Florida: 13
Georgia Tech: 16

Sitting at 0-2 for the first time in 47 years, Georgia Tech looked to get back on track against the Florida Gators at Grant Field in week three. The Gators entered with a polar opposite record of 2-0, but had faced much easier opponents in The Citadel and Duquense. Tech won the previous three meetings with the Gators dating back to 1942 after falling 14-7 in Gainsville in 1941.

The Jackets started strong, marching 60 yards for a score after the opening kickoff. Joe Salome hit Pete Ferris on a 7 yard pass before Robert North reeled off a 30 yard run to setup the score. Buster Humphreys added the touchdown with 11:15 left in the period to give Tech an early 7-0 lead.

Neither team mounted another serious scoring threat until the Gators answered midway through the second period. Starting from its own 44, Florida marched to the Ramblin’ Wreck 3 yard line on the solid running of Floyd Huggins, Billy Reddell, and Buford Long. Long gained the final three yards for the score, but Carroll McDonald missed the extra point to leave the Jackets ahead 7-6 at intermission.

Tech suffered a severe blow in the third quarter when it lost Salome to injury, leaving inexperienced Lewis Sykes at the helm. As the fourth quarter began, Sykes threw a pick to Jack Nichols and the Gators took over near the Yellow Jacket 40 yard line. Gator quarterback Haywood Sullivan ran 23 yards to the Tech 18 before connecting with Don Brown three plays later for the go-ahead score.

Trailing 13-7, the Jackets took the ensuing kickoff at their own 36 and began a march towards the Florida end zone. North gained 17 yards to kick start the drive and Sykes found John Weigle for 14 more to the Florida 33 yard line. North added 17 more on three runs and Patton gained another first down at the 13. Buster Humphreys bucked to the five yard line before Sykes finally scored five plays later, but Patton missed a crucial extra point that left the game knotted at 13 late in the contest.

Just when it looked like the game would end in a tie, the Tech defense put together a solid performance. After holding Florida to 4th and 28, the Yellow Jackets took over on a punt to their own 41 with one minute to play.

Sykes scrambled for 16 yards on the first play to move into Florida territory with 40 seconds to go. After one incomplete pass, the reserve quarterback threw a bomb to Dick Harvin near the Florida end zone. But as Harvin went up to nab the pass, Florida’s Angus Williams shoved him to stop the catch and the officials called pass interference on the Gators, giving Tech the ball at the Florida 6 yard line. With seven seconds to play, Dodd called upon Patton to attempt a game-winning field goal. The senior star’s angled kick was good and the Jackets pulled off an incredible fourth quarter comeback to earn their first victory of the season.

The Gators won their next three contests to improve to 5-1 and jump to 17th in the AP poll. Their season ended on a sour note however, as they lost their final four games to finish at an even 5-5.

Statistics:

First Downs:
UF – 14
GT – 13

Rushing Yards:
UF – 122
GT – 163

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
UF – 9-21-129
GT – 5-13-120

Interceptions thrown:
UF – 1
GT – 2

Fumbles lost:
UF – 2
GT – 0

Penalty yards:
UF – 40
GT – 34

References:
Danforth, Ed. “Red Patton’s Field Goal Turns Back Gators 16-13.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 1950 Oct. 8