SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 3, 2012
Virginia Tech 20, Georgia Tech 17: Cody Journell kicked a 17-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 20 Virginia Tech a dramatic victory over visiting Georgia Tech in a pivotal early season Atlantic Coast Conference contest.
Journell booted a 42-yard field as time expired in regulation and easily booted the decisive chip-shot attempt through the center of the uprights as the Hokies beat their ACC Coastal Division rivals for the fifth time in the last six meetings.
Georgia Tech had the ball first in overtime but came up empty when quarterback Tevin Washington threw a ball up for grabs while off-balance and under heavy pressure and it was intercepted by Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller near the goal line.
The game-winning field goal was set up by Michael Holmes’ 18-yard burst to the 1-yard line.
The contest was a defensive struggle through the first three quarters before the two offenses revved up.
Georgia Tech took a 10-7 lead on the first play of the final quarter when David Scully kicked a 34-yard field goal.
The Hokies took a 14-10 lead with 7:46 remaining when Logan Thomas threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Demitri Knowles, who sped past Yellow Jackets corner Rod Sweeting on a streak pattern down the right sideline.
The Yellow Jackets responded with an impressive 7 minute, 2 second drive and took a three-point lead when Washington tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Deon Hill with 44 seconds remaining.
Virginia Tech struck first by scoring in the first quarter on a six-yard scoring pass from Thomas to Eric Martin.
Georgia Tech tied the contest 26 seconds into the second quarter when Robert Godhigh scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard run to cap a three-play, 24-yard drive. The touchdown was set up when Hokies freshman punter A.J. Hughes was unable to handle a slightly high snap from long snapper Joe St. Germain and was dropped for a 22-yard loss.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hokies WR D.J. Coles injured his right knee late in the first quarter and didn’t return. … Georgia Tech was without three key defensive players – LB Daniel Drummond and CB Louis Young were serving suspensions and S Fred Holton missed the game with an injury. … Virginia Tech is 12-2 in September conference games since joining the ACC. … Yellow Jackets RB Orwin Smith injured a shoulder in the third quarter and didn’t return. He caught four passes for 52 yards but was held to 3 yards on four rushes.