The Georgia Tech defense checked a lot of boxes Thursday night.
The Yellow Jackets forced two turnovers, returning one for a touchdown. They held Virginia Tech to a respectable 5.0 yards per play. They made big plays, with four tackles for loss. The last time Georgia Tech had that combination – two takeaways, limiting the opponent to 5.0 yards per play or less and four tackles for loss – was the win over Clemson last season.
The opponent undoubtedly was a factor, as Virginia Tech’s offense is one of the most punchless in the ACC.