Georgia Tech's 20-17 overtime loss to Virginia Tech Monday night is a missed opportunity that could put them behind the eight ball in the ACC's Coastal Division race. Recent history shows that the winner of this game usually goes on to represent the division in the ACC championship game.
Many will point to Tevin Washington's interception in overtime as the most damaging play of the game for the Yellow Jackets. As bad as a decision as that play was the game should have never gotten to overtime.
Washington's touchdown pass to Deon Hill put the Yellow Jackets up 17-14 with just 44 seconds remaining in the game. That is 44 seconds that Tech's defense needed to hold the other team at bay to capture a win in what could be the team's biggest game of the season. Just when it looked like the Hokie's offense was going to stall out and the Yellow Jackets were going to come out victorious a missed tackle on a 4th and 4 play resulted in a 24 yard gain and a game-tying field goal to send it into overtime. That doesn't even mention the Hokies previous drive where Rod Sweeting was beaten by freshman wide receiver Demitri Knowles for a 42-yard touchdown.
Al Groh's defense played well for most of the game but came up short when the Yellow Jackets needed it the most. Perhaps they tired late with a lack of depth and three starters sitting out back in Atlanta. Tech's offense didn't exactly light up the scoreboard but they put the team in position to win with just 44 seconds remaining. In that 44 seconds the defense couldn't get it done.
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