SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 31, 2012
Georgia Tech 21, USC 7: Senior quarterback Tevin Washington threw for a touchdown and ran for another and the Yellow Jackets held the Trojans to 205 total yards to win the Sun Bowl in windy El Paso, Texas.
Georgia Tech (7-7) snapped a seven-game bowl skid that included last year’s 30-27 overtime loss to Utah in the Sun Bowl.
With winds gusting to 40 mph, USC (7-6) completed a highly disappointing season that began with the Trojans ranked No. 1. Redshirt freshman Max Wittek started in place of senior quarterback Matt Barkley (sprained shoulder) and was 14-of-37 for 107 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions, including two fourth-quarter picks in the end zone.
It was 7-7 in the third quarter when Jamal Golden returned a low punt 56 yards, setting up Washington’s 1-yard scoring run. Early in the fourth, A-back Orwin Smith took a short pass from Washington and slipped a tackle for a 17-yard touchdown.
The Yellow Jackets broke on top in the second quarter when redshirt freshman quarterback Vad Lee hit David Sims with a 3-yard scoring pass, capping a 14-play, 74-yard drive. Sims also ran for 99 yards on 17 carries. USC running back Silas Redd’s juggling 9-yard touchdown catch tied it just before halftime.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Jackets excelled defensively despite losing star OLB Jeremiah Attaochu to an arm injury in the first half. … Washington’s rushing score was his 20th this season, second-most among FBS quarterbacks to Kansas State’s Collin Klein (22). … Trojans WR Marqise Lee, the Biletnikoff Award winner who had an FBS-high 112 catches, 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season, caught six passes for 41 yards.