Football Returns to North Carolina, Faces NC State

Nov. 3, 2014

RALEIGH, N.C. – With its ACC Coastal slate complete, Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2) plays the first of two games against ACC Atlantic foes when the Yellow Jackets return to North Carolina to face NC State (5-4, 1-4). Saturday’s game will kick at 12:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.

PUTTING ON AN OFFENSIVE SHOW
Georgia Tech’s offense has amassed 600 or more total yards of offense nine times in program history. Five of those times have come in the Paul Johnson era, including the Jackets’ last two games. 

In the last three games, the Yellow Jackets have collected 1,632 yards of total offense, including two games with 600+ yards. Georgia Tech is averaging 44.7 points in the last three games. The Jackets are 39-16 in the Paul Johnson era when amassing 400+ yards of total offense (45 of 89 games).

SERIES HISTORY
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 18-10. Saturday will be the first series meeting since 2011.

• Paul Johnson is 1-2 against NC State (0-1 at Navy, 1-1 at Georgia Tech)
• Georgia Tech has won six of the last eight meetings and 11 of the last 14.
• Georgia Tech and NC State met every season from 1983 through 2006.
• Georgia Tech is 8-6 all-time in Raleigh, but the 
• Jackets have won six of their last seven trips to the North Carolina capital city.
• The winning team has scored 45 points in each of the last two meetings (2010, 2011).
• The winning team has scored 24+ points in 13 of the last 14 series meetings and 20 of the 27 series meetings overall.
• In the first series meeting in 1918, the Jackets shut out NC State 128-0.

ROAD WARRIORS
Since Paul Johnson’s arrival on The Flats in 2008, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are 15-12 in ACC road games (fourth among ACC schools during that span) and 20-16 in all road games (third among ACC schools during that span).

EATING UP YARDAGE
QB Justin Thomas’ 955 career rushing yards ranks 6th all-time for Georgia Tech quarterbacks. Thomas needs 45 yards to become only the 6th 1,000-yard rushing QB in Georgia Tech history. Thomas needs 279 yards to become the 2nd Georgia Tech QB to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. 

TECH 300
Georgia Tech has rushed for 300+ yards in 45 of 89 games under head coach Paul Johnson. The Jackets are 36-9 in those games and have won 10 of their last 12 300-yard games.

3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS
Georgia Tech leads the nation in 3rd down conversions with a conversion rate of 57.4 percent (62 of 108). Georgia Tech is tied for 11th in FBS in 4th down conversation percentage. The Jackets have converted 75 percent of their 4th down tries (9 of 12), which leads the ACC.

AIR THOMAS
Justin Thomas is the only FBS QB this season with a 200+ passer rating in four games. Additionally, Thomas’ 14 TD passes are tied for 10th on Georgia Tech’s single-season list. His 14 TD passes are the most by a Tech QB since 2006 (Reggie Ball, 20).

COUNTDOWN TO 1,000

• Senior WR DeAndre Smelter (914) needs 86 yards to become Georgia Tech’s 21st 1,000-yard receiver.
• Sophomore QB Justin Thomas (955) needs 45 yards to become Georgia Tech’s 44th 1,000-yard rusher.
• Senior B-Back Synjyn Days (818) needs 182 yards to become Georgia Tech’s 44th 1,000-yard rusher.

THE Paul Johnson RADIO SHOW
The Paul Johnson Radio Show returns for the 2014 season and will be held Monday nights from 7-8 p.m. at Hudson Grille Midtown (942 Peachtree St NE). Hosted by the “Voice of the Yellow Jackets” Brandon Gaudin, the one-hour live call-in show can be heard statewide on the GT IMG Sports Network. If you can’t attend, you can call and ask Coach a question at 866-477-7020. You can also submit questions on Twitter using #GTRadio or through the GT Athletics Facebook page.

The first 25 Georgia Tech students to show their BuzzCard at each of the Paul Johnson Radio Shows will receive either a free dessert or free wings. Additionally, there will also be a GT burger special for $5.95 and free valet parking.

DOWNLOAD GEORGIA TECH GAMEDAY APP (Download: App Store | Google Play)
Georgia Tech Athletics joined forces with IMG and SportsLabs to develop the Georgia Tech Gameday app to keep Yellow Jackets fans connected to the action while on campus or watching from home. The Georgia Tech Gameday App will replace the current official app for Georgia Tech Athletics.

The Georgia Tech Gameday App is packed with robust social, on-campus and stat-driven features that enhance the gameday experience by delivering: free live game audio; real-time Instagram and Twitter feeds from the team and fans; the official game-day guide with key times, events and need-to-know information including stadium maps and parking to plan the day; live conference and Top 25 scores, real-time stats; opt-in alerts for weather updates, pre-game events, play-by-play information and more.

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