SPORTS SPORTS Technique • Friday, October 26, 2007 • 27 the Program Tallied Near $2,000
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26 • Friday, October 26, 2007 • Technique SPORTS SPORTS Technique • Friday, October 26, 2007 • 27 the program tallied near $2,000. with Tashard not being out there knew it was a great play, and I’m just The next night, Tech took on Army from page 32 anymore,” Cox said. proud to show my abilities and why Terps/BC from page 31 Boston College and won the match One stat that was surprising was I’m like a ‘running bull.’ They said in straight games. Despite winning us that he would be ‘all right’ and his 38 rushing yards, a number more that they were going to use it, but I the fourth game, Tech had numer- 3-0, Tech’s average margin of victory just told us to go out there and play than his previous career yardage didn’t think that I was going to get ous errors that led to the eventual was just four points, including a 33- hard,” Grant said. gains combined. to carry the ball as many times as I fifth game. 31 win in the second game. Consequently, Tech stole away did today,” Cox said. Top perform- During that the second half with dominating “We can finally get [Cox] some ers included game, the Jack- defense, a diversified running game “I think we came out carries. He’s been on us for a while Chrissy DeMi- ets fell behind and some well-timed passes. there in the second about that. But that was good to get chelis and Al- “Despite winning 9-3 before com- Tashard Choice left the game dur- him some carries and he almost broke lie Niekamp. 3-0, Tech’s average ing back and ing the first quarter with an injured half and made great that last one for a touchdown....I’m DeMichelis had knotting the knee. Choice carried the ball more adjustments...We happy for him,” Bennett said. a career-high 22 margin of victory score at 24-24. than 30 times in the past three games The Tech defense proved to be a kills. Niekamp was just four points, The team never despite a nagging hamstring injury. had to focus a lot dominating force, easily stopping had her fourth looked behind, Furthermore, Choice still leads more... ” the opposition. They held the Black straight double- including a 33-31 and won a close the ACC in rushing yards for the Knights to just 188 net rushing double. win in the second third game to second consecutive season. During Mike Cox yards and the starting receiver to less During the take the match. the match-up on Saturday, Choice than 100 receiving yards. Tech also Maryland game, game.” Talisa Kellog was able to run for 24-yards and a Senior Fullback forced three interceptions from the Tech participat- had 19 kills to touchdown in his limited time. opponents, including one caught in ed in the “Dig anchor Tech’s “Without [Choice] being out “It felt good. I haven’t had that the endzone. for the Cure” program. Fans and offense. Callie Miller contributed there, we definitely knew that we had feeling in a long time. I was actu- Choice recently underwent people were allowed to either donate with 11 kills and five blocks to pick up everything and become a ally wondering how much Coach surgery and will not be able to play a certain amount of money per dig The Jackets continue their little bit crisper in our blocks. I think Bond was going to run it this week. in the next home game against Vir- or a flat amount. The team recorded homestead with matches against we came out there in the second half I know everybody on the offense ginia Tech. However, there is still a 74 digs on the night, including 17 conference foes N.C. State and and made great adjustments. I think was hounding on me saying that strong chance that he will play in digs from Michelle Kandell, Jordan North Carolina today and tomor- we definitely had to focus a lot more ‘they weren’t going to run it’. But I the remaining games. McCullers and Niekamp. This year, row, respectively. technique the south’s liveliest college newspaper. college liveliest south’s the 28 • Friday, October 26, 2007 • Technique SPORTS MIDSEASON FOOTBALL REPORT CARD By Akshay Amaraneni Staff Writer DEFENSE A- Philip Wheeler gets the sack in the game Tech heads into its bye week be- Tech defense has played well this season, but has underperformed in the fi rst half. Against Boston Col- against Clemson. He fore the fi nal stretch of the season. lege, Tech allowed an opening drive touchdown and another drive that ended inside the Tech 10-yard line on has led a defense that Th e team has played below