Georgia Tech Beats Clemson
Field Goal Gives No. 15 Yellow Jackets Win in ACC Football Matchup
Nesbitt hit Demarvius Thomas for a 39-yard gain to set up Scott Blair’s 36-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining, and No. 15 Georgia Tech edged Clemson 30-27 in an Atlantic Coast Conference football opener on Thursday night at Atlanta.
As an option quarterback Nesbitt isn’t known for putting up huge passing numbers, but on Thursday night, he was having less success throwing than his team’s kicker. Before the big toss to Thomas, Nesbitt was 2-for-13 passing for 44 yards and two interceptions.
And the Yellow Jackets’ only TD pass was thrown by Blair, who found Thomas for a 34-yard score on a fake field goal attempt to cap Tech’s 21-point first quarter.
But on a third-and-11 play from the Tech 34-yard line, Nesbitt delivered his clutch throw to Thomas, who was downed on the Clemson 27. Three running plays gained nine yards, and Blair’s field goal broke a 27-27 tie.
Clemson (1-1) started the ensuing drive from its own 30 with 51 seconds left, but four Kyle Parker incompletions sealed the Tigers’ fate. As a result, Georgia Tech will take a 2-0 record into its game at No. 20 Miami on Sept. 17.
Georgia Tech Recovers After Blowing Big Lead
It was a rough ending for Tigers, who scored 27 unanswered points to wipe out a 24-0 deficit.
Clemson took a 30-27 lead on Richard Jackson 53-yard field goal with 11 minutes, 33 seconds to play. But Georgia Tech drove 69 yards and forced a 27-27 tie on Blair’s 34-yard kick with 5:40 remaining.
The Tigers looked to be in good shape on the next possession, when Parker hit Jacoby Ford for an apparent 38-yard gain to the Tech 18. But a holding penalty wiped out the play, and Clemson was forced to punt, setting up the Yellow Jackets’ decisive drive.
Tech’s Anthony Allen rushed for 127 yards on just five carries. His 82-yard run gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead.
Nesbitt ran 18 times for 91 yards, and Thomas finished with three catches for 93 yards, as Georgia Tech finished with 418 yards of total offense. Clemson had 386.
Defensive Players Make Big Plays for Tech
The Yellow Jackets got a huge game from defensive end Derrick Morgan, who had 10 tackles, including three sacks. He now has five sacks on the season.
Cooper Taylor and Brad Jefferson recorded eight tackles apiece, and Taylor set up a touchdown with a first-quarter interception. Jerrard Tarrant added seven tackles and two pass breakups, along with his second punt return touchdown of the season.
That came when Clemson made an ill-fated attempt at trickery. Facing a fourth-and-five at the Tech 38, the Tigers lined up for an apparent field goal attempt. But the snap went directly to placekicker Jackson, who tried a pooch punt. Sophomore cornerback Tarrant was ready for the kick, and he took it 85 yards for a touchdown, lifting the Yellow Jackets to a 14-0 lead.
Georgia Tech fared better when it tried a trick play, as Blair’s pass to Thomas produced a 21-0 advantage. Blair then kicked a 24-yard field goal to make it 24-0 with 4:24 left in the second.
Freshman QB Sparks Clemson Comeback
Parker rallied the Tigers offense, connecting with C.J. Spiller with a 63-yard TD pass in the second, throwing to Duane Allen for a 9-yard score in the third, and then teaming with Ford on a 77-yard touchdown pass play with 4:57 remaining in the third.
Clemson’s defense continued to hold firm, and the Tigers drove 77 yards to set up a game-tying 21-yard field goal by Jackson early in the fourth. DeAndre McDaniel's second intercepted of Nesbitt set up Jackson's tie-breaking 53-yard kick.
Ford caught five passes for 109 yard, and Spiller ran 20 times for 87 yards. Parker was 15-for-31 passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt freshman was intercepted twice.
McDaniel had eight tackles for Clemson, and linebacker Kavell Conner and defensive Ricky Sapp recorded nine tackles apiece.
Clemson will be back at home for its next game, facing Boston College on Sept. 19 in a Noon EST contest.
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