Georgia Tech Football: First-half Thoughts vs Louisville

What are the takeaways for Georgia Tech in the first half?

Georgia Tech opened up the season tonight against Louisville in Atlanta and it was a back-and-forth first half between the Cardinals and Yellow Jackets. 

After a pair of early field goals by Louisville, Georgia Tech's offense roared back to life and dominated the second quarter to take the lead going into the half. It was the best half of football that Georgia Tech has played in quite some time. 

So what are the big takeaways for the Yellow Jackets after one half in Atlanta?

1. Buster Faulkner has called a great game on offense

Georgia Tech was dreadful on offense last season but made some roster changes at the skill position groups and brought in Texas A&M transfer Haynes King to lead the team at quarterback. 

The most important hire however was getting Buster Faulkner out of Athens. 

Georgia Tech found its groove in the second half and totaled 321 yards against the Cardinal's defense, including 206 through the air and over 100 yards on the ground. Georgia Tech averaged over nine yards per play and dominated Louisville along the lines of scrimmage. It was a complete first half for the offense, due largely in part to Faulkner's playcalling. 

He was in his bag as the kids say. 

2. Haynes King bounced back from a shaky start

Haynes King has enjoyed a solid debut for Georgia Tech / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

New Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King threw an interception on the first drive of the game and it was an overall shaky first quarter for the Yellow Jackets new quarterback. 

But he bounced back and in a big way. 

King finished the first half going 10-15 for 206 yards and throwing for two touchdowns. He was efficient and in rhythm for the entire second quarter and it was the best performance in a half for a Georgia Tech quarterback in quite some time. 

Now he just needs to finish the game. 

3. The offense found the explosive plays it needed

Georgia Tech had a hard time finding explosive plays last season, but not in the first half of tonight's game. 

The Yellow Jackets had completions of 46, 55, 33 and 48 yards in the first half, with one of them going for a touchdown. Wide receivers Chase Lane and Malik Rutherford were huge, as was running back Jamal Haynes, who provided the backfield with a spark. Louisville transfer Trey Cooley ran the ball four times for 40 yards and scored two touchdowns. 

It was a much different Georgia Tech offense than we have seen in recent years and it needs to continue in the second half. 

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