Ga. Tech blows big lead, rallies to win 30-27

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer Sep 11, 12:37 am EDT

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ATLANTA (AP)—Scott Blair had never thrown a touchdown pass. Scratch that one off the list.

He’d never kicked a game-winner for Georgia Tech. Took care of that one, too.

Blair threw a touchdown pass off a fake field goal, then booted a 36-yard kick with 57 seconds remaining as the 15th-ranked Yellow Jackets rallied to beat Clemson 30-27 after squandering a 24-point lead Thursday night.

“I was just trying to treat it like a normal kick, not psych myself out,” Blair said. “I wasn’t paying attention to the score at all. I didn’t want to think at the time that it was a game-winner. It was just another kick.”

Hardly. Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) pulled itself back from the brink of a potentially devastating loss that looked like an easy victory early on. The Yellow Jackets raced to a 24-0 lead 4 1/2 minutes into the second quarter.

But Clemson (1-1, 0-1) scored 27 straight points, taking its first lead of the night on Richard Jackson’s 53-yard field goal with 11:33 to go.

“I’m proud of the way we played against a top 15 team on the road,” C.J. Spiller said. “We kept thinking we would come back and get back in the game. You have to believe. You have to have faith.”

Georgia Tech, which did nothing offensively through most of the second and third quarters, finally regrouped for a 69-yard drive that set up Blair’s tying kick, a 34-yarder with 5:40 left. Then, after a holding penalty on Clemson’s Thomas Austin wiped out Kyle Parker’s 38-yard completion to Jacoby Ford, the Yellow Jackets got a chance to win it.

Josh Nesbitt hooked up with Demaryius Thomas for a 39-yard pass, making up for a miserable passing performance in which the Georgia Tech quarterback completed only 3 of 14 for 83 yards with two interceptions. After Thomas’ catch, the Yellow Jackets moved into position for Blair’s winning kick.

Blair also threw a wobbly 34-yard touchdown pass during Georgia Tech’s early barrage. The Tigers didn’t spot Demaryius Thomas lingering near the sideline on an apparent field goal attempt, and Blair connected on a pass that wasn’t pretty but did the job.

“I actually don’t remember catching the ball or throwing the ball too much,” Blair said with a big smile. “I guess it was dreamlike.”

Clemson overcame the nightmarish start. Parker, a redshirt freshman making only his second college start, threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, hooking up with Spiller on a 63-yarder and Ford on a 77-yarder, sandwiched around a 9-yard scoring pass to Dwayne Allen.

Spiller rushed for 87 yards and caught four passes for 69 more. Ford had five catches for 109 yards.

“We’ll learn from this,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “This loss won’t beat us twice.”

Anthony Allen led Georgia Tech with 127 yards rushing on just five carries, including an 82-yard touchdown on his team’s second play from scrimmage.

Nesbitt threw his first pick on the Yellow Jackets’ opening snap, but that was about the only thing they did wrong at the beginning. The next time they got the ball at their own 18, Nesbitt pitched to Allen, who got a block from Thomas and was gone down the sideline.

“All I had to do was run,” Allen said. “Everyone else did the hard stuff.”

Clemson drove to the Georgia Tech 38 and faced fourth-and-5. The Tigers sent on the field goal team, called time to consider their options, then chose one that backfired. The field goal team came back on, but only to have Richard Jackson take a direct snap and try to surprise the Yellow Jackets with a punt.

They weren’t fooled. Jerrard Tarrant came flying up to catch the line drive, broke a couple of tackles and didn’t stop running until he had his second punt return for a touchdown in as many weeks, this one covering 85 yards.

Georgia Tech’s chicanery worked a little better. After Clemson’s second interception was wiped out by a video review, the Yellow Jackets sent back their offense facing fourth-and-13 at the Tigers 34. Then they sent out the field-goal unit, but Clemson didn’t notice Thomas lingering just inbounds. Blair took a direct snap and floated a pass to Thomas, who was at least 20 yards in the clear. Chris Chancellor tried desperately to get back, but Thomas straight-armed him away to complete the 34-yard TD.

