“Across the board on offense, it was a ‘D’. Only reason it’s not an ‘F’? Because we won … somehow.” That was starting quarterback Calvin Booker’s honest and contrite assessment of the Yellow Jackets’ performance during their 10-7 win over Gardner-Webb today.
Booker’s assessment was dead-on about a performance in which Tech was out-gained for only the second time this season. If games are won based on attitude and what lies between a player’s ears, it would be easy to see that something was wrong from the beginning. From the start, Tech—from fans to football players—seemed lethargic. The offense had a difficult time moving the ball early and didn’t get beyond midfield in the first quarter. Booker also threw an interception during that quarter.
The struggles on offense continued in the second quarter until Jonathan Dwyer saved the day by taking a screen pass 79 yards for Tech’s only touchdown of the game. Later in the quarter, Tech appeared to be on the way to another touchdown after Booker completed a 35-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas, but the Runnin’ Bulldogs stopped Booker on third-and-8, forcing a Scott Blair field goal.
Gardner-Webb’s containment of Booker was a theme throughout the game. Initially, Booker was ineffective running the option as the Bulldogs repeatedly held him for small gains. “The option game was pretty much non-existent,” said head coach Paul Johnson. “And I don’t know if we got a read right; so I just kind of got away from that.”
Unfortunately for Tech, when they got away from the option the offensive line gave way, with Gardner-Webb getting two sacks and enough pressure to force Booker into several bad throws. Gardner-Webb shut down Dwyer as well, holding him to 27 yards on 16 carries.
One of the few things that went right for Tech was the play of the defense, but even that had several less than glorious moments. Gardner-Webb was successful mixing the run and the pass with Phillip Peoples, who rushed for 60 yards, and Dobson Collins, who caught seven passes for 97 yards, including several in which he leaped above defenders to bring the ball down.
Tech’s defense kept Gardner-Webb out of the end zone for two-and-a-half quarters until Michael Johnson was penalized for leaping on a missed field goal. Brandon Jackson scored from eight yards out on the next play to pull the Bulldogs within three.
Fourth-string quarterback Bryce Dykes fumbled the ball on the next possession, and it was beginning to look like Gardner-Webb might be poised for an epic upset. However, the defense stepped up, getting three-and-outs on the next two drives. Derrick Morgan got his second individual sack (2.5 for the game) on the Bulldogs’ next possession, stalling that drive. After Blair and GWU’s Michael Hanna played dueling punters, it came down to Gardner-Webb’s final drive. A 12-yard pass from Devin Campbell to Collins put Gardner-Webb in field goal range, but Morgan saved the day when he got a piece of Ryan Gates’ 43-yard attempt, ending the threat and the game.
This win felt like a loss for many of the Tech players, and their faces were some of the longest I’ve ever seen after a victory. But we must use a little perspective here; they did pull out the win, after all. Clemson, Tech’s next opponent, would gladly trade places with the 5-1 Jackets. They will now look at game film and begin to correct their mistakes (there were plenty), and formulate a game plan for one of the biggest road games the young Yellow Jackets will face this season.
Crosskey can be reached at jcrosskey@scoreatl.com.
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