Georgia Tech’s first three plays on Saturday against Pittsburgh were run outside of the tackles and netted a total of seven yards and fumble.
On the Yellow Jackets second drive at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the offense decided to start ruining north and south against the Panthers, which turned out to be a great decision.
Led by the interior of the offensive line -- guards Parker Braun, Will Bryan and Shamire Devine and center Kenny Cooper -- Georgia Tech pounded away to a 35-17 victory.
“We were knocking them around pretty good,” coach Paul Johnson said. “We were kinda convoying a double team up there.”
The Yellow Jackets rushed for 436 yards with B-backs contributing 253 yards of that total. KirVonte Benson had a career-game rushing for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Benson’s yardage is the most ever by a B-back in the Paul Johnson era at Georgia Tech.
“The first time the (B-backs) would get to (the linebackers) is 4-to-5 yards down the field and then they would turn it into 6 or 7 most of the time because they would get their pads down and run,” Johnson said.
Quarterback TaQuon Marshall added 112 yards, most of which also came while following his big blockers up the middle.
“The guys that were tackling me were like third level guys,” Marshall said.
It wasn’t all pleasant for the Marshall and the B-backs though. Benson had two fumbles -- one of which came on a bad pitch from Marshall, while redshirt sophomore Quaide Weimerskirch and freshman Jerry Howard each had a fumble.
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