2008 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team The 2008 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2008 – 2009 . The team ' s coach is former Navy Midshipmen and Georgia Southern Eagles coach Paul Johnson . Georgia Tech plays their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta , Georgia . Previous seasons . Georgia Tech continued its 11 year bowl streak under the coaching of Chan Gailey in 2007 . Despite this accomplishment , Georgia Tech terminated Gailey the Monday following his sixth loss to archrival University of Georgia . No coach in Georgia Tech history had ever lost six straight to the Bulldogs before Gailey . Gailey failed to finish the season in the Top 25 all six of his head coaching seasons and posted a 12 – 12 record in November . Gailey ' s career ended at Georgia Tech with an overall record of 44 – 31 . Pre - season . Paul Johnson is the new head coach of the Yellow Jackets after posting a 45 – 29 record at the United States Naval Academy since 2002 . Johnson also recorded a 7 – 1 record in the Commander - in - Chief ' s Trophy against the Air Force and Army . Johnson will be installing his option offense at Georgia Tech . In response , 2007 starting QB Taylor Bennett transferred to Louisiana Tech , opening up the 2008 QB job for sophomore Josh Nesbitt and freshman Jaybo Shaw . The Georgia Tech offense returns two of its top four receivers in Greg Smith and Demaryius Thomas , and the Tech defense returns defensive end Michael Johnson and primary interior linemen Darryl Richard and Vance Walker . In June 2008 , former University of Louisville RB Anthony Allen announced he will be transferring to Georgia Tech . Due to NCAA transfer rules , he will be required to sit out the 2008 football season . Schedule . ! Preview ! Recap Game notes . Jacksonville State . Pregame Line : Jacksonville State + 27 . 5 Georgia Tech ran for 349 yards in the season opener against Jacksonville State . The team was led by Jon Dwyer ' s 113 yards rushing and pair of touchdown runs . Josh Nesbitt scored two additional rushing touchdowns in the rout . The game featured former Louisiana State University quarterback Ryan Perrilloux who transferred to Jacksonville State after the 2007 football season . Perrilloux led the Gamecocks on their two second - half touchdown drives , but was intercepted twice by Tech safety Morgan Burnett . The Tech defense also added four sacks in the effort . Tech has not lost to an I - AA opponent since its September 17 , 1983 game against the Furman Paladins . Boston College . Pregame Line : Boston College −7 . 5 Georgia Tech overcame a fourth quarter deficit and three lost fumbles to defeat the Boston College Eagles 19 – 16 . The Jackets were led by the running of sophomores Jon Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt . The two combined for all but 8 yards of Georgia Tech ' s 235 yards of offense . Dwyer added 93 yards of kick returns to his 109 yards rushing . Dwyer scored the go ahead touchdown on a 43 yard run with less than 9 minutes remaining in the game . Georgia Tech ' s defense sacked first year starter Chris Crane three times in the game and forced three turnovers . Tech remained undefeated all time in Chestnut Hill with the win . Virginia Tech . Pregame Line : Virginia Tech −7 The Hokies needed a penalty - aided , fourth quarter drive to put away the Jackets in 20 – 17 loss for Georgia Tech , the first loss of the season for GT . On Virginia Tech ' s second to last possession , the Hokies only managed 38 yards of offense but with key defensive penalties moved the ball 76 yards to the Georgia Tech 4 yard line and kicked the go ahead field goal with 4 : 37 remaining on the game clock . Georgia Tech rushed for 278 yards in the game , led by quarterback Josh Nesbitt ' s 151 yards and slotback Lucas Cox ' s 63 yards . Nesbitt also added 109 yards passing with a 41 yard touchdown strike to slotback Roddy Jones followed by a two - point conversion . The Tech defense held VT to only 48 yards passing but gave up 200 yards on the ground . Safety Morgan Burnett added 13 tackles to his total for the season increasing his average to 9 tackles per game for the season . Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan combined for Tech ' s lone sack on Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor . ABC took a 6 day option on the time of the Mississippi State gametime and with the loss relegated Tech ' s home game to a 12 : 00 pm EST time slot the following week . Mississippi State . Pregame Line : Mississippi St . + 8 Georgia Tech scored 38 straight points against the Mississippi State Bulldogs to cruise to a 38 – 7 victory at home . The offense was led by the rushing effort of Jon Dwyer who accumulated 141 yards , a rushing touchdown , and a school record 88 yard touchdown run in the third quarter . True freshman Jaybo Shaw substituted for injured quarterback Josh Nesbitt in the first quarter and would finish the game with 106 total yards , a passing touchdown , and a rushing touchdown . The Georgia Tech defense bent but did not break allowing 407 yards of offense but giving up only 7 points , the lowest point allowance of the season . The defense picked off two Mississippi State passes , recovered two fumbles , and accumulated three quarterback sacks . Michael Johnson along with his sack blocked an 18 yard field goal attempt in the first quarter . With the win , Georgia Tech has gone 6 – 8 against the Southeastern Conference since 2000 . Duke . Pregame Line : Duke + 14 Georgia Tech started true freshman Jaybo Shaw at quarterback for ailing Josh Nesbitt and rolled over Duke 27 – 0 . Shaw passed for 230 yards and a touchdown all to one receiver sophomore Demaryius Thomas . Thomas caught one pass for a career long 88 yards . Jon Dwyer and Roddy Jones added balance to the Georgia Tech offense accumulating 203 yards on 33 carries . Jones scored Tech ' s lone rushing touchdown . Georgia Tech ' s defense held Duke ' s offense to 0 points and 132 yards after Duke averaged 31 points and 373 yards per game coming into the contest . Tech defenders racked up two sacks and an interception . This was the twenty - sixth shutdown since 1961 for Georgia Tech . The last shutout for a Georgia Tech defense was the 2006 North Carolina game in which Tech won 7 – 0 and clinched the Coastal Division seat in the ACC Championship Game . Gardner - Webb . Pregame Line : Off the board Gardner - Webb ' s attempt at the upset fell short when the game - tying field goal with 9 seconds remaining was partially blocked by sophomore defensive end Derrick Morgan . Third string redshirt senior Calvin Booker received the starting nod from Paul Johnson before the game to rest ailing quarterbacks Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw . Tech ' s worst offensive showing of the season saw Tech only accumulate 79 yards on the ground and give away three turnovers . The lone offensive highlight being a 79 yard touchdown reception by Jon Dwyer in the second quarter . Tech ' s defense held the Runnin ' Bulldogs until 8 : 25 in the third quarter , in which the Bulldogs marched 69 yards down the field for their lone score . The Tech defense racked up 6 sacks and an interception . Clemson . Pregame Line : Clemson + 2 On October 13 , Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden was fired and was replaced by receivers coach Dabo Swinney . Tech ' s defense controlled the eb and flow of the game forcing six turnovers , which included four interceptions and two fumble recoveries . Safety Dominique Reese returned an intercepted pass from wide receiver Tyler Grisham for Tech ' s first touchdown . Morgan Burnett added two additional interceptions , the final in the last second of the game . Offensively , Tech continued to produce with its ground game against the Tigers racking up 207 yards rushing . Josh Nesbitt ran untouched for 5 yards for Tech ' s second score and passed 24 yards to Demaryius Thomas for Tech ' s go ahead and eventual game winning score . Tech is 6 – 1 for the first time since 1999 . Virginia . Pregame Line : Virginia + 11 Georgia Tech dropped its first homecoming decision in thirteen years ending a twelve game win streak that dates back to 1995 . The Cavaliers were aided by three Georgia Tech turnovers . The Georgia Tech defense struggled to contain the Cavaliers giving up almost 400 yards of offense and the most points allowed all season . Tech highlights , however , included two interceptions by the defense and a recovered fumble . Slotback Roddy Jones had a career day with 169 all purpose yards including 75 yards rushing on 11 carries . Tech heads into the Florida State game a half game behind Virginia and a half game ahead of Virginia Tech , Miami , and UNC in the ACC Coastal Division race . Florida State . Pregame Line : Florida St . + 2 . 