ATLANTA — While Synjyn Days again kept Georgia Tech’s offense running, Virginia’s ground game disappeared.
Days ran for a career-high 147 yards, Justin Thomas threw three touchdown passes and Georgia Tech beat Virginia 35-10 on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.
Days topped 100 yards rushing for his second straight fill-in start for running back Zach Laskey, who has a shoulder injury. Days set a career high with 110 yards rushing in last week’s 56-28 win at Pittsburgh and topped that total on 24 carries against the Cavaliers.
He became the first player to run for 100 yards against Virginia, which ranks ninth in the nation in rushing defense.
Days scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter and caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Thomas in the fourth quarter.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said Days “did some good things. He made some plays. … He’s a big, strong guy.”
Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2) couldn’t gain ground on ACC Coastal Division leader Duke, which beat Pittsburgh 51-48 in double-overtime on Saturday. Duke beat Georgia Tech earlier this season.
Virginia (4-5, 2-3), held to a season-low 22 yards rushing, has lost three straight.
Coach Mike London said the Cavaliers’ game plan changed “a little bit” after falling behind 21-7 in the first half.
“They got up on us early and they made big plays on us,” London said. “You can’t come from behind and surpass a team that has such a prolific ground attack and at the same time you’re dropping passes or having penalties and being non-productive with the ball.”
Khalek Shepherd led Virginia with only 15 yards rushing. Kevin Parks, who ranked third in the ACC with his average of 105.2 yards rushing per game, was held to 13 yards on five carries. The Cavaliers’ previous season low for yards rushing was 114 against Louisville on Sept. 13.
Johnson said he was “proud” and “encouraged” by his defense’s game.
“I don’t think anybody has beaten (Virginia) like that all year,” Johnson said.
Virginia quarterback Greyson Lambert said Georgia Tech linebackers “did a great job of plugging up the gaps. They played great run defense.”
Thomas threw touchdown passes of 18 yards to DeAndre Smelter and 11 yards to Darren Waller as Georgia Tech led 21-10 at halftime.
Lambert completed 19 of 32 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Lambert was hurt by a few dropped passes, including an attempt through the hands of Keeon Johnson in the end zone, forcing the Cavaliers to settle for a field goal late in the first half.
Lambert threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Zachary Swanson late in the first quarter.
Matt Johns replaced Lambert in the fourth quarter and completed 4 of 9 passes for 32 yards.
Led by Days, Georgia Tech ran for 268 yards on 63 carries in the spread option offense. Georgia Tech held the ball for almost 39 minutes.
The official temperature at kickoff was 49 degrees with the wind at 24 miles per hour. The temperatures dropped into the low 40s in the second half.
The wind was a factor throughout the game, including the way it affected punts and kickoffs. A 27-yard punt by Virginia’s Alec Vozenilek allowed Georgia Tech to start its first possession at the Cavaliers’ 42. Deon Hill’s 14-yard run capped the short touchdown drive, giving the Yellow Jackets the lead they never gave up.
Virginia answered by driving to the Georgia Tech 39 before Lambert’s pass was tipped by defensive end KeShun Freeman. Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis caught the deflection for an interception.
Lambert’s fourth-down pass from the Georgia Tech 10 was intercepted by Jamal Golden in the end zone to end Virginia’s next possession.
Georgia Tech defensive end Patrick Gamble, who made his first start, was carted off the field with an apparent left knee injury with 6:10 remaining. Georgia Tech had no immediate update on the injury.
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