The 2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by second year head coach Paul Johnson. Georgia Tech played their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field in Atlanta.
The Yellow Jackets finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in ACC play, represented the coastal division in the ACC Championship Game where they defeated Atlantic Division champion Clemson 39–34 to earn the ACC's automatic bid to the BCS. The Yellow Jackets would be invited to the FedEx Orange Bowl where they lost 24–14 to Iowa. Later in 2011 the ACC Championship was vacated by the NCAA due to the circumstances surrounding an improper benefits investigation. While some reports indicate that Georgia Tech was ordered to vacate their losses to Georgia and in the Orange Bowl, the losses are still recognized by the school.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason The 2009 squad returns ACC Player of the Year and All-American B-Back Jonathan Dwyer, Quarterback Josh Nesbitt, A-Back Roddy Jones, WR Demaryius Thomas, and the entire offensive line from the bowl game. Tech adds Louisville transfer Anthony Allen to the backfield. On defense, Tech returns eight of eleven starters including All-ACC players Morgan Burnett and Derrick Morgan. Tech returns nineteen starters to a squad that defeated three ranked teams in 2008. Johnson signed a recruiting class of 21 players.
Game summaries Jacksonville State
GT vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Georgia Tech rushed for nearly 300 yards behind Jonathan Dwyer's 96 yards on just 7 carries. On the first play of the season, the former ACC Player of the Year took a Josh Nesbitt pitch 74 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Dwyer was untouched on the carry. The B-Back, Tech's feature back in the offense, carried the ball six more times in the game, finishing with seven carries. Josh Nesbitt connected on a touchdown with Anthony Allen. In Tech's home opener, Demaryius "BayBay" Thomas posted a 100-yard receiving performance, catching the ball four times for 101 yards. All-American candidate Morgan Burnett listed an interception, his first of 2009 and 11th of his career. Coach Johnson earned his 10th win at Georgia Tech.
Clemson
GT vs. Clemson Tigers
Georgia Tech earned a second half scare by Clemson. However, Scott Blair connected on three field goals for the Yellow Jackets to seal the win. Tech scored on three plays in the first half. Louisville transfer Anthony Allen took a Josh Nesbitt pitch 82 yards down the sideline to score Tech's first touchdown on its opening possession. Jerrard Tarrant returned a punt 65 yards to increase the Tech lead to 14–0. Following a Scott Blair field goal, Tech on its ensuing possession marched the ball downfield only to have itself stopped. On 4th down, Tech ran onto the field with its kicking unit, but instead of kicking the field goal, Blair took the snap, finding "BayBay" Thomas down the sideline, earning a 40-yard touchdown score for the White and Gold. While Tech led 24–7 at the half, the Tech defense gave up 27 unanswered points. Clemson took the lead 27–24 in the 4th quarter. Tech, who was 0–9 on third down attempts early in the 4th, converted three in a row late in the 4th quarter with Josh Nesbitt earning two consecutive field goals. Anthony Allen ran for 127 yards on 5 carries, 25.4 yards per carry. The Tech Defense intercepted Kyle Parker twice.
Miami
GT at Miami Hurricanes
Georgia Tech traveled to Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida to compete against the University of Miami. Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple and Miami Quarterback Jacory Harris prepared a game plan against Dave Wommack and the Georgia Tech Defense. Miami threw the ball for 300 yards. Tech managed to run for only 180 yards, and it earned merely 250 yards of total offense. Josh Nesbitt and Demaryius Thomas hooked up for a touchdown late in the game. On just Tech's third possession of the game, a 40-yard Roddy Jones touchdown was nullified on a block in the back call by walk-on Kevin Cone. The crucial call nullified a 14–10 score midway through the second quarter. The Tech offense stalled out on the same drive, attempting a 40-yard field goal which was missed by PK Scott Blair.
North Carolina
GT vs. UNC Tarheels
Georgia Tech bounced back the following week in Atlanta against the University of North Carolina. Butch Davis and the Tar Heels came in ranked in the Top 20. The Tech defense held North Carolina to just 154 yards of total offense, including only 17 on the ground. The Tech offense, led by Jonathan Dwyer, rushed for 317 yards. Josh Nesbitt showed improvement in the air, earning a completion % of 60. He connected with Demaryius "BayBay" Thomas for a touchdown. Jonathan Dwyer finished with 157 yards on 17 carries. Josh Nesbitt ran for two touchdowns and Roddy Jones ran one in from 13.
Mississippi State
GT at Mississippi State Bulldogs
Georgia Tech was 2–0 against Mississippi State University in the all-time series going into the October 3 contest between the two schools. On the first possession of the game, former Tulsa DE and current Georgia Tech End Anthony Egbuniwe sacked MSU QB Tyson Lee, stripping the ball from Lee's possession and gaining possession for Georgia Tech. Stephen Hill took a 30-yard reverse to the house on Tech's opening drive. Josh Nesbitt threw 266 yards on 11 of 14 completions and a touchdown. Nesbitt led the Tech offense all the way to MSU's goal line on its second possession with his throwing. Jonathan Dwyer ran the ball in from two yards to improve the Tech lead to 14–0. MSU responded with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Tech was slated to go up 21–7 when Jonathan Dwyer fumbled the ball around Tech's goal line and MSU recovered, earning a touchback and possession of the football. On the ensuing drive, Lee and Anthony Dixon fumbled; DB Jerrard Tarrant picked it up, returning it 35 yards to the house. Tech won the contest by a score of 42–31. The Tech defense gave up 497 yards of total offense.
