The saving play: Don Toner reaches for the ball on his great interception at the Tech 14 to halt Alabama's final drive.
FOOTBALL ROUNDUP, continued team closed out the doubters with their best game of the season. The team that Bobby Dodd called, "the best I have ever coached outside the two-platoon era," showed their power early with an 8 3-yard drive for a score on their first offensive thrust of the afternoon. All but one of the 13 plays in the drive were overland, supposedly at the strength of the Bulldog defense. Fullback Mike McNames picked up where he left off against Alabama by rushing the final six yards on three straight carries. Lothridge, having his greatest day yet, added the point to make it 7-0. The Bulldogs, who got no further than their own 31 during the first half, had a punt blocked by Tech's Frank Sexton on the next series and the Jackets were back on the threshold again at the 17. On the second play following the blocked punt, Lothridge founoVend John Wright in the clear and the ball was on the Georgia one. On the next play, Lothridge went over and then added the point to run it to 14-0. During the second quarter, Tech threatened constantly but was stopped short of scoring again by a series of penalties and a suddenly stubborn Georgia defense. But with the second-half kickoff, Tech was back knocking again. Halfback Joe Auer, who jumped the squad for personal reasons on the Monday prior to the game and re18
turned on Thursday, ran back the kick 55 yards to the Georgia 39. Three plays later, Lothridge hit Doug Cooper at the Georgia five, and Mr. Auer encored with a four-yard scamper to the one. Lothridge went in on the next play and again added the point. It was now 21-0 and Georgia began to show offensive life for the first time. The Bulldogs got to the Tech 14 before the Jackets stopped them on a great fourth-down save by Zollie Sircy. On the next play, Gerry Bussell added his third long run of the season as he went 86 yards for a score on a sweep. Lothridge's point made it 28-0. The Bulldogs still full of vinegar, came right back and this time went all the way on a 72-yard drive. Rakestraw, whose heralded duel with Lothridge never materialized because of the rush of the Tech line, hit halfback Guthrie from the 10 for the score. Georgia's attempt at two was stopped and it was 28-6 and the Jackets weren't through yet. Bussell intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter that put Tech at the Georgia 14. But a holding penalty stalled the Jackets and Lothridge had to be satisfied with the longest field goal of his career (42 yards) to make it 31-6. Auer then got back in the act by intercepting a Rakestraw throw and returning it 39 yards to the Georgia 28. It took five plays for Lothridge to score again with the key being a great catch at the one by end Steve Copeland. Lothridge missed the point try and the final was 37-6. Next stop — the Bluebonnet against Missouri. TECH ALUMNUS