Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Kentucky Wildcats Match Player Stats On Dec 31, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 31, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Trying to close out an already successful season with a fourth straight victory, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson made several aggressive calls early Saturday.

Big plays by all three units made sure his decisions were rewarded.

The Yellow Jackets used an early defensive score and their typically tricky triple-option rushing attack to hold on for a 33-18 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field.

Georgia Tech freshman running back Dedrick Mills piled up 169 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, maybe none bigger than the one that immediately followed a stunning call by Johnson late in the second quarter.

With the Yellow Jackets facing fourth-and-1 from their 15-yard line, Johnson kept his offense on the field and made the surprising choice to go for it. The move paid off when Mills powered ahead for 3 yards.

Seven plays later, redshirt senior Justin Thomas scampered into the end zone on a quarterback draw to put the Yellow Jackets up 17-3.

Thomas, who led the Yellow Jackets (9-4) to an Orange Bowl victory two years ago before a disappointing 3-9 finish last season, was asked to do little through the air. But he made the biggest throw of the game when his team needed him.

After Kentucky (7-6) cut Georgia Tech's lead to 26-18 late in the fourth quarter, Thomas found receiver Ricky Jeune open down the right sideline for a gain of 42 yards on third-and-4. Three plays later, Mills rushed for a game-sealing 3-yard touchdown.

Thomas completed 6 of 14 passes for 105 yards and rushed nine times for 42 yards as part of a ground attack that gained 266 yards.

It was Georgia Tech's defense that delivered the first big play.

Facing third-and-2 from the Yellow Jackets 49 on the opening possession of the game, Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson rolled to his left to buy time but was stripped by defensive tackle Patrick Gamble.

Linebacker P.J. Davis scooped the loose ball off the turf and returned it 41 yards to give the Yellow Jackets an early 7-0 lead.

Gamble has been a problem for opposing offenses all season. The redshirt senior came into the game with a team-leading 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

The defensive score was Georgia Tech's first in a bowl game since Quayshawn Nealy returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown during the 2011 Sun Bowl.

Johnson was sensational against Louisville in Kentucky's last game, completing 16 of 27 passes for 338 yards with three touchdowns and one interception during an upset of the Cardinals.

But the junior struggled to build on that success against the Yellow Jackets before finally putting together a strong drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth.

Johnson connected on seven passes during the 12-play drive, which was capped with an impressive 20-yard touchdown on a diving catch by Dorian Baker that cut Kentucky's deficit to 23-10 with 13:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On Kentucky's next possession, Johnson navigated his way through Georgia Tech's defense for a 21-yard rushing touchdown and then hit receiver Charles Walker on the two-point conversion attempt to pull the Wildcats within 26-18 with 3:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Johnson finished 19 of 34 for 175 yards with no interceptions. He added 49 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Playing in its first bowl game since the BBVA Compass bowl in January 2011, Kentucky was trying to overcome a 20-3 halftime deficit.

Georgia Tech tacked on a field goal in the first half after Jalen Johnson blasted through the line of scrimmage and blocked a punt, which was recovered by Jackie Harris.

Harrison Butker, who earlier in the game became the program's all-time leading scorer, connected on a 52-yard try after a controversial call allowed the Yellow Jackets to run one last play before halftime.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops argued that Georgia Tech receiver Brad Stewart had not gotten out of bounds on fourth-and-10 play before the field goal. Replay seemed to indicate Stoops was correct.

Butker added field goals of 44 and 26 yards in the second half to cap a perfect day.

NOTES: Georgia Tech K Harrison Butker became the program's all-time leading scorer with an extra point early in the first quarter. The senior entered Saturday with 322 career points, tied with three-time All-ACC kicker Luke Manget (1999-2002). ... Georgia Tech finishes the season 3-0 against SEC opponents. The Yellow Jackets also had wins over Vanderbilt (38-7) and rival Georgia (28-27). ... Kentucky DE T.J. Carter had a pass break-up on third down to force Georgia Tech to settle for a field goal in the first quarter. ... The Wildcats blocked a Yellow Jackets punt on the first possession of the second half but were flagged for a personal foul after the play. Kentucky didn't score on the ensuing drive. ... Saturday was the first meeting between Georgia Tech and Kentucky since Sept. 17, 1960, which the Yellow Jackets won 23-13.