5 Georgia Tech had not defeated Florida State since 1975 . The twelve - game losing streak that dated back to 1992 that included three head coaching tenures ended with a 31 – 28 victory for Georgia Tech . Georgia Tech appeared to have the game clearly in hand until Josh Nesbitt injured his foot with 7 : 42 remaining in the 3rd quarter . Backup Jaybo Shaw assumed control of the offense and the offense only managed 8 yards of offense in the remaining one and a half quarters . Florida State closed the score differential to 31 – 28 and drove all the way to the Georgia Tech 3 yard line with 1 : 20 remaining in the game . On second down , the FSU running back lost control of the football after Safety Cooper Taylor hit the ball with his helmet . Tech ' s Rashaad Reid recovered the football in the end zone and with two proceeding quarterback kneels ended the dramatic victory . Jon Dwyer added 145 yards rushing and two touchdowns , Roddy Jones added 118 all purpose yards , and starter Josh Nesbitt added 116 additional all purpose yards to the offensive effort . The Tech defense sacked FSU quarterbacks 5 times and forced 3 turnovers . Tech took a half - game lead in the division race with the win . Some refer to the game as the " Miracle on North Avenue , " as it ended Georgia Tech ' s 12 meeting losing run to the Seminoles , and the first time the Yellow Jackets had ever beaten legendary Coach Bobby Bowden since he came to FSU . North Carolina . Pregame Line : North Carolina −4 . 5 In Georgia Tech ' s worst offensive showing of the season Tech gave up 3 turnovers and lost 28 – 7 in Chapel Hill . The defense held UNC ' s offense in check until the fourth quarter in which a muffed punt , a fumble , and an interception led to three consecutive Tarheel touchdowns . Tech ' s lone offensive highlight was an 85 yard touchdown run by Jon Dwyer , which was the longest touchdown run recorded against an UNC defense ever . Dwyer ' s effort for the day put him over 1 , 000 yards for the season . Tech ' s defense was led by Michael Johnson who accumulated 6 tackles and sack in the losing effort . Miami . Pregame Line : Miami + 3 . 5 Georgia Tech has defeated Miami four consecutive years joining Alabama , Florida , Florida State , Kentucky , Notre Dame , and Virginia Tech as the only schools to defeat Miami in four consecutive years . Georgia Tech led by as much as 24 and never relented the lead over the Canes as the Tech offense racked up 472 yards rushing . The defense picked off two Miami passes including one by defensive end Michael Johnson , which was returned for the first touchdown of the game . Tech ' s victory put them in first place in the Coastal Division . Georgia Tech needs Virginia , Virginia Tech , and North Carolina to lose at least one more game to end all tie breaking scenarios . Also of note , the game was dubbed a " White Out " by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association and fans were encouraged to wear white to the game . Georgia . Pregame Line : Georgia −7 On the strength of a third quarter offensive explosion , Georgia Tech bested Georgia in Athens 45 – 42 . Tech was led by the rushing efforts of Roddy Jones and Jon Dwyer who were major contributors to Tech ' s 410 total rushing yards . Jones alone contributed 299 all - purpose yards in the effort . The win ended a seven - year losing streak to the Bulldogs and preserved Tech coach Bobby Dodd ' s series record eight - game winning streak that ran from 1949 – 1956 . Chick - fil - A Bowl . Pregame Line : LSU + 4 A 28 point 2nd quarter by LSU was too much for the Jackets to overcome in the 2008 Chick - fil - A Bowl rout . Tech gave up three turnovers and did not force any . Tech passed 24 times in the game and accumulated 150 yards of passing offense alongside 164 yards of rushing offense . Tech ' s offense was led by Jon Dwyer ' s 123 all purpose yards . Tech ' s defense was led by Morgan Burnett . Burnett had 14 total tackles and 1 . 5 tackles for loss . Senior Michael Johnson added two sacks to Tech ' s effort .