Georgia Tech vs. South Carolina State: 1st Half thoughts

Georgia Tech holds a lead over South Carolina State at halftime

After a lengthy weather delay, Georgia Tech was finally able to take the field today against South Carolina State for its first home game of the season. 

It was a dominant first half for the Yellow Jackets. They jumped all over the Bulldogs in the first quarter and never looked back. SCSU was a completely one-dimensional team for the first half and that made things easy for the defense. The offense was in complete control outside of a goal-line fumble from Trey Cooley. Yes, GT is playing a very overmatched opponent, but they are doing what you would want them to do against this type of opponent. 

So what are the takeaways from this first half of football in Atlanta?

1. Eric Singleton is going to be a star sooner rather than later. 

Singleton got his first action as a Yellow Jacket last week against Louisville and made a highlight reel 29-yard catch and then a touchdown. Today, he made his mark in the second quarter with his second catch of the game, which wound up being a 40-yard touchdown. He almost made another highlight reel play in the second quarter as well. 

Through two weeks, Singleton is already making highlight reel plays and catching touchdowns. He is a player with a really bright future for the Yellow Jackets and should see more playing time each week. He finished this first half with two catches for 49 yards and a touchdown on 4 targets. 

2. The kicking is still a problem right now

Gavin Stewart had a really solid 2022 season, but he is off to a tough start so far in 2023. 

Late in the first half, Stewart had a chance to extend the lead for Georgia Tech but missed a 47-yard field goal, and that makes him 0-3 to start the year. Stewart can get this turned around, but it has been a rough start so far and if he does not get it turned around, there might be a kicking competition on the horizon. 

3. Only self-inflicted wounds stopped the offense

Georgia Tech played a really good half of football on offense. They tallied up 336 yards in the first half and averaged over nine yards per play. The passing attack was efficient and explosive, seeing Haynes King go 15-19 for 166 yards and three touchdowns. 

Georgia Tech ran for 179 yards in the first half, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. It was a great half of football, outside of two plays. 

Georgia Tech was driving to go up 21-0, but running back Trey Cooley fumbled on the goal line and gave the ball back. Late in the first half, kicker Gavin Stewart missed a field goal and an opportunity to go up even more. The offense was clicking, but they have to clean up the self-inflicted mistakes, especially against better teams. 

4. The defense dominated outside of the last drive

Georgia Tech was very good on defense in the first half, outside of the last drive. They allowed SCSU to drive 70 yards in eight plays to score their only points of the first half. The Bulldogs only compiled 127 yards in the first half and over half of them came on the last drive. 

One area of concern: only one tackle for loss and no sacks for GT. That was an issue last week and it has not improved. SCSU is a run first offense, but when they do throw, Cory Fields Jr has had plenty of time.

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