Maryland: 31
Georgia Tech: 49

In the fourth game of the 1999 season the 2-1, 9th ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets would face the 3-0 Maryland Terrapins at Bobby Dodd Stadium. While undefeated, Maryland’s victories were hardly impressive, coming against Temple, Western Carolina, and West Virginia. It looked as if the Terapins may have been in for a rough day against Joe Hamilton and the high powered Ramblin’ Wreck offense.

The Jackets scored first on an early 48 yard run by Sean Gregory to take a 7-0 lead. Their foe answered quickly, however, as Guilian Gary returned the following kickoff 84 yards to begin the Terp drive at the Tech 6 yard line. After two short gains, LaMont Jordan scored from 1 yard out to tie the game at 7 apiece.

On the first play of the following drive, Joe Hamilton hit Dez White for an 80 yard touchdown to regain the lead at 14-7. The game had seen three touchdowns in just six and a half minutes!

Later in the quarter, Maryland knotted the score again at 14-14. Taking over at the Terapin 25 yard line, Jordan and Quarterback Calvin McCall marched the visitors 75 yards for the score. McCall completed two big passes for a total 38 yards and Jordan added the exclamation point on a touchdown run from the 4 yard line.

The Terps caught a quick break when Kelly Campbell fumbled at the Yellow Jacket 41 yard line on Tech’s first play of the ensuing drive; Lewis Sanders recovered for Maryland. After a rough looking start to the drive, Tech’s defense finally held strong, forcing Maryland to kick a 32 yard field goal after stalling at the 15 yard line. The Terps gained their first and only lead of the game at 17-14 early in the second quarter.

But the Jackets bounced back before halftime. Late in the period, Hamilton led the offense on a 7 play, 70 yard touchdown drive that ended with a 29 yard pass to Dez White for the score. Tech had regained the lead at 21-17. With a little over a minute remaining, the Tech defense held Maryland to a three and out and an 8 yard punt gave the Jackets the ball at the Maryland 30 yard line. After no gain on the first play, Hamilton connected with Kerry Watkins for a 30 yard touchdown pass to take a 28-17 lead into the locker room at the half.

Just as it looked as if Tech was running away with the game, Maryland got right back in it to start the second half. An 11 play 80 yard drive brought the visitors within 4 at 28-24 when Mark Kalapinksi scored on a one yard run.

But Tech quickly answered again on its next possession when Hamilton ran 41 yards for a touchdown to complete an 82 yard drive midway through the period. The Jacket now led 35-24.

The Ramblin’ Wreck defense came up big on the next drive after Maryland advanced to the Tech 30 yard line. The drive came to a halt when the Terps turned the ball over on downs on fourth and six, shifting all of the momentum to the Yellow Jackets.

Tech took advantage on its next offensive play when Hamilton connected with Dez White on a 63 yard pass to the Maryland 7 yard line. Phillip Rogers added a one yard touchdown run on third down to increase Tech’s lead to 42-24 late in the third quarter.

Maryland added another quick score in the third when Jordan connected on a halfback pass to Jermaine Arrington for a 60 yard touchdown late in the period. The score was the visitors’ final of the game, trimming the Tech lead back to 11 at 42-31.

Tech’s defense picked up in the final quarter and the offense added one more touchdown for good measure. After taking over at the Maryland 39, the Jackets marched to the end zone in 12 plays, the final a one yard run by Rogers to complete Tech’s 49-31 victory.

Statistics:

First Downs:
MD – 15
GT – 22

Rushing Yards:
MD – 89
GT – 200

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
MD – 17-32-310
GT – 19-31-387

Fumbles (Total-Lost):
MD – 1-0
GT – 2-2

Interceptions thrown:
MD – 2
GT – 2

Penalties (Total-Yds):
MD – 7-57
GT – 5-41

Notable Individual Statistics:
Joe Hamilton – 87 yards rushing, 1 TD; 19-31, 387 yards passing, 3 TD
Dez White – 5 receptions for 215 yards, 2 TD

References:
Game Summary: http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100199aab.html