Florida State
GT at Florida State Seminoles
Georgia Tech ran for 401 yards en route to defeating Florida State 49–44 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Tech had never defeated the Seminoles in Tallahassee previously. Jonathan Dwyer ran for a couple scores, one of which was a 69-yard memorable dart downfield on the first play of Tech's third possession. A-Backs Anthony Allen, Marcus Wright, and Embry Peeples posted stellar games. Allen took a pitch 60 yards down the sideline on Tech's second drive to set up Josh Nesbitt for a one-yard touchdown. Tech had four possessions in the first half, scoring on each of them. It finished with 49 points. Nesbitt added two more touchdowns, the final coming late in 4th quarter. On the game-winning drive, Roddy Jones dropped a Josh Nesbitt pitch, and FSU picked it up, maintaining possession. However, Nesbitt used both of his hands to take the football back before the FSU player was down, regaining possession for Tech. Nesbitt later scored on a 25-yard scamper that same drive, sealing victory for the White and Gold. The epic scamper increased the Tech lead to 11 at 49–38. While the Tech Offense posted a career day, the Tech defense struggled. It gave up 550 yards of total offense, 408 coming in the first half. Christian Ponder had a career day, throwing for five touchdowns. FSU punted once all game, Tech never punted. Paul Johnson and his spread option offense posted its third 400 plus yard rushing performance at Georgia Tech. The other two came in Johnson's first season at Tech, against Miami (FL) in Atlanta and Georgia in Athens.
"We simply could not stop them." - Bobby Bowden
Virginia Tech
GT vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Josh Nesbitt scored three touchdowns and Georgia Tech ran for 306 yards to upset #4 Virginia Tech on a cold, memorable night in Atlanta. For the second straight week, head coach Paul Johnson led the #19 Yellow Jacket squad to a victory, earning a win that ended a 17-game losing skid to top five opponents played at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1962. Jason Peters batted down and intercepted Tyrod Taylor in the 1st quarter. Josh Nesbitt ran in a couple scores from inside the five, and Sophomore Marcus Wright scored from 13 yards out in the third quarter to increase the Tech lead to 11. The Georgia Tech Defense played effectively, limiting an elusive Tyrod Taylor and the Virginia Tech offense to only 342 yards of total offense. Taylor scored on a 3rd quarter scamper. However, on 3rd and 7 with 3:02 remaining in the final quarter, Josh Nesbitt had a 33-yard game icing stiff arm and score to increase the Tech lead to 28–16. Following the announcement of a 28–23 final tally, Grant Field was swarmed. Steven Sylvester and Derrick Morgan each recorded a sack. Jonathan Dwyer and Anthony Allen combined for 150 yards on the ground to set up Josh Nesbitt and the Georgia Tech offense. The win over Frank Beamer's #4 Hokies improved Paul Johnson's record to 10–1 at home.
"...with the caliber of players they have – Nesbitt is unbelievable, they've got Dwyer – it's just exhausting." - Torrian Gray
Virginia
GT at Virginia Cavaliers
Georgia Tech defeated Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia for the first time since 1990 by a score of 34–9. Tech had two 100 yard rushers in the game. Jonathan Dwyer led the team with 125 yards while Anthony Allen followed with 111 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Nesbitt ran in two touchdowns from inside the five. Redshirt Freshman Malcolm Munroe forced a fumble by Virginia punt returner Chase Minnifield. The Tech offense accumulated 447 yards of total offense. The Tech Defense held Virginia to 198 yards. ...Tech's time of possession today was the highest in at least 20 years; the next closest in the last 20 years was 42:10 vs. Wake Forest on September 14, 1996, and 42:06 vs. North Carolina earlier this season ... Tech had two 100-yard rushers in a game for the second time this season ... Tech had over 400 yards total offense for the sixth time this season ... Tech rushed for more than 300 yards for the sixth time this season ... Georgia Tech has outscored opponents 79–31 in the first quarter this season ... When Tech's fake punt in the first quarter failed, it ended a streak of six consecutive fourth-down conversions; it was the Jackets' first failed fourth-down attempt since September 17 (vs. Clemson) ... Georgia Tech attempted its first field goal since September 26 (vs. North Carolina) ... 139 consecutive games without returning a kickoff for a touchdown ... 27 consecutive starts by senior guard Cord Howard ... back-up DT Jason Peters (r-So.) did not travel to Virginia (sick)
Vanderbilt
GT at Vanderbilt Commodores
Paul Johnson and his #11 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to compete against Vanderbilt University on Halloween night, 2009. Tech leads the series with the Commodores 18–15–3 in 36 contests. Tech comes in averaging nearly 295 yards on the ground. Tech holds a #11 ranking in the AP, Coaches', and BCS polls, its highest mark since 1998. A win over Bobby Johnson and the Commodores could mean Tech's highest ranking since 2001.