Alcorn State Braves vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Match Player Stats On Sep 03, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2015

ATLANTA - Running backs Patrick Skov and Marcus Marshall combined to rush for 256 yards and five touchdowns Thursday to lead No. 16 Georgia Tech to a 69-6 victory over Alcorn State at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Skov, a graduate transfer from Stanford, carried 12 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns, on runs of 3, 21 and 4 yards. Marshall, a freshman from Raleigh, N.C., carried eight times for 184 yards and touchdown runs of 49 and 64 yards.

Georgia Tech (1-0) totaled 553 yards, including 476 on the ground. The Yellow Jackets did not commit a penalty and had to punt only twice. Alcorn State (0-1) had 272 yards in offense - 151 in the second half.

Georgia Tech starting quarterback Justin Thomas only played the first quarter. He completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 2 yards and one touchdown. Backup Tim Byerly played the next two periods and rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown.

Georgia Tech scored on each of its seven possessions in the first half and took a 48-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets had 371 total yards before halftime while limiting Alcorn State to 81 yards and four first downs.

The Yellow Jackets took the opening drive 63 yards in five plays, with Thomas scoring on a 13-yard keeper. He started to the right, reversed his field and dived in for the score.

Georgia Tech also scored on 3-yard run by Skov, a 1-yard run from A-back Isiah Willis, a 19-yard pass from Thomas to wide receiver Micheal Summers and a 49-yard run from freshman B-back Marcus Marshall.

The Yellow Jackets started the second quarter with Byerly, and he led a 71-yard touchdown drive. The score came on a 21-yard run by Skov.

Alcorn State finally made a first down early in the second quarter, but the Braves had their momentum stopped when receiver Darryan Ragsdale had the ball stripped by defensive end KeShun Freeman at the end of a reception. The ball was recovered by freshman safety A.J. Gray. Georgia Tech covered the 59 yards in seven plays, with Byerly scoring on an 8-yard run.

Georgia Tech finally made a mistake late in the half when Marshall had the ball knocked loose at the end of 20-yard run and cornerback Warren Gatewood recovered for Alcorn. The Braves were able to move to the Georgia Tech 18, but kicker Haiden McCraney missed a 35-yard field goal as time expired.

Alcorn State took the second-half kickoff and drove 75 yards in 10 plays, with Arron Baker scoring on a 1-yard run. Georgia Tech tacked on two scores in the third quarter, a 4-yard run from Skov and a 64-yard run from Marshall.

The Yellow Jackets scored in the fourth quarter after Alcorn punter McCraney, kicking from the end zone, fumbled the ball forward into the arms of Shawn Kagawa. Three plays later, third-string quarterback Brady Swilling scored on a 1-yard run.