ATLANTA-So much for Virginia's "benefit of a bye week" theory.
The Cavalier football team looked out of sync and overmatched for the majority of its 35-0 loss to Georgia Tech last night. It was the first time the Cavs have been shut out since a 55-0 loss to Clemson in 1984.
After 11 days of rest, the Cavaliers (5-4, 4-3 ACC) failed to contain the Yellow Jackets' high-octane offense in the first half. Georgia Tech gained 344 yards in the half while holding the Cavs to just 126 first-half yards.
The 627 yards of total offense for the Jackets was the second highest total in school history and the first time they topped 600 yards since 1984.
No. 24 Georgia Tech (7-2, 5-2 ACC) scored on the first drive of the game behind solid running from sophomore tailback Joe Burns. Burns broke a 42-yard run to get into Virginia territory and then scored three plays later on a 17-yard scamper.
The Jackets went on to score on their next two possessions, including a 50-yard option run by wide receiver Kelly Campbell and a 3-yard run by Burns, to make the score 21-0. Burns finished the evening with 120 yards on 24 carries.
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Georgia Tech quarterback George Godsey put on his own impressive offensive display, connecting on his first nine passes. Godsey completed 29 of 37 attempts to 11 different receivers for 323 yards and two touchdowns.
"I can't say enough about George Godsey and the direction that he has taken the offense and this football team," Yellow Jacket coach George O'Leary said. "I think Godsey just keeps getting better and as he gets better, our football team keeps getting better."
Meanwhile the Virginia offense was stuck in neutral, managing only two first downs in its first three drives before catching a lucky break. Punter Mike Abrams gained the Cavs second first down after scrambling for 21 yards to avoid having a punt blocked.
The Cavaliers then garnered two first downs before a Dan Ellis pass to tight end Billy Baber was intercepted by Georgia Tech free safety Jeremy Muyres. The Cav offense sputtered for most of the evening after that and could not get anything accomplished, leaving the defense to try to stop the explosive Yellow Jacket offense for nearly two-thirds of the game.
"The defense was on the field too much," Virginia coach George Welsh said. "I'm not sure what has happened to our offense. We've gone south since Maryland. We should be able to take advantage of our off weeks - something is not right right now."
The Cavaliers were lucky to be down only 21-0 at the half. Georgia Tech kicker Dan Burnett missed a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter and Cav linebacker Byron Thweatt stopped Burns on the Virginia 1-yard line on a fourth-and-goal play to save another touchdown.
The Cav offense made it into the Georgia Tech red zone only once last night and that venture came with less than seven minutes remaining in the game. That drive ended ignobly when running back Tyree Foreman had the ball knocked loose at the Yellow Jackets 9-yard line by defensive tackle Bryan Corhen. Georgia Tech recovered to end the Cavaliers' only shot at scoring.
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