Alabama: 20
Georgia Tech: 16

Having not won since blowing out Kentucky 34-0 in week three, Georgia Tech would face an extremely difficult opponent in the 6-0-1, 4th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Tech had lost each of the previous three meetings in the series to fall to 10-9-2, all-time. Their last victory came in the form of a narrow 6-0 decision at Grant Field in 1932. The Tide’s lone blemish on the season came in week four when they were tied 0-0 by the Tennessee Volunteers at Legion Field.

Alabama opened the game with a return to its own 32 yard line before embarking on a 14 play, 68 yard drive for an early 7-0 lead. Thirteen runs pushed the Crimson Tide into scoring position before Joe Kilgrow found Herman Caldwell from 12 yards out for the touchdown.

The Tide would increase their lead early in the second quarter after returning a punt to midfield late in the first. Eight plays covered 50 yards en route to the end zone with Kilgrow finding James “Bubber” Nisbet for 22 yards to the Ramblin’ Wreck 3 yard line to setup the touchdown. Nisbet added the score one play later, but Tech blocked the extra point to hold Alabama’s lead at 13-0.

The Jackets nearly mounted a scoring drive of their own, but had a spectacular 50 yard, multi-pitch play called back for a forward lateral.

The squads exchanged punts and Tech began again from its own 31. Alabama then caught a huge break when Hal Hughes snagged a George Edwards lateral from the air for a turnover at the Yellow Jacket 27 yard line. Four plays later, Kilgrow found Perron Shoemaker for a 14 yard touchdown pass to make it 20-0 in favor of the visitors.

Early in the third quarter, the Jackets pinned the Tide at its own 5 on an excellent punt by Fletcher Sims. Alabama then attempted to punt it right back, but the Ramblin’ Wreck defense burst through the line and tackled Hughes in the end zone for a safety to make it 20-2.

Marion “Dutch” Konemann set the Jackets up with great field position when he returned the free kick to the 40, but it looked as if Tech would be forced to punt after three plays failed to advance the drive. Sims then went to the air and found Konemann 25 yards down field, and Dutch raced to the end zone for the touchdown to cut it to 20-9.

In the fourth quarter, Tech would begin another scoring drive from its own 13 following a Crimson Tide punt. On a first down reverse from Harry Appleby to Konemann, the latter went 71 yards to the Alabama 16 to setup the eventual 1 yard touchdown run by Appleby.

Trailing 20-16 with 12 minutes to play, Tech looked to have a solid shot at the comeback. But the Crimson Tide would not falter, as they consumed much of the remaining time to diminish the hopes of the Yellow Jacket faithful. The game would eventually come to a close with Tech in possession at midfield as the final seconds ticked away.

Alabama went on to win its final game 14-6 against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Thanksgiving Day to finish the season at 8-0-1 with the #4 spot in the AP poll. Their lone tie, however, caused them to finish second to LSU in the SEC standings.

Statistics:

First downs:
ALA – 11
GT – 12

Total yards:
ALA – 211
GT – 289

References:
Keeler, O.B. “Jackets Put on Big Rally for 16 Points in Last Half.” The Atlanta Journal. 1936 Nov. 15