Bad weather roamed all over downtown Atlanta Friday night as Georgia Tech football got ready for their White vs. Gold spring game. Even with the bad weather, the loyal Tech fans pushed through the heavy rain along with the players.
Due to a sore shoulder Justin Thomas did not participate in the spring game. Tim Byerly played every snap for the White team (starting Offense), Ty Griffin and Matthew Jordan spilt snaps with the Gold team (2nd team offense). In the early goings of the first quarter all three quarterbacks struggled. With heavy rain there were multiple missed snaps and bad ball control. There was a combined total of 11 fumbles throughout the whole game. Bad weather or not,ball control is key. Because of those fumbles neither offense could hold a steady rhythm on the field. But the White offense was able to get it together to generate points
Both the Gold and the White offensive line struggled with the inside blitz of the defense and the intensity that both defenses brought to the table. But as the game went on the Gold Defense broke down from the pounding of the run game from the first offense.
Quarterback Tim Byerly rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown he also went 5 of 11 for 69 yards passin. B-back Zack Laskey, my pick for standout of the spring game, rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown.I look for Laskey to be a key to the success of the Yellow Jackets offense next fall. Redshirt freshman Quarterback Ty Griffin, who started under center for the Gold team rushed 15 times for 75 yards. Kicker Harrison Butker made two of three field goals, including a 54-yard line drive that bounced right off the cross bar and through the up right.
The Gold Team (first defense) had two forced turnovers for touchdowns, an 86 yard fumble recovery by Isaiah Johnson, and a 42 yard fumble recovery by Corner Demond Smith. These were the only points scored by the Gold team.
With 4:32 left in the third quarter Tim Byerly gave the White team a 20-6 lead with a two yard run up the middle for a touchdown ending a 16-play 77-yard drive. The Gold scored its final points in the fourth quarter on Smith’s 42 yard fumble return
The Yellow Jackets still have a ways to go, but they have a lot of veteran leadership in multiple positions so Justin Thomas should not have to carry this team solely on his back.
