1957 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech

by Kavin Caruso
(Georgia )

It was a cold afternoon in Atlanta on November 30, 1957. Georgia Bulldogs came to Atlanta hoping to beat Georgia Tech. Last time Georgia beat Georgia Tech was in 1948 in Athens. 1957, Georgia Tech season was not a fulfilling year. They were just an average team unlike the previous 7 years. Georgia Tech was 4-3-2, 2-3-1 in SEC play. Georgia was no better; their record was 2-7, 2-4 in SEC play. At this era, Georgia Tech was in the SEC conference. They played their last SEC regular season game in Atlanta in 1963 against Georgia.

This game being played at Grant Field, many fans thought that Georgia Tech would beat Georgia 9 in row. Both teams started out slowly, didn’t get much going on offense. Both defense played very well. The quarterbacks were Fred Braselton for Georgia Tech and Charlie Britt for Georgia. In late in the 1st quarter, Georgia Tech ran the ball to the Georgia 9 yard line. During the Georgia Tech’s run, Taz Anderson ran for 25 yards down to the Georgia’s 14 yard line. Georgia’s defense stopped the offense and ended their threat. Early in the 2nd quarter, Tech recovered a Georgia fumbled at the Georgia 24 yard line. Georgia Tech couldn’t do anything on their offensive drive.

In the 2nd half, Georgia started to click on the offense on this cold afternoon. It all started on Georgia Tech Floyd Faucette’s fumble on the 50 yard line. Theron Sapp recovered the fumble for Georgia. He would be the player of the game later in the game. After a few plays by the Bulldogs, Charlie Britt hit Jimmy Orr with a 13 yard first down at the Yellow Jackets 26 yard line. Then head coach of Georgia Wally Butts decided to run the ball. Who was the running back that ran the next few plays? Theron Sapp, who would’ve thought it, would be him? NO ONE!! Then at the Tech 1 yard line, Charlie Britt tried for a quarterback sneak. He didn’t get in. On 4th down, Charlie Britt then dumped the ball to Theron Sapp and he scored the only touchdown of the game. Georgia led 7-0. Oh, this was the first touchdown by the Bulldogs against the Yellow Jackets since 1953.

In the 4th quarter, Georgia Tech tried to score to even the game. So the offense kept clicking and making first down. Georgia’s defense was very sneaky that season, so every Georgia fan was very worried that this would be another lost for them. Then on 4th down for Georgia Tech, Fred Braselton threw an incomplete pass to his receiver and the Bulldogs win the game.

It would be Bulldogs first of four straight victories over the Yellow Jackets.

Theron Sapp’s number would be retired just for scoring the only touchdown in the Bulldogs upset victory in 1957. Both schools didn’t play in any bowls that season. Georgia finished with a 3-7, 3-4 record and Georgia Tech finished with a 4-4-2, 3-4-1 record.