expec- a turnover. Against Virginia, the Jackets gave up two long drives for touchdowns in the fi rst quarter. Against has wrecked havoc in tations this season. Some expected Maryland, Tech stopped Maryland on the fi rst drive but then gave up three long touchdown drives of 84, 66, the backfi eld. the team to perform better than and 72 yards on Maryland’s next three possessions. Tech also allowed a 63-yard drive to Army in the fi rst quarter last year’s team that made it to the that resulted in a touchdown. In all four of those games, the Jackets were able to settle down and stop the team ACC Championship game and the for the rest of the game. Tech’s defense played four shut-down quarters against Clemson and Miami, but needs Gator Bowl. to do that consistently to be successful. Th e team has continued to blitz the quarterback throughout the season, Still, the team has shown fl ashes fi nding success against less seasoned off ensive lines and less experienced quarterbacks, but having its worst game of dominance. Against Samford, the against Boston College’s Heisman candidate Matt Ryan and the Golden Eagles. team rushed for nine touchdowns Defensive MVP: Darrell Robertson (4.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL, FF, fumble return TD) and racked up 69 points. Th e team’s Honorable Mention: Vance Walker (5.5 sacks, 10 TFL, 3 FF) defense shut down Clemson’s run- ning back tandem of C.J. Spiller and James Davis in a 13-3 victory. OFFENSE B- Furthermore, the team was able to visit Orange Stadium and play Th e Jackets’ off ense has performed very inconsistently this season. Th e Jackets scored 33 and 69 points against Miami and still come away with a vic- Notre Dame and Samford respectively, but since then have broken 20 points just three times, twice in road losses tory. Th e Jackets relied on its rushing and once against Army. In ACC play Tech has averaged just 18 points, going 2-3 in the fi ve games. Th e bright attack and its stout defense to power spot in Tech’s off ense has been the rushing off ense. For the second year in a row, Tech leads the ACC in rushing the squad to its third consecutive and is one of the national leaders. Tashard Choice individually leads the ACC in rushing this season with 864 victory over the Hurricanes. yards, over 200 yards better than the next highest (Lattimore (MD), 629). Th e passing game has really let the Unfortunately, the team has had off ense down this year. Quarterback Taylor Bennett has completed just 51.4 percent of his passes this season for a tendency to fall behind against two touchdowns and three interceptions, but has been plagued by several dropped passes from his inexperienced teams because of sloppy play and receiving corps. In order to consistently win games, Tech must force the opponent to respect the passing game turnovers. Against Virginia, the in order to open lanes for backs in the running game. team fell behind 21-7 and against Off ensive MVP: Tashard Choice (864 rush yards, 24th in the nation). D emar y iu s Maryland, the team had to attempt Honorable Mention: O-Line, TE, FB: 5 sacks allowed Thomas jumps for to overcome a 21-3 defi cit. Th e two a ball against Army. eventual losses saw Tech mounting He is one of the a come back that fell just short in SPECIAL TEAMS A- many players on the the fourth quarter. receiving corps. Th e team will now enter into the Special teams have been the most improved aspect of Tech’s game this season. Last year, Durant Brooks was second part of its season that will see a fi nalist for the Ray Guy award and has only improved in his second year, posting a better punt average as well several diffi cult matchups. Virginia as net punt average. Travis Bell has returned to the form that earned him All-ACC honors his freshman year Tech always provides a diffi cult test and is second in the ACC in scoring, well on his way to breaking the single season school record of 19 fi eld goals. for Georgia Tech while Georgia has Last season Tech averaged last in kickoff coverage, allowing two kickoff return touchdowns of over 95 yards each. Th is season, Tech’s gone from worst to fi rst in that department. Part of it has to do with the new kicker bested the team for fi ve straight years. Durant Brooks punts Scott Blair’s deep, high kicks that allow the coverage team to run down the ball carrier. Last season, Tech used Even historically inept teams Duke another ball away after deep line drive kicks that allowed the return team to set up blocks for the ball carrier.