WOW. What a game, and what a week of college football we had. Thankfully for the Jackets, week two will be a bit more relaxed. We have a home opener against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. It will be a week where we can work out some (a lot) of kinks, and maybe see some backups get playing time. Here is what I think I know before Tech plays its home opener.
The last matchup is one that many have erased from their memory
I must apologize, because if you did erase this from your memory, I am going to refresh it. The last time we played this team was in 2008, and it was…um…a nightmare. Quarterbacks Joshua Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw were out of this game due to injuries, and third-string QB Calvin Booker struggled to do much of anything. He finished the game 3/11 with 120 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Jackets had three turnovers and only 199 total yards, yet somehow managed to win the game 10-7. It would not be an exaggeration to call this a miracle. This year will not bode a similar fate, however, as the Jackets now have a solid backup and third-string at quarterback to replenish this team if the worst happens.
We need to clean things up.
This point is a bit more obvious. Three turnovers on our first three possessions is unacceptable, and absolutely cannot happen again. Miscommunications and bad snaps were the cause, which are thankfully things we can fix. The pre-snap penalties on offense were also alarming, but hopefully, they were just a result of jitters and miscommunication. After we quit turning the ball over, we got to watch a work of art, otherwise known as our run game. However, the pass game left more to be desired. King only threw for 143 yards and really had no explosive pass plays. If we want to compete for an ACC championship, we need to be more consistent through the air. On the other side of the ball there were some missed tackles, and not as much pressure on the QB as I would have liked to see. This was Blake Gideon’s first game calling plays as a defensive coordinator, so I know he will only get better with more time and experience. We secured a win on the road, but to compete at the highest level, we need to improve.
Haynes King is still tough as nails
Or, as Keylan Rutledge said, tough as a two-dollar steak. This man really put the team on his back, and I don’t think it is crazy to say that he won us that game. I cannot wait to see what he continues to do this season, and I hope he gets a chance to both have fun and rest his legs a little this week.
This should be an easy win for the Jackets, but we cannot take this team lightly
This game may not be the cakewalk we thought it would be. Although our last game against this team went pretty poorly, we now have the depth to win this game by more than three points, but it may be closer than some think. Gardner-Webb is coming off a 4-8 season, but if week one was any indication, they will be much better this year. The Bulldogs upset #19 Western Carolina, 52-45, after being down 35-7. They were led by Liberty transfer quarterback Nate Hampton, who finished the game with 263 passing yards, 132 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns. Senior Quasean Holmes has taken over the starting RB position and finished last week with 116 yards on 13 carries. Unfortunately for our defense, they cannot let up much against this team that finished last week with 633 total yards and made an incredible 28-point comeback. 335 of those yards were rushing, so it will be a great test to see if our run defense is still as stout as last season. It will also be a chance for us to go 2-0 against former Liberty quarterbacks this season!
Their defensive line was very impressive in 2024, sporting 38 sacks and only allowing 128.4 rush yards per game. The secondary, however, allowed 255.08 yards per game and struggled at times to contain the passing game. This should allow King, Philo, and Knowles to all get some playing time with the wide receivers. After the last game, we all know that King’s legs need some rest, and I would love to see more of an air raid offense with some explosive pass plays from potentially all three guys.
Overall, this will be a nice game to come home to after the Jackets had a big and exhausting trip across the country. Clean up the turnovers, pass the ball, and let starters rest. It should be a good week to gain some confidence and get some younger guys more experience. We can beat these Bulldogs, and here’s to hoping we beat two of them this season.