
After a trade of possessions, the Trojans dodged a bullet late in the third quarter when Ball's pass into the end zone on first and goal at the Troy six was intercepted by Terrence Moore.
But on the third play of the final period, Ball completed a fourth-down, one-yard pass to a diving Mike Cox for a 21-14 lead. The play was reviewed by officials, but there was no evidence to overturn the on-field ruling.
"I think Ball gives them so much flexibility," Blakeney said. "They spread you all over the field and wind up with a two-back play with him as the tailback, and he is a pretty doggone good runner."
Haugabook was intercepted at the Troy 40 three plays by later, leading to a 14-point advantage, 28-14. Tashard Choice covered most of the distance on two plays, a 19-yard run on second down and a five-yard burst to the endzone two plays later.
The final nail came after a second Haugabook interception on the next possession. Jamaal Evans scampered for the final 13 yards of the four-play, 50-yard drive to put Tech up 35-14 with 9:11 remaining.
Troy tried to rally with a 70-yard drive in the final moment of the contest, but Anthony Jones' one-yard plunge to paydirt with 1:30 remaining was too little, too late.
The Trojans struggled offensively in the opening quarter, managing just one first down against a stingy Georgia Tech defense. Three first quarter possessions for Troy led to three punts and left the Trojans defense on the field for much of the period.
Tech took advantage on its third possession, using a reverse to star receiver Calvin Johnson to get into scoring position and another to Rashaun Grant that the junior from Tampa took 26 yards for a touchdown with 3:35 left in the opening quarter.
The Yellow Jackets struck for a big play on their first possession of the second quarter, when quarterback Reggie Ball caught the Trojans in a blitz and hit sophomore James Johnson for a 55-yard TD pass with 13:42 left in the half.
The Trojans finally got on track offensively in the second quarter to answer the Jackets' second score. Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook hooked up with junior receiver Gary Banks twice on the nine-play scoring drive, one for 16 yards and then for 28. Haugabook took care of the final yard himself, diving into the end zone with 9:17 to go in the half to cut the deficit to 14-7.
The Trojans mounted another threat later in the quarter, driving into Tech territory before penalties knocked them back across midfield and Haugabook fumbled to give the Jackets possession at the Troy 36.
Tech was unable to take advantage as the penalty bug hit them, forcing a punt. The two teams traded possessions again before the half, but Tech's final challenge ended when Tavares Williams recorded his first career interception at the Troy three, ending the half.
