ATLANTA — For the past year, few groups of people in the state of Georgia have been more maligned than Georgia’s defense and defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. Georgia’s defense was gutted a year ago by Georgia Tech, giving up 409 rushing yards in Georgia Tech’s 45-42 win in Athens.
On Saturday, it was redemption time for Georgia ’s defense, which held Tech to 205 yards rushing. When facing an offense like the Yellow Jackets’ triple-option, sound tackling and playing assignment football are vital. Doing so can help force an option offense into long-yardage situations. That’s exactly what the Bulldogs were able to do against Georgia Tech, which converted 7-of-13 third down conversions.
“We just wanted to win. We wanted to force them into long yardage, and take away the fullback first and the quarterback second and so forth,” Martinez said. “The bottom line is that if you tackle well, you can play good defense, especially against this offense.”
Even more pleasing for Georgia’s defense was the fact that when a victory over the Yellow Jackets was on the line, Georgia head coach Mark Richt wasn’t afraid to put the game in his defense’s hands, and the unit delivered. When Georgia lined up for a 55-yard Blair Walsh field goal with less than five minutes to play, the risk of giving Tech the ball in good field position existed if Walsh were to miss the attempt.
“I knew that if we didn’t make it, our defense would have to do it one more time,” Richt said.
And when he missed the kick, the game was on the defense’s shoulders.
But Georgia’s defense did its job. After forcing Tech to use four plays to get a first down, running time off the clock, the Bulldogs then turned away three deep pass attempts before a fourth down pass from Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt to Demaryius Thomas bounced off Thomas’ hands.
On Saturday, no Yellow Jackets player gained more than 50 yards on the ground, and just one, Nesbitt, amassed more than 40 yards.
Jonathan Dwyer, who has tormented many a defense for most of the season, was held to 33 yards by a Georgia defense that did what it was unable to do a year ago — prevent the big play. Georgia Tech’s longest gain against the Bulldogs was 26 yards, on a reverse to wide receiver Stephen Hill.
That’s a far cry from what Georgia Tech was able to do a year ago, when Dwyer rushed for 144 yards and Roddy Jones lit up the Bulldogs for 214 yards.
“Our coaches did a fantastic job of having the plan ready as quickly as possible. Our players bought in 100 percent of what we were trying to get done on both sides of the ball,” Richt said.
In the time since the loss to Georgia Tech a year ago, perhaps no defensive player has faced more criticism than safety Reshad Jones, whose missed tackle allowed Roddy Jones to race 54 yards and all but seal last year’s win over the Bulldogs.
Like his teammates, Jones enjoyed the feeling of redemption against the Yellow Jackets. His interception of Georgia Tech back-up quarterback Jaybo Shaw in the second quarter led to a Georgia field goal.
“He had a great game. That interception was phenomenal. He did a great job, like all of our guys on defense,” Martinez said.
Local Sports
Georgia defense enjoys feeling of redemption
- Local Sports
-
-
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
-
Freeman, Trojans finalize '12 schedule
The Brooks County Trojans’ football motto is to ‘bring the hammer’ each and every Friday night.
Well, the Trojans now know exactly who they will have to bring that hammer to this upcoming season, as head coach Maurice Freeman recently finalized Brooks County’s 2012 football schedule. -
New York wins Super Bowl
Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute touchdown to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.
- Super Bowl boosts Indy’s image
-
Blazer softball sweeps Nova Southeastern
On Super Bowl Sunday, Valdosta State showed why it has been one of the super teams in the south region for years now.
-
Blazers fall to Saints
Just 24 hours after earning an impressive opening day victory, the Valdosta State baseball team struggled to find a rhythm against North Georgia, as the Blazers fell to the Saints 8-3.
North Georgia pitcher Blake Hobby was a major factor for VSU’s struggles. The senior right-hander held the Blazers to just one run on four hits across his eight innings of work on the hill. -
Tift County wins region wrestling championship
Tift County won the Region 1-AAAAA traditional wrestling championship on Saturday at Lowndes High School.
Tift had three individual region champions, had wrestlers place in the top three in 13 of the 14 weight classes and qualified wrestlers for next weekend’s sectional tournament in all 14 weight classes. Tift earned 184 team points, two points more than second-place Lowndes. -
Wildcats beat Crisp in overtime
Valdosta’s boys basketball team dominated the overtime period, and defeated Crisp County 66-56 on Saturday night at the VHS gym.
The Wildcats outscored the Cougars 17-7 in overtime to pull away for the win.
“Another big win,” Valdosta head coach Antonio Haynes said. “I’m happy for the guys. They played hard. They deserved this win.” -
Hartry accomplishes career milestone as Lady Blazers win
Valdosta State bounced back with a vengeance against Christian Brothers, cruising to a 62-44 victory to move to 16-5 overall and 6-3 in the Gulf South Conference. Senior guard Sczeny Hartry joined Valdosta State's 1,000-point club in the win and finished the game with 13 points and 1,006 career points.
Bena Hanyard played a strong game off the bench, leading all scorers with 14 points and tallying five rebounds, four steals and three assists. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
