Isaiah Ford became the all-time leader in receptions for the Hokies on Saturday. (Photo: Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, Va. (Hokie Sports) -Jerod Evans threw for a touchdown and ran for two scores, but Virginia Tech turned the ball over four times and that was its undoing, as the No. 18 Hokies fell 30-20 to Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium on Saturday.
With the loss, the Hokies fell to 7-3 overall, 5-2 in the ACC. Georgia Tech moved to 6-4 overall, 3-4 in league play. Virginia Tech still can clinch the Coastal Division crown with a win over Virginia in the regular-season finale.
The Hokies played one of their worst games of the season. They turned the ball over four times, botched a short field-goal attempt, had a terrible snap right before halftime that ultimately led to a Georgia Tech touchdown right before halftime, allowed five sacks and gave up more than 300 yards rushing.
“We turned the ball over right from the start [on the opening kickoff] and never got anything going,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said. “In the end, we didn’t play well enough. We didn’t deserve to win the ball game. They did. Credit to them.”
The Hokies cut a 20-0 deficit to 20-7 on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Evans to Isaiah Ford with 12:30 left in the third quarter. They were in position to cut into it even more on their next possession, driving to the Georgia Tech 35. But Evans threw his second interception, ending the threat.
An Evans fumble in the fourth quarter led to a 56-yard touchdown run by Marcus Marshall. The Yellow Jackets scored 17 points off turnovers.
Marshall rushed for 143 yards for the Yellow Jackets. Backup quarterback Matthew Jordan, playing in place of an injury.
Evans threw for 316 yards and rushed for 75 to pace the Hokies.
The Hokies travel to South Bend next weekend.
