After scoring just 10 points in the first 52 minutes, Utah racked up 20 in the final 6:50 seconds of regulation and overtime to overcome a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Georgia Tech in overtime 30-27 Dec. 31 at the 78th annual Sun Bowl.
The Yellow Jackets had the ball first on offense but had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by sophomore Justin Moore to regain the lead at 27-24.
On Utah's turn in overtime, junior running back John White IV did numerous things for his team. He became the school's all-time leading rusher with a three-yard run, then, three plays later, he ran it in from eight yards out to give his team the 30-27 victory. White finished with 116 yards rushing for the day.
After going ahead 24-10 in the third quarter, Georgia Tech gained just 24 yards of offense until their final two drives. With 6:50 remaining in the game, Utah's junior quarterback John Hays made his first connection with junior tight end Kendrick Moeai count. Moeai caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal to cut the Yellow Jackets' lead to 24-17.
Ahead 24-17 and with 2:21 to go, the Yellow Jackets went three-and-out and gave Utah the ball at the Georgia Tech 24. Facing a fourth-and-14 with 1:39 remaining, Hays hit junior wide receiver DeVonte Christopher from 28-yards out to tie the game at 24. Hays finished the day 15-of-31 for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
The Utes' head coach Kyle Whittingham initially signaled for his team to go for a two-point conversion but after Georgia Tech called a timeout, they elected to tie the game with the PAT.
Georgia Tech drove down the field to the Utah 31-yard line with two seconds remaining. The Yellow Jackets sent sophomore kicker David Scully onto the field for his first field goal attempt all season. The kick was wide right to send the game into overtime. Georgia Tech's regular place kicker, Moore, was 1-for-3 on the day and his season long was only 41 yards.
Utah scored on their first drive of the game and took a 10-7 lead at the end of the first half. The Utes struggled to get any offense going in the third quarter, which translated into a 17-0 quarter for Georgia Tech and 26 total yards on four drives for Utah. The third drive of the quarter last just one play when freshman linebacker Quayshawn Nealy returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown to extend the Yellow Jackets' lead to 24-10.
Georgia Tech outgained Utah on the ground 312-144 for 449 yards of total offense. They fumbled the ball four times, losing one, and made it into the red zone just twice all day. Senior running back Preston Lyons ran for 138 yards and junior QB Tevin Washington had 96.
William Vega may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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