Blair tacked on a 24-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Then it was Clemson’s turn. Spiller hauled in the 14th scoring play of at least 50 yards in his career, giving the Tigers some momentum before halftime. Clemson dominated the third quarter, scoring on back-to-back possessions to pull within 24-21. Then, in a stunner for the decked-in-white home crowd, Jackson converted from 21 and 53 yards early in the fourth to give the Tigers a lead.

At that point, Clemson had outgained Georgia Tech 319-91 in total yards since falling behind 24-0. But the Yellow Jackets finally converted on third down with about 10 minutes remaining after missing on their first nine attempts, which seemed to spark the option offense.

“When a team scores 27 unanswered points, that shows we let down a little bit,” Allen said. “That’s something we’ve got to work on. When we get the lead, we’ve got to keep on punching them in the mouth.”

Updated Sep 11, 12:37 am EDT
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Head to Head - Week 2

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Clemson 386 261 125 13 36.8% 6/50 2 28:31
Georgia Tech 418 117 301 15 21.4% 6/50 2 31:29
NCAAF

101 Comments

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  1. Fredrick
    101. Posted by Fredrick Sun Sep 13 12:18pm EDT

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    very good ga.tech
  2. charles j
    100. Posted by charles j Sat Sep 12 10:32am EDT

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    Mr. Common Sense......If there was just one thing I would implore you to learn - and practice diligently - it would be the wisdom of these words of Abraham Lincoln:

    "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

    And study up next time you want to challenge me intellectually with what you "think" you know. "Was not Strom Thurmaon a Democrat most of his carreer." [Quote from #84 by Mr. Common Sense]

    And please, for God's sake, take a remedial spelling class before you start reproducing. We don't need more illiterates in this country.
  3. Mr Common Sense
    99. Posted by Mr Common Sense Sat Sep 12 10:08am EDT

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    Hey racist Charles J Posting 95: Hey moron - I live in Southern California. But If I had to choose between living in South Carolina, or that rat infested, crime-ridden, durg peddling, random murdering ghetto you are from, I GLADLY CHOOSE SOUTH CAROLINA. AT LHEST THE PEOPLE THERE Are NOT AFRAID TO BE POLITICALLY UNCORRECT. THEY STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT, NOT WHAT A BUNCH OF DEMOCRAT LIBERAL KOOK BALLS (KERRY, PELOSI, BARNEY FRANK, CLINTONS..ETC) TELL US WHAT IS RIGHT. The only things you ghetto rats stand up for are more welfare rights, more second chances for you criminals, more illigetimate kids, free drugs and midnight basketball.
  4. <i>nikonf1002003</i>
    98. Posted by nikonf1002003 Sat Sep 12 6:26am EDT

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    Any good coach will tell you that bad calls are part of the game -- they're going to happen. Over the years Tech has had more than their share. If you're going to win consistently you need to be good enough to beat the refs - and that goes for any team in any sport.
  5. <i>mspoon3</i>
    97. Posted by mspoon3 Sat Sep 12 2:27am EDT

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    Hey, why are some many Tiger fans commenting on the Game@#$%? I thought they played GT.

    If the Game@#$% were in the ACC then they would be 1-0 in the conference right now not 0-1 like the Tigers…….Please comment on your performance against GT……Remember the old saying “What have you done for me lately?”
  6. charles j
    96. Posted by charles j Fri Sep 11 6:03pm EDT

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    Robbie #83..."the South is not as bad a fair portion of this nation"

    Actually Robbie, there was a nationwide poll that rated the most racist cities in the U.S. Included in the Top [or bottom] 15: Charleston and Columbia, SC; Charlotte, N.C. [which actually is partially in S.C.]; 2 cities in Texas; 2 cities in Florida; 2 cities in Oklahoma; and 1 city in Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas and Kentucky. [Do you see a pattern?]
  7. charles j
    95. Posted by charles j Fri Sep 11 5:48pm EDT

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    Hey #84, Mr. Common Sense....."Was not Strom Thurmaon a Democrat most of his carreer. How about Elmer Fudd Hodges, and that great redneck, Fritz Hollings."

