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Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech Preview

Oct 14, 2009 - 5:35 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

No. 19 Virginia Tech (5-1) at No. 14 Georgia Tech (5-1), 6:00 p.m. EDT

Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech have two of the most potent offenses in the ACC, but with an edge in the Coastal Division at stake, both are focused on defense this week.

The No. 4 Hokies visit the No. 19 Yellow Jackets on Saturday, looking to knock off their third ranked opponent of the season.

Virginia Tech (5-1, 3-0) and Georgia Tech (5-1, 3-1) have each put up big offensive numbers this season, with the Hokies scoring a conference-leading 34.2 points per game, while the Yellow Jackets are averaging an ACC-best 426.7 total yards of offense.

Virginia Tech seems to have a lot fewer question marks, though, after it routed Boston College 48-14 on Saturday for its fifth straight win.

The Hokies outgained the Eagles 441-163 in total offense, and led 34-0 at the half. Tyrod Taylor passed for 126 yards and two touchdowns and backup quarterback Ju-Ju Clayton added another score.

It was the second blowout win in three weeks for Virginia Tech, which beat then-No. 9 Miami 31-7 on Sept. 26.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was impressed with the Hokies defense.

"You watch Virginia Tech play defense, those jokers are playing fast, now, and they're playing physical," he said.

Johnson added that he is looking for his team to emulate Virginia Tech's defense, and it's not difficult to see why. Although their offenses may be evenly matched, the Hokies and Yellow Jackets' defenses are anything but.

Georgia Tech is giving up the third-most yardage in the ACC (385.2), and is allowing 26.5 points per game - fourth-most. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, has the conference's second-best scoring defense (17.7).

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a particularly bad defensive performance as they allowed 539 yards of offense in a 49-44 win over Florida State on Saturday.

"I think it's no secret we've got to play better," Johnson said. "When you watch the tape, in my mind when you play like that, everybody is accountable. The guys one the field are accountable. The coaches are accountable but number one, I'm accountable because I'm the number one guy."

Even if he can't always count on his defense, Johnson has been able to rely on big plays from quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who passed for 131 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 140 yards and three scores Saturday. He also ripped an apparent fumble away from Florida State and three plays later, ran it in for a touchdown.

"Josh is a competitor who knows what he is doing," Johnson said. "He is a tough kid, who plays hard and has a strong desire to win. Having said that, on Saturday night, our offensive line probably played their best game of the year. ... So they helped Josh."

Nesbitt has thrown four touchdowns and run for six, and he began the week second in the Football Subdivision among quarterbacks with 503 yards rushing.

Led by Jonathan Dwyer and Nesbitt, Georgia Tech is first in the conference with 227.0 yards on the ground. Virginia Tech is second with 208.5 behind Ryan Williams, the ACC's leading rusher.

Williams, who ran for 159 yards and a touchdown last Saturday, has carried the bulk of the work on offense, rushing for nine touchdowns this year. Coach Frank Beamer, though, continues to praise and credit the team's success to Taylor.

Taylor hasn't put up eye-popping numbers this season, and attempted only 10 passes against the Eagles, but he led scoring drives of 68, 74 and 80 yards in the win. He also continues to get better with his mobility. He's been sacked three times in the last three games after defenses tallied 11 sacks against him in the first three contests.

"I think he's really in charge," Beamer said. "He knows what he's doing and where people are and what they are doing. ... He's playing efficiently and very, very well."

Beamer, Taylor and the Hokies will be looking for their third victory over a ranked opponent in what figures to be a high-scoring game.

"They did give up a lot of yardage, but I'm pretty sure they're going to buckle down and play us tough," Taylor said of Georgia Tech's defense. "We just have to go out there and execute the plays that are called and work off that."

Virginia Tech has won four of six meetings against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets haven't beaten the Hokies at home since 1990.

"As far as the conference championship goes, it's not going to wreck the season one way or another," Johnson said. "But if we want to win our side of the conference, it's an important game."