On Sept. 4, the Tech football team started off its 2010 season with a win over South Carolina St. The Jackets had a couple of turnovers and did not have a play of over 35 yards, but they still managed to defeat the Bulldogs, 41-10.
The Bulldogs won the coin toss to start the game and elected to kickoff. They tried an onside kick, but Tech recovered the ball, giving the Jackets’ offense great field position to start their drive. Tech found it hard to move the ball on their first few plays and was faced with a fourth and short later in the drive. Head Coach Paul Johnson elected to try for the first down and senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt responded with a 35-yard touchdown run.
South Carolina State answered with a field goal, but when Nesbitt got the ball again, he and the offense scored a touchdown to give Tech a 13-3 lead.
Redshirt junior A-back Roddy Jones added another touchdown before halftime. Tech could have scored more points in the half had it not been for a fumble and an interception that hit junior wide receiver Tyler Melton right in his hands before bouncing into a defender’s arms.
“When I threw the ball I knew that would be my first completion today, but it was the wrong completion,” Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt ran for his third touchdown early in the second half, and Jones added his second touchdown a little later. Jones flew over the top of a defender in order to reach the end zone.
“On my second touchdown, anytime you go up in the air you get nervous, but I wanted to get the ball across the goal line and that was just the quickest way to do it,” Jones said.
South Carolina State scored its only touchdown later in the quarter and sophomore quarterback Tevin Washington led the Tech backups to a score.