ATLANTA — Bowling Green had an idea what was coming when it played at Georgia Tech for the first time, but after the Yellow Jackets rolled to a 63-17 win, the Falcons didn’t sound so sure they knew what they’d just seen.
Georgia Tech (2-3) scored rushing touchdowns on its first seven possessions and dismantled Bowling Green (1-4) to snap a three-game losing streak with eight rushing scores overall.
The Yellow Jackets’ spread-option offense, of which the triple option play is a primary part, is rare in college football, and Georgia Tech used it to dizzy the Falcons in Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“For a lot of us, it was our first time playing a triple-option team,” BG defensive back Marcus Milton said. “It’s very difficult to stop because you don’t know where the ball is.”
That the Yellow Jackets rushed for 372 yards was not a surprise, but the Falcons struggled to explain how it happened.
Part of it probably should include the fact BG entered the game ranked last nationally against the run, allowing 333.5 rushing yards per game. Georgia Tech came in No. 3 in the nation in rushing (331).
RELATED CONTENT: BGSU schedule
Yet Georgia Tech had its way with Bowling Green in almost every facet.
The Jackets rarely throw the ball, and attempted just seven passes.
Starting quarterback TaQuon Marshall was 5-of-6 passing for 160 yards. Georgia Tech’s first play was a 33-yard completion to receiver Jalen Camp.
“We still haven’t gotten a stop,” BG coach Mike Jinks said. “We knew they would pose a problem with their scheme and having a limited time to prepare for it. I really thought they did a great job in the air, and they hit a lot of big passing plays.”
Bowling Green had success through the air too.
Sophomore quarterback Jarret Doege was 27-of-44 passing for 305 yards and a score, but he threw two interceptions, one in the end zone and another that was returned for a Tech touchdown, and he lost a fumble on a third-quarter sack that set up a 16-yard drive for the Yellow Jackets.
BG threw the ball 49 times in all, and ran 31 more plays than Georgia Tech, yet was outgained 532 yards to 393, no thanks to a running game that mustered 63 yards on 38 tries. The Falcons had 1 rushing yard in the first half, when the Yellow Jackets built a 28-10 lead.
Scott Miller was not impressed after catching nine passes for 109 yards.
“I had a decent game, but after taking a loss like that it doesn’t really mean anything,” Miller said.
Georgia Tech scored on its first possession of the second half on a 33-yard run by fullback Jordan Mason, who like Marshall and backup quarterback Tobias Oliver scored twice against BG.
Eight plays later, Doege was sacked by blitzing linebacker Victor Alexander and fumbled. Reserve defensive end Antwan Owens picked it up and returned 21 yards to set up the Jackets for a short drive. After fullback Jerry Howard scored on a 5-yard run, the Jackets led 42-10 and were in control.
Doege was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker David Curry minutes later, and on BG’s ensuing possession, his pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and returned 3 yards for a touchdown by end Anree Saint-Amour.
In the end, the Falcons were done in by their own passing attack and Tech’s run game.
“In the second half, I felt like we were still moving the football and we blew a protection,” Jinks said. “The quarterback gets sacked, fumble, and they get a touchdown. They popped the ball up in he air, and get another score. ...
“As the game went on, the tackling became very spotty and they hit a lot of explosive plays. There were no surprises. ... A lot of times we [wanted to have] one guy on the quarterback and one on the pitch [man], and they both went to the quarterback.”
First Published September 29, 2018, 8:04 p.m.
