Georgia Tech: 43
Florida: 14

One week after dropping Auburn 35-21 in Atlanta, Georgia Tech would travel to Gainsville, Florida to square off with the Florida Gators in an SEC showdown. Tech had defeated the Gators 42-7 in Atlanta in 1948 and the Florida’s last victory over the Yellow Jackets came in 1941 as the result of a 14-7 contest. The Ramblin’ Wreck entered the game with a 3-1 record, while Florida entered at 2-1-1 after falling to Vanderbilt one week earlier for their first loss of the season.

The teams settled in on the first several possessions before Florida struck the first blow with a 53 yard scoring drive. John Cox and Russell Godwin collectively gained 9 yards in two tries before Charles Hunsinger gained 13 to the Yellow Jacket 27 yard line. Hunsinger exploded to the Ramblin’ Wreck three on the following play to setup a 3 yard touchdown run by Angus Williams for a 7-0 lead.

Jimmy Jordan returned the ensuing kickoff to the Florida 48 yard line to spark the Yellow Jacket offense. Robert North and George Humphreys gained to the 42 before North reeled off 38 yards to the Gator 4 yard line. An added penalty moved the ball to the one and Jim Southard snuck in for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Robert McCoy intercepted a pass on the next Florida possession and returned the ball 15 yards to the Gator 43 yard line. Southard hit Jimmy Jordan in the flats on the first play and the speedy running back raced all the way for the go-ahead score to put Tech up 14-7.

Florida would tie the game at 14 in the second quarter when Hunsinger scored from 10 yards out to cap off an 80 yard drive.

But the Jackets snatched back the lead with their own 80 yard drive to close out the half. Southard led the offense to just inside the Florida one yard line with less than a minute to play and Humphreys scored on fourth down to put the Jackets ahead. North’s extra point missed however, and the Jackets led 20-14 at intermission.

Tech opened the second half with a bang when Southard hit Charles Harvin on a 37 yard pass to the Gator 31 on the first play from scrimmage. North would score on a 5 yard run a few plays later to extend the lead to 27-14, and it was all Tech from there on out.

The Jackets pinned the Gators deep in their own territory when a penalty on the kickoff placed the ball at the 3 yard line. Morris Harrison came up big on the next play, dropping Hunsinger in the end zone for a safety to make it 29-14.

The Ramblin’ Wreck scoring continued when Southard capped off a 48 yard drive with a three yard quarterback sneak to go up 36-14 late in the third quarter.

The final score came in the fourth quarter after Walter Jerkins intercepted a Florida pass at the 49 and returned the ball 14 yards to the Gator 35 yard line. An excellent run by Larry Thompson advanced the Jackets to the eight and a Florida penalty further pushed them to the one. Daniel Crawford scored on his second sneak attempt to cap off Tech’s 43-14 victory and improve the Jackets to 4-1 on the season.

Florida would go on to win its next two games over Furman and Georgia before dropping its final three contests to finish at 4-5-1 on the year.

Statistics:

First Downs:
GT – 16
UF – 11

Rushing Yards:
GT – 210
UF – 173

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
GT – 10-18-173
UF – 3-15-37

Fumbles lost:
GT – 0
UF – 1

Interceptions thrown:
GT – 0
UF – 3

Penalty yards:
GT – 46
UF – 45

References:
Tisinger, George. “Jackets Jolt Florida, 43-14.” The Atlanta Constitution. 1949 Oct. 23