Converted linebacker Shawn Petty had a rough day behind center (US Presswire)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Orwin Smith ran for 89 yards and a
touchdown, and Georgia Tech stymied a Maryland offense led by
linebacker-turned-quarterback Shawn Petty in a 33-13 rout Saturday.
The
Yellow Jackets (4-5, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 20-0 at
halftime and 27-0 late in the third quarter before Maryland finally
scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Petty to Stefon Diggs. Petty
also threw a 23-yard TD pass to Diggs on the game's final play, but the
injury-depleted Terrapins (4-5, 2-3) dropped their third straight.
Maryland
has lost four quarterbacks for the season with injuries, so coach Randy
Edsall was forced to turn to Petty, a true freshman signed as a
linebacker. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound left-hander ran for 24 yards on 17
carries and completed 9 of 18 passes for 115 yards. He also fumbled
twice and threw an interception.
The Yellow Jackets finished with a 401-259 advantage in total yardage, including 205-61 in the decisive first half.
Georgia
Tech backup quarterback Vad Lee ran for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and
starter Tevin Washington also rushed for a score, the 34th of his
career - one short of the school and ACC record for quarterbacks held by
Joshua Nesbitt.
The Yellow Jackets amassed 370 yards rushing
against the nation's fourth-ranked defense against the run (77.6 yards
per game before Saturday).
Georgia Tech took a 6-0 lead late in
the first quarter when Washington capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a
1-yard run. Smith kept the march alive with a 17-yard run on a
fourth-and-3 from the Maryland 35.
The Yellow Jackets capitalized
on a Petty fumble to make it 13-0 early in the second quarter. After
Jeremiah Attaochu recovered the loose ball at the Maryland 33, Smith
scored from the 5.
Another three-and-out by the Terrapins
followed, and a 17-yard punt provided Georgia Tech the ball at the
Maryland 49. Seven plays later, Lee scored for a 20-0 lead.
At
that juncture, the Yellow Jackets had a 170-22 advantage in total
yardage and Maryland still had not yet picked up a first down.
The
Terrapins finally moved the chains for the first time with 6:38 left in
the half when Georgia Tech was called for roughing the kicker on a
punt.