ATLANTA — When the Georgia football team walked off the Mercedes-Benz Stadium field Friday evening it didn’t know if it would be returning to play here in eight days or having to wait nearly five weeks to play again in the College Football Playoff.
That was out of their hands.
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What they know after their 16-9 handling of Georgia Tech is that their defense is playing as well as it has all season. And, they found out late Friday, they will get a chance to show it again back in the same stadium in the SEC championship game on Dec. 6. after Texas A&M lost to Texas.
A Georgia defense that gave up 563 yards to the Yellow Jackets in a 44-42 eight overtime win last year held the Yellow Jackets to a season-low 250 yards.
The Yellow Jackets entered No. 5 nationally in yards per game at 485.9.
“We went in with the same plan of attacking Haynes King and playing our type of football,” outside linebacker Quintavius Johnson said.
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King, the quarterback who was being talked about it in the Heisman Trophy conversation less than a week ago, was held to 39 yards rushing on 10 carries and went 19 of 27 for 181 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
“I feel like we were just playing together and just playing ball like we have played our whole life,” linebacker Raylen Wilson, who had four tackles and a quarterback hurry, said.
Georgia Tech had scored at least 24 points in every game this season.
It was held to three field goals.
“That was a physical, physical, tough game,” coach Kirby Smart said. “I thought the defense really stepped up today.”
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Georgia entered the game 13th in the nation in total defense at 294.5 yards per game.
It has allowed one touchdown the last three weeks including games against Texas and Charlotte and no more than 322 yards the last five games after an off week following a 43-35 win over Ole Miss.
Former Georgia defensive coordinator Will Muschamp posted on X about getting to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday for the first time in more than 30 years. He had a viral clip when he was South Carolina coach by saying Thanksgiving was a meal, not a holiday.
Glenn Schumann, who shared the co-defensive coordinator title with Muschamp three years ago, put in work that paid off this holiday week.
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He was credited along with his staff by Smart in putting a plan together that stymied Georgia Tech.
“Tackled well, kept them off balance,” Smart said. “Held them to field goals. Got put in some really bad situations in the second half and responded every time. Really proud of the effort and toughness.”
Georgia punted on four of five second-half possessions and the Yellow Jackets got the ball one time at its own 47 after Georgia had to punt from its own 8.
Butkus Award finalist CJ Allen had two tackles including one for loss in his return from a knee injury that kept him out only one game.
The junior linebacker came back fast after he underwent meniscus surgery.
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“He chose to get the surgery done immediately, as fast as possible,” Smart said. “He knew that would give him a chance coming back for this game. He really wanted this game, a kid from just south of Atlanta. I didn’t think he would be able to. He’s wired different.”
Fellow inside linebacker Wilson called Allen “another piece of this puzzle to our defense. It was great to have him back.”
Cornerback Ellis Robinson has grown up week by week this season.
He had a leaping interception near the end zone on the same field where Malaki Starks did the same against Clemson and Oregon.
Robinson now leads the team with four interceptions.
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Georgia Tech was held to 69 yards on 23 carries.
Johnson said communication up front and on the back end has fueled Georgia’s growth on defense
Defensive end Gabe Harris had two quarterback hurries and 1 ½ tackles for loss,
“We really expect that guy to show up day in and day out,” Johnson said.
Georgia has more players showing up on a more consistent basis week after week.
KJ Bolden, the sophomore safey, had 9 tackles.
Defensive lineman Christen Miller had Georgia’s one sack, but the Bulldogs are getting to the quarterback more often.
They put King under duress enough on a day his longest pass play went for only 30 yards.
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“I think they’ve played well, the last couple of weeks, getting better,” Smart said. “I think there’s more confidence. I think there’s some players that have gotten comfortable back there playing. The coaches have kind of figured out who we are and they’re using the skill set of the players they need to use. We’ve got to continue to get better there.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia Tech stifled by Georgia defense which is hitting its stride