    I looked it up, Thurmond was first voted into office in 1947 - as a Democrat. He switched [appropriately] to the republiklan party in 1964, and served until 2003. I'm going to do my best with the math here, but if you're from South Carolina, maybe you can help me out.
    Way I figure, he was a Democrat for 17 years and change, and a republiklan for 39 years and change. So, the short answer to your question about Thurmond is no.

    Hollings and Hodges were Democrats, you are correct. But while Hollings served 40 years, Hodges political career was doomed when, as governor, he fought to make Martin Luther King Day an official state holiday in South Carolina, and removed the confederate flag from the state Capitol Building's dome. Those were two acts of political suicide in a state full of racists as South Carolina is.
  8. <i>hankskutt</i>
    94. Posted by hankskutt Fri Sep 11 5:41pm EDT

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    i hope thejackets suck thisyear
  9. heel yea
    93. Posted by heel yea Fri Sep 11 5:35pm EDT

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    GT miami is going to be who has the ball last game. both teams D sux. UNC/VT winner wins ACC.
  10. michael h
    92. Posted by michael h Fri Sep 11 5:18pm EDT

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    Michael e - 69 - the ref cost clemson the game. the rest of what you pointed out is bs. you don't call a holding penalty late in a game unless it is so bad that it has an effect on the play. crooked refs! as i have stated, i didn't have a horse in the race but i hate to see some weak kneeded ref blow if for the kids that earned it. i would turn the sob into the league office.
  11. michael h
    91. Posted by michael h Fri Sep 11 5:10pm EDT

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    Brian - 85 - The call against GT was a make up call. It meant nothing to their drive. The call against Clemson was right at the right time to end their drive. As I stated, I didn't care who won but right is right and wrong is wrong. A bad call was the reason that Clemson lost the game. A homer ref can make a game look even. Trust me, right call at the right time in a close game can win it for one team and lose it for the other team. Heck you can call holding on every play. I saw GT holding on several plays including their long pass.
  12. Robbie
    90. Posted by Robbie Fri Sep 11 4:37pm EDT

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    So that everyone understands, Post #86 is incorrect and off the mark. Clemson has rivalry games with South Carolina, NC State, and Georgia Tech. Along with newer rivalries with Florida state and Wake Forest. I am a Clemson fan and South Carolina is not our biggest rival, that would be Georigia Tech, you see to be a rivalry, you have to win more than once every four years and that is South carolina win rate the last 20 years or so. So when a you play a team 20 times and win 16 that is not really a rivalry. The South carolina fan base here makes it huge more so than Clemson fans because the truth is besides Clemson, who are South Carolina's rivals? Florida, they have won like 18 of 19, Georgia, they have won like 13 of 19, Tenn., they have won like 13 of 19. I guess maybe Arkansas but that is only because both teams came to the SEC at the same time, hell they even hold like a 12-7 edge over Carolina. Let's face it the SEC just took Carolina because no one else would have them, so they are like the odd man out. Carolina spent like 20 years with no place and just tried to jump in and they made a bad choice with the SEC. Carolina has never done better than 3rd in theri division and 5-3 in conference. I have said it before and will say it again in order for carolina to be a league power they should leave the SEC and join Conf. USA, that way they could win a league title every few years and compete with teams more on their own level in Basketball and football and still be a powerhouse in baseball if they can get past RICE. Carolina overachieves and it digs at them so much that by the end of a 3-5, 4-4 SEC season beating Clemson is their salvation. The point is this rivalry and I call it that loosely is a must win for Carolina and a bowl Prep for Clemson in most seasons. Clemson expects to win and move forward, while carolina hope to win in order to be bowl eligible. That's just the way it is so get you fact right before pint out the rivalry talk # 86.
  13. <i>jeffblack009</i>
    89. Posted by jeffblack009 Fri Sep 11 4:28pm EDT

