FanPost

Georgia Tech Squeaks by Georgia Southern, 42-38

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a shovel pass they’ll be talking about for 20 years in Statesboro.

With the Georgia Southern Eagles driving late, already holding a 38-35 lead over in-state foes Georgia Tech, quarterback Favian Upshaw threw a shovel pass, or maybe a lateral depending on who you ask, during an option run to the left side. The ball was tipped and Tech appeared to recover, but it was ruled an incompletion by the referees.

Except it wasn’t. The men in stripes came back after a lengthy review and reversed the call – Tech ball.

Georgia Tech, of course, marched down the field and scored to get the 42-38 win, and Georgia Southern fans remembered what NC State felt like again.

While the shovel pass may be the only part remembered in a couple of decades, the game outside of it was a compelling tale of two halves. Southern had no answer for anything Tech did in the first half and got mauled on the line of scrimmage. Tech scored touchdowns on five straight possessions and went into the half 35-10.

With some fans surely wondering how long it would be before they returned to their tailgate parties, the Eagles mounted a shocking comeback, scoring four of its own touchdown in a row to take the lead 38-35 in the fourth quarter. One was left to wonder if the teams secretly switched jerseys during the half. Both Southern quarterback Kevin Ellison and the man who subbed in for him throughout the day (Upshaw), slashed through the Yellow Jacket defense on drive after drive. It was 35-10, then 35-17, 35-24, 35-30 and 35-38.

The game was there for Georgia Southern to win it, for sure. Things definitely look bright for the Eagles under new coach Willie Fritz and it must be only a matter of time before the team takes down another P5 member. Still, this one will be tough to swallow for the Eagle faithful.

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