Tech's Marcus Marshall shines in starting role

ATLANTA -- Marcus Marshall found out he would be making his first career start during the pregame warmups. After being the backup for Patrick Skov all season, Marshall got his chance and took advantage of it.

The true freshman went for 58 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball. He had another 58-yard run at the end of the third period to set up a touchdown.

"I was excited," Marshall said. "It wasn't something we'd talked about all week."

Marshall finished with 10 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the Raleigh, N.C., native, who now leads the team with 439 yards.

Skov had four carries for 4 yards and one touchdown.

"I think Marcus is a little more athletic," coach Paul Johnson said. "Patrick Skov is a really hard-nosed, tough kid. He's really tough and is going to get you some hard runs. Marcus is probably going to get you more big runs. He needs to learn to hold onto the ball."

Marshall ran for 184 yards in the season opener against Alcorn State, but was unheard from for three weeks. He had one carry against Notre Dame, five against Duke and did not play against North Carolina. He returned last week to gain 45 yards against Clemson.

"I think I've gotten better about blocking but I still need to get better and ball security. I had a few slip-ups today," Marshall said.

The big play returns

Georgia Tech rediscovered the big play on Saturday.

Over the previous four games, the Yellow Jackets had only seven runs or passes of 25 yards or longer. They had six of them against Pitt, two on rushes by Marcus Marshall, two on rushes by Justin Thomas and two on passes from Justin Thomas, one to Michael Summers and one to Ricky Jeune.

"I think everybody was doing their assignments and doing them well," Marshall said.

Marshall had a pair of 58-yard runs, one of them for a touchdown. He had three big plays in the season opener.

Thomas had runs of 51 and 45 yards, his first big plays since the Tulane game. He had a 34-yard pass to Micheal Summers and a 29-yard completion to Ricky Jeune. Thomas has 12 big-play passes this season.

"We just executed a little better," Johnson said.

Injury update

Georgia Tech didn't lose anyone with a long-term injury on Saturday, although a number of players were shaken up and taken to the trainer's table.

Linebacker P.J. Davis injured his right ankle on Pitts' opening drive and had to be helped off the field. After having the ankle examine and re-taped, he was able to go back in the game on the next possession. David wound up leading the team with nine tackles.

Wide receiver Brad Stewart limped off the field with an injured left ankle. He had ice on the leg and did not return. Of all the players who were injured, Stewart's was the most substantial.

Defensive end KeShun Freeman left the field for a possession but returned the next. He had his left knee iced after the game. Freeman had four tackles.

A-back Broderick Snoddy, offensive lineman Errin Joe and defensive back Demond Smith were unable to play.

Quick hits

The Yellow Jackets have lost five consecutive games for the first time since the 1994 team that went 1-10. Georgia Tech extended the team's streak to 15 consecutive games with a touchdown pass when Thomas connected with Jeune in the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets have the third-longest streak in the ACC. Thomas rushed for 95 yards, the most since he went for 121 in his MVP performance against Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Tech's Marcus Marshall shines in starting role ."