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    Billy Bad Ass or should I say Billy Dumb ASS! It was obvious that those two plays costs them the game. He did a great job of coaching in the second half but please explain to me how those two plays eximplify good coaching. So in the future rather then criticizing a comment show the error of the argument. In the case of my argument you can't show error cause their ain't none.
  14. anthony
    88. Posted by anthony Fri Sep 11 4:13pm EDT

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    TYPICAL CLEMSON....Flash and Glitz, either its Davis and Spiller or Ford and Spiller. They can get the big play but not the big yard. They have explosive linebackers and ends who can deliver huge hits and chase the Qb all over the field, they will get you for a loss of 20 on first or second down but give it all back on 3rd and long. Typical Clemson....the worst special teams coverage in the nation year after year, beaten by the very gimicks they try to use. They will either have a huge lead and not be able to seal the deal or like the game vs. GA Tech mount a valiant comeback only to come up short in the end. Was anyone suprised at the holding call against Clemson on their final drive? Granted it probably was a bogus call but still....typical Clemson. Dabo like Bowden says they will learn from their mistakes...but will they? Do they ever? No.
    Clemson will win a Bowden Bowl but then lose to a team it should beat....they are all about the glitz, the publicity, the high flying, but in the end....they aren't winners.
  15. BillyBadAss
    87. Posted by BillyBadAss Fri Sep 11 3:52pm EDT

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    Mr. Common Sense and Charles J. you two have to be some of the most ignorant people. Have either of you ever lived in South Carolina? I realize one of you have family in Charleston WOW. Yes I admit that there is racism in South Carolina, but are you honestly going to tell me that that's the only state? There's racism all over the world!! The people that are racist in South Carolina are ignorant just like the both of you, who stereotype a state like that. And the thing about South Carolina being what's wrong with this country? Alright you are whats wrong with this country, people who stereotype and say comments like you have. I personally live in South Carolina, I have a job (Army, before you say something about working at McDonalds or drug dealer or something stupid like that), I have insurance, I'm not married to my sister or cousin, all my teeth and I'm not on parole, so looks like a miracle happened!! Just so you know the KKK started in Tennessee. I don't know where either of you are from and I honestly couldn't care less, but I know for a fact that I can find something wrong with both of your states.
  16. <i>rhawkins195353</i>
    86. Posted by rhawkins195353 Fri Sep 11 3:42pm EDT

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    I'm not sure what the SC-Clemson game has to do with the Tech game but the truth is that since the Game@#$% joined the SEC the game means less to SC than it does to Clemson. After losing to an average Tech team the fans are talking about an SC game that's months away?

    Because of games with Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and no weak conference games the focus of SC has become THE conference. Clemson has few, if any, major teams scheduled so the SC game is their focus from day one. Oh, and the reason Clemson made their comeback was that Tech's undersized defense grew tired in the second half, not some great attitude.

    Good luck to both teams in their ACC contests!
  17. Brian W
    85. Posted by Brian W Fri Sep 11 3:31pm EDT

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    michael h - If I remember correctly, after the "holding" penalty against Clemson that brought that long pass play back, GA Tech was hit with a 'holding" penalty on their last drive which set them back as well. From looking at the replays - the Clemson lineman just fell down and the GA Tech player fell on top of him but didn't see any holding! Everyone can blame the Refs if they want, but usually penalties even themselves out between the teams! If you check the stats you will see that each team had 6 penalties for 50 yeards.
  18. Mr Common Sense
    84. Posted by Mr Common Sense Fri Sep 11 3:26pm EDT

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    Hey Charles J, Posting 72: Was not Strom Thurmaon a Democrat most of his carreer. How about Elmer Fudd Hodges, and that great redneck, Fritz Hollings.
  19. Robbie
    83. Posted by Robbie Fri Sep 11 3:26pm EDT

