Georgia Tech hasn’t sniffed the Faculty Soccer Playoff because the event’s inception in 2014.
Nearing the halfway level of the common season, the No. 13 Yellow Jackets will meet Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta in hopes of bolstering their odds of constructing their first CFP look.
Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Convention) has received its first 5 video games of the season for the primary time since 2014, which was the final time the Yellow Jackets made the ACC championship recreation.
Because it stands now, Georgia Tech will not play one other ranked opponent till its regular-season finale in opposition to rival Georgia. Having fun with the return to nationwide relevance, head coach Brent Key’s group cannot afford to miss the Hokies on Saturday.
“It is an thrilling time, and I would like the fellows to be excited, but in addition perceive that this a part of the season now’s to guard what we have already accomplished,” Key mentioned. “(Virginia Tech) has expertise on their roster. The groups they’ve misplaced to are a mixed 15-6, good soccer groups, and a few of them had been very shut video games, particularly going into the fourth quarter.”
Previous to its bye final week, Georgia Tech escaped Wake Forest 30-29 in additional time, rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit. Because the Yellow Jackets discover ways to stack victories, Secret’s taking one week at a time.
“You’d like to play each recreation and have to steer the entire time, however I do not assume that is ever occurred within the historical past of soccer,” Key mentioned. “To not give coach-speak, however we’re nervous about one factor — that is the day we’re in. You may’t look behind, you possibly can’t look ahead. We now have to know how fragile that is.”
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is averaging simply 189.5 passing yards a recreation this season, however the dual-threat, sixth-year senior’s seven speeding touchdowns and 380 yards on the bottom rank second and seventh within the ACC, respectively.
Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1) had as unhealthy a begin to the season as any energy convention group. After dropping video games to then-No. 13 South Carolina and Vanderbilt, the Hokies had been blown out at residence by Outdated Dominion, prompting the firing of head coach Brent Pry.
Interim coach Philip Montgomery has received two of three video games since taking up, however the highway will get more durable on Saturday.
“Clearly, this week we have now a extremely powerful opponent,” Montgomery mentioned. “Georgia Tech is enjoying very well proper now. They’ve had a bye, so they’ll be contemporary. It’s going to be a terrific take a look at for us, however we’re wanting ahead to happening the highway and getting a possibility to go to work.”
Virginia Tech was held with out a second-half landing in a 30-23 loss to Wake Forest final week — simply one other velocity bump the Hokies must overcome in a tough season.
“This group has confronted lots of adversity all through the season, however they’re resilient,” Montgomery mentioned. “We now have to maneuver ahead, proceed to develop, be taught from our errors, and get higher as a soccer group, as a result of we have a troublesome recreation this week.”
Seeking to assist flip the season round, Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones might want to keep upright, because the third-year starter has been sacked 14 instances this season, tied with Stanford’s Ben Gulbranson for many within the ACC.
–Area Degree Media
