Louisiana State: 9
Georgia Tech: 7

Fresh off of a 41-7 massacre of Tulane in New Orleans, the Yellow Jackets returned home to face the 5-2 Louisiana State Tigers. LSU had recently dropped from the AP poll after falling to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a 27-20 contest in Baton Rouge the week prior. Their only other loss had come at the hands of Alabama, who would later finish the season with a perfect 10-0 record and a Rose Bowl victory over USC.

The game saw very little action in the first quarter until the Tigers mounted a drive from their own 20 yard line with roughly three minute remaining in the period. An 11 yard run on second down gave the visitors a first down at their own 31, and then fullback Bill Montgomery exploded for 23 yards to the Tech 46. Respective runs of 17 and 9 yards by Ray Coats and Montgomery advanced the drive to the Yellow Jacket 20 yard line, and the Tigers pushed on to within the Tech 3 as the quarter ended. But the Tech defense would hold strong as the second quarter began, and two solid plays stopped the Tigers inches short of the goal line.

Later in the second quarter, LSU added the only score of the first half. Beginning from his own 32, Montgomery advanced his team to the Tech 29 on second down. Runs by Y.A. Tittle and Dan Sandifer pushed the Tigers to the 18, and Coates rushed to the 3 a few plays later. Sandifer ran the ball in for the touchdown on the next play to give the Tigers a 6-0 advantage after the missed extra point; a lead the visitors would hold at half time.

Tech nearly scored to begin the third quarter, but was held short after throwing two consecutive incomplete passes on third and fourth downs from the LSU 7 yard line. The remainder of the third quarter saw no serious scoring opportunities.

In the final period, LSU advanced deep into Tech territory before George Mathews intercepted Tittle’s pass at the Yellow Jacket 10 yard line. Taking over at its own 16, the Ramblin’ Wreck marched quickly down the field as Mathews ran for 4 yards before taking Holtsinger’s pass 45 yards to the LSU 35. Tech gained to the 16 on passes of 11 and 8 yards by Holtsinger, and Al Lansing ran for a first down at the 8. Holtsinger hit Walter Kilzer in the end zone for the touchdown and Jack Helms added the extra point to give the Jackets a 7-6 lead with little time remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff Tech was penalized for illegal substitution, and a play that held the Tigers to their own 10 yard line was nullified. Montgomery returned the second kick to the Tech 39, where his Tigers would take over with roughly one minute remaining. The visitors quickly advanced into Tech territory, but were held to 4th and 12 at the Yellow Jackets 20 yard line. Gene Knight entered for the Tigers and booted the go-ahead field goal for his team as the clock wound down. The kick pushed the score to 9-7 and resulted in a heart breaking loss for Dodd’s Yellow Jackets.

LSU won their final contest over the Tulane Green Wave, finishing with a record of 7-2 and the #15 ranking in the AP poll.

Statistics:

First Downs:
LSU – 14
GT – 14

Rushing Yards:
LSU – 307
GT – 119

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
LSU – 1-6-1
GT – 12-24-179

Interceptions thrown:
LSU – 1
GT – 3

Fumbles lost:
LSU – 0
GT – 0

Penalty Yards:
LSU – 45
GT – 40

References:
Williams, F.M. “Knight’s Field Goal Beats Tech, 9 to 7.” The Atlanta Constitution. 1945 Nov. 18