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 recreation.
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 crew cannot afford to miss the Hokies on Saturday.
“It is an thrilling time, and I would like the blokes to be excited, but additionally perceive that this a part of the season now’s to guard what we have already accomplished,” 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 have 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 extra time, rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit. Because the Yellow Jackets discover ways to stack victories, Secret is taking one week at a time.
“You’d like to play each recreation and have to steer the entire time, however I do not suppose 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 may’t look ahead. We’ve to know how fragile that is.”
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is averaging simply 189.5 passing yards a recreation this season, however the dual-threat, sixth-year senior’s seven speeding touchdowns and 380 yards on the bottom rank second and seventh within the ACC, respectively.
Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1) had as unhealthy a begin to the season as any energy convention crew. After dropping video games to then-No. 13 South Carolina and Vanderbilt, the Hokies have been blown out at residence by Outdated Dominion, prompting the firing of head coach Brent Pry.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’ve a extremely powerful opponent,” Montgomery stated. “Georgia Tech is enjoying rather well proper now. They’ve had a bye, so they’ll be recent. It’s going to be an ideal check for us, however we’re trying 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 pace bump the Hokies must overcome in a troublesome season.
“This crew has confronted a variety of adversity all through the season, however they’re resilient,” Montgomery stated. “We’ve to maneuver ahead, proceed to develop, be taught from our errors, and get higher as a soccer crew, as a result of we have a tricky recreation this week.”
Trying 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 occasions this season, tied with Stanford’s Ben Gulbranson for many within the ACC.
–Subject Degree Media