Searcy finds end zone against Tulane

ATLANTA -- Qua Searcy was one of the few Georgia Tech players who didn't get into the end zone last week. On Saturday the sophomore from Lamar County made up for it.

Searcy ran six times for 35 yards and a 13-yard touchdown.

"I saw that play as 'we are getting a touchdown,'" Searcy said. "I was not thinking about getting caught short. The linemen did a good job of blocking up front."

Searcy also caught a pass for a 17-yard touchdown.

"All those A-backs made some play," coach Paul Johnson said. "TaQuon Marshall (Harris County) had a nice catch. Clinton Lynch had a nice run. Qua Searcy made a play."

Clinton Lynch, a redshirt freshman from Norcross, picked up his first touchdown of the season early in the third period.

Lynch took a pitch down the right side and avoided would-be tacklers down the sideline. He cut to the inside around the 10 and eluded Tulane's Dontrell Hilliard at the 5 to complete the 49-yard touchdown run.

It was his only carry of the game. He had one carry for 17 yards in the game against Alcorn State.

Golden's punt return

Jamal Golden set up the team's first touchdown with a 44-yard punt return. It was his longest runback since his career-long 56-yarder against Southern Cal in the 2012 Sun Bowl.

Golden has 395 career punt return yards and needs 74 to break into the school's top 10 career list. Tyler Evans, who played between 2006-07, is 10th with 469 yards.

Milton on the block

Cornerback Chris Milton recorded the fourth blocked punt of his career. Tulane punter Peter Picerelli received a high snap from the center and bobbled the ball, which gave Milton time to power through for the block.

"I just tried to go out there and make a play for the team," Milton said. "Coach Johnson gave me the call to go. And it was kind of a bad snap, so it was a little slower, and that let me get to it a little quicker."

The senior from Folkston blocked three punts his sophomore season. Last year he blocked a field goal and an extra point.

"It helps anytime you get some short fields and certainly the offense had some short fields tonight," Johnson said.

Quick hits

Lawrence Austin, a sophomore from Lamar County, got the starting nod at nickel. He and Lynn Griffin had both been listed at No. 1. In the other fluid situation, Patrick Gamble started at nose tackle and Rod Rook-Chungong started at defensive end. Tulane suspended senior Darion Monroe, the starting strong safety, and redshirt freshman Eric Bowie, a second string outside linebacker, for Saturday's game due to a undisclosed violation of team policy. Tristian Cooper moved up to start at strong safety, with Malik Eugene the backup.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 8:34 PM with the headline "Searcy finds end zone against Tulane ."