The QB taketh, the QB giveth away.
Two weeks ago against Florida State, Jacory Harris was Superman. Thursday night he was Clark Kent at the diner in Superman II, his powers sapped from him by red Kryptonian sunlight of overnight fame.
Miami headed into Thursday night's matchup as the favorite, largely due to Harris' star turn against FSU on opening weekend which boosted the previously unranked Hurricanes to #20 in the rankings. However, The Wramblin' Wreck defense would prove to be a match for the newly minted star, holding the sophmore QB to 8 of 16 passing for 80 yds and 4 interceptions as Georgia Tech defeated Miami 17-14 Thurday night before a nationally televised audience.
After winning the coin toss, Georgia Tech deferred to the Hurricanes. Four plays into the first drive Harris threw the first of his four interceptions to Rashawn Reid after being crunched by Tech DL and NFL prospect, Derrick Morgan. Tech took the field with their trademark methodic, griding flexbone attack, choosing to pound the ball down the field controlling the pace of the game to keep the Harris and the Hurricane offense off the field.
The Jackets would stall as well, unable to convert on 4th down and 10 from the Miami 39. This time, Miami moved the ball with the legs of RB Greg Cooper, who had four carries for 29 yards during the drive. Yet after a offsides penalty gave the Canes 1st and 5 on the Tech 8 yd line, the Miami offense stalled. Facing 4th and 1 on the Tech 3 yd line, Coach Norris Camacho opted to try and sneak for the first down over kicking the field goal, but Harris was stopped short, giving Tech the ball with 2:26 remaining in the half.
After forcing the Yellow Jackets to punt, Harris again drove the Canes into Tech territory before throwing his 2nd Int to end any threat of first half points by either team.
On his way to the locker room, Tech Coach Lucas Jackson was stopped by Erin Andrews and asked what he thought about the game so far. Jackson replied that he thought the game would likely turn on a defensive touchdown since neither offense had managed much in the first half.
In the second half a quarterback would provide heroics. Just not the quarterback everyone had expected. Though not as heralded as his counterpart, Josh Nesbit has every bit as much talent, and a bit more experience. Noticing that the Miami defensive line was pinching to stop star "B" back Jonathan Dwyer, Nesbit began to use his own legs to move the Wramblin Wreck. A superbly executed 50 yd bootleg, and then a 12 yard option keeper to put Nesbit and the Jackets inside the Hurricane 3 yard line.
Thats when it seemed Coach Jackson might be Nostradamus. Miami OLB Colin McCarthy, in an supernatural display of anticipation and atheticism, intercepted a Nesbit pitch, and returned it 98 yards for the first score of the game, stunning Georgia Tech and enrapturing the dormant Hurricane faithful.
It seemed that in one play all life had been sucked out of the Tech team. ESPN commentator Lee Corso opined prior to the kickoff that "even William Wallace, of Braveheart fame, couldnt get that team fired up again".
Well, Wallace might have proved inadequate, but after Tech proceeded to go 3 and out, but Harris gave the Jackets just the fire they needed. After moving the ball to midfield, Harris and the Canes faced 4th and 2. Miami broke the huddle with 5 wide, but Tech brought both linebackers on a blitz, forcing Harris to hurry and underthrow Laron Byrd, allowing Mario Butler to snag the 3rd Int of the night, breathing new life into the Yellow Jackets.
Invigorated by this second chance, Nesbit finally found an opening in the heretofore solid Miami defense. On 2nd and 11, Nesbit was able to check down to Roddy Jones in the flat vacated by a corner blitz, who streaked 62 yards to paydirt.
After controlling the game for nearly three quarters, Miami now found itself tied and in a street fight with suddenly ferocious opponent. Two plays later, Harris was picked off for a fourth time by Tech LB Michael Ray. Taking over at the Miami 38, Tech would take advantage of the short field, scoring in five plays on a 1 yd plunge by Dwyer.
Now, the much touted Harris moxie would arrive at last. As the highly touted QB drove his team down the field, you could almost see a Superman logo through the orange jersey. His athletiscm and talent was on full display as he lofted a perfect pass to tight end Derrick Epps to set up first and goal. The Canes would convert, tieing the game on 1 yd TD rush by Javarris James with 1:44 remaining in the game.
Georgia Tech however, was not to be denied. Nesbit and the Tech offense continued their second half groove, and were able to move the ball 54 yard in 8 plays, using a skillful mix of quick passes and option to eat up the clock and set up a 37 yard FG attempt by Tech kicker Scott Blair with :02 remaining. The Junior kicker from Calhoun, Ga proved able to the task, splitting the uprights and winning the game for the Jackets, 17-14.
In the end, Miami was victimized by the conundrum that has killed many coaches: a mind boggling talent that can be defeated by nothing but his own mistakes....and a team that can capitalize on them.
Game notes:
- Tech DL Derrick Morgan was as good as advertised, disrupting several passing plays and forcing several early throws.
- Miami held Heisman candidate Jonathan Dwyer to 25 yards on 8 carries
- Nesbit finished 7-12 for 136 yards and 1 TD. He also had 93 yards on 13 carries.
- Tech led Miami in TOP 11:17 to 8:43
- Miami was held to 152 total yards on 31 plays. Tech was held to 253 yards on 40 plays.
SOLID SUMMARY
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