Georgia Tech hasn’t sniffed the School Soccer Playoff because the match’s inception in 2014.
Nearing the halfway level of the common season, the No. 13 Yellow Jackets will meet Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta in hopes of bolstering their odds of creating their first CFP look.
Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Convention) has gained its first 5 video games of the season for the primary time since 2014, which was the final time the Yellow Jackets made the ACC championship sport.
Because it stands now, Georgia Tech will not play one other ranked opponent till its regular-season finale in opposition to rival Georgia. Having fun with the return to nationwide relevance, head coach Brent Key’s group cannot afford to miss the Hokies on Saturday.
“It is an thrilling time, and I would like the fellows to be excited, but additionally perceive that this a part of the season now could be to guard what we have already completed,” Key stated. “(Virginia Tech) has expertise on their roster. The groups they’ve misplaced to are a mixed 15-6, good soccer groups, and a few of them had been very shut video games, particularly going into the fourth quarter.”
Previous to its bye final week, Georgia Tech escaped Wake Forest 30-29 in time beyond regulation, rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit. Because the Yellow Jackets learn to stack victories, Secret is taking one week at a time.
“You’d like to play each sport and have to guide the entire time, however I do not assume that is ever occurred within the historical past of soccer,” Key stated. “To not give coach-speak, however we’re nervous about one factor — that is the day we’re in. You possibly can’t look behind, you possibly can’t look ahead. We’ve got to know how fragile that is.”
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is averaging simply 189.5 passing yards a sport this season, however the dual-threat, sixth-year senior’s seven dashing touchdowns and 380 yards on the bottom rank second and seventh within the ACC, respectively.
Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1) had as dangerous a begin to the season as any energy convention group. After dropping video games to then-No. 13 South Carolina and Vanderbilt, the Hokies had been blown out at dwelling by Outdated Dominion, prompting the firing of head coach Brent Pry.
Interim coach Philip Montgomery has gained two of three video games since taking on, however the street will get tougher on Saturday.
“Clearly, this week we now have a extremely powerful opponent,” Montgomery stated. “Georgia Tech is enjoying rather well proper now. They’ve had a bye, so they will be contemporary. It’s going to be an excellent take a look at for us, however we’re wanting ahead to happening the street and getting a possibility to go to work.”
Virginia Tech was held and not using a second-half landing in a 30-23 loss to Wake Forest final week — simply one other velocity bump the Hokies must overcome in a tough season.
“This group has confronted a variety of adversity all through the season, however they’re resilient,” Montgomery stated. “We’ve got to maneuver ahead, proceed to develop, study from our errors, and get higher as a soccer group, as a result of we have a tricky sport this week.”
Seeking to assist flip the season round, Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones might want to keep upright, because the third-year starter has been sacked 14 instances this season, tied with Stanford’s Ben Gulbranson for many within the ACC.
–Area Degree Media
