Tech Hits A Hokie Hurdle
On the heels of a stirring victory over pfeviously undefeated Duke one week earlier , Georgia Tech hoped to continue the forward progress on their visit to Virginia Tech. But the Yellow Jackets came out slow and sleepy- once again- and they quickly found themselves in a big hole. After trailing 24-3 at the half, they did bounce back, but not sufficiently to gain the win, ultimately falling to the Hokies 34-24 on Saturday in Blacksburg.
Brent Key stated afterward that, " Anybody can beat anybody any day in this league". Key and all others watching saw a few big plays dictate the outcome. He specifically mentioned that four trips to the red zone later in the game yielded only 10 points.
Like several other losses in this challenging season, Tech played like two different teams. The first team was slow and hesitant ,underpowered and occasionally under- focused. That's the team that quickly dropped behind 14-0. In the midst of that struggle came a disheartening turnover. Tech RB Trelain Maddox fumbled the ball away just as he crossed the Hokie five yard line, heading in for a touchdown. The ball rolled out of the endzone and thus a touchdown for Georgia Tech became a touchback for the Hokies, with the Jackets remaining scoreless at that juncture. Deflating.
The "good " Tech team then opened the third quarter as a smooth, productive machine, notching a couple of scores in short order to restore a bit of hope to Jacket fans. But the first guys then showed back up , preventing an effective comeback and dropping Tech to 2-4 for the first half of a perplexing season.
Statiistics were telling, but also misleading in a sense. QB Alberto Mendoza was 29 of 38 for 335 yards and two scores for the game. He did throw an interception and had yet another play where his attempted scramble generated a huge loss.
RB Maddox had 12 carries for 96 yards and a score. Jordan Allen snagged 10 catches for 120 yards. Tech registered six sacks vs the Hokies. The penalty total was down to six, which is a significant improvement. But the Jackets lost the turnover margin, two to one,
As Key alluded to in his postgame remarks, this game turned on just a few moments. That said, the Jackets struggled much of the day on defense, especially dealing with VaTech WR Que' Sean Brown. All game, he looked positively Heisman- esque, with five catches for 182 yards and a score. He also had one carry for 12, plus punt returns totaling 57 yards. The Yellow Jackets had no answer for him, especially in the open field.
In summary for Georgia Tech, some good, much bad, and another loss.
Tech next hosts BC for homecoming. The Eagles had a tough start to 2026 but have played better lately, last beating Pitt. For Georgia Tech to have any realistic shot at a bowl game, they must beat the Eagles. That is certainly possible, though not necessarily probable– it all depends on which GT team shows up.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com