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    Post #78, how witty of a comment. I am sure South Carolina and Alabama are just a joke of places to live for you. However iIhave been all over this country and SC and Alabama have nothing to be ashamed of as long as New York, the whole state, Pennsylvania, most of the rest of the North East and a fair portion of the upper MidWest are parts of this nation. Ignorance comes from all over and the South is not as bad a fair portion of this nation. Next timew you bother to comment on a blog make an insightful comment and not one that shows your IQ. There are stupid, ignorant people everywhere and i am pleased for your post as it pointed you out as one of them.
  20. BillyBadAss
    82. Posted by BillyBadAss Fri Sep 11 3:20pm EDT

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    JeffBlack009 if you know so much about football then why aren't you coaching Division 1 football. You can criticize the coaching calls all you want but in reality you're not a coach and if you are, not at that level. Thats just like criticizing the players when you have never played at the college level. Another thing you're going to say that there was poor coaching well they did score 27 STRAIGHT points...what kind of coaching is that??
  21. Mark
    81. Posted by Mark Fri Sep 11 3:07pm EDT

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    I'm a tech fan and as you might expect I had already put that one in the win column at halftime.The second half was rather uncomfortable to watch but you have gotta give clemson credit that was one heck of a comeback.They showed alot of heart .I SURE HOPE THE JACKETS LEARN FROM THIS.
  22. <i>jeffblack009</i>
    80. Posted by jeffblack009 Fri Sep 11 3:05pm EDT

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    Clemson lost the game on 2 plays. One the "fake field goal punt" . There was absolutely nothing to gain by attempting this play. Punt the ball with punt coverage and he is down inside the 10. Two when Techs kicker has never kicked a field goal of more then 40 yards and lines up for one over 50 it is a fake. Huge coaching errors. Quit trying to be cute and play sound football and Clemson wins by 23 touchdowns. It wasn't the phantom holding call, it was poor coaching. Hopefully Dabo will learn from this and won't do this again.
  23. phillip l
    79. Posted by phillip l Fri Sep 11 2:49pm EDT

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    This game kinda baffeled me.. Tech played half a game but they managed to score 30 pts in that half, sorta like last year against Georgia. When they are good they are very very good...just not all the time. They will score a lot of points with their offense but most all wishbone teams turn the ball over a lot. A little bit of a passing offense to go along with those cracker jack running backs and they are a contender.
  24. charles j
    78. Posted by charles j Fri Sep 11 2:28pm EDT

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    "Guys get off Dabo, he screwed up admitted it"

    You're right, it wasn't bad enough that he was born and raised in Alabama, but then he chose to move to South Carolina.
  25. StevieD
    77. Posted by StevieD Fri Sep 11 2:28pm EDT

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    I was at the game and that holding call was the worst call I've seen in a long time, and it did cost Clemson the game. Not only was it not holding, it didn't have any effect on the flow of the play, and the flag was thrown several seconds after the play was over. There was no flag on the ground when Jacoby caught the ball. They also threw a very, very marginal flag at the line of scrimmage on a punt return earlier. You can technically call holding on every play, but you DON'T call holding with less than 3 minutes to play in a tie game unless it was blatant and had impact on the play. Especially when you had a chance to think about it and SEE that it was a big play and then you STILL threw the flag down. That's what I call home cookin'!!!!!

    Clemson had a terrible start, and that's on Swinney and he was the first to admit it. But they shut down Tech after that, and they should have had the ball on the 1st and 10 on the Tech 20 with 2:30 left on the clock. PERIOD. END OF STORY.

    Hats off to Tech for completing their third pass of the night when they needed it. But if Clemson plays tech again in Tampa, they will CRUSH them.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Clemson
K. Parker K. Parker, QB
15-31, 261 yds
3 TDs, 2 INTs
 Georgia Tech
A. Allen A. Allen, RB
5 Rush, 127 yds
1 TD

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