Lance Austin, Georgia Tech shock Florida State
ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech made sure this was going to be a memorable night.
The Yellow Jackets' defense played its best game of the year, and the special teams came up with one of the most unforgettable finishes in the program's long history.
"What a game, huh?" Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson asked.
When Florida State place-kicker Roberto Aguayo lined up to kick a game-winning 56-yard field goal with six seconds left, the defensive linemen on the special teams unit had other ideas. They surged ahead to block the effort of Aguayo, who already had kicked three field goals. Patrick Gamble got a hand on the ball, and it rolled harmlessly to sophomore and former Lamar County star Lance Austin.
But as the Florida State players milled around, thinking the play was over, Austin looked back across the field and realized the ball was alive. He saw blockers, among them Jamal Golden, and began to speed toward the Georgia Tech sideline. He turned his way toward the North stands and didn't stop until he was in the end zone.
"It still hasn't hit me," said Austin, who dedicated the win to his late grandmother.
By the time the horn had sounded, Georgia Tech had put away an unbelievable 22-16 win and the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium was filled with thousands of white-clad fans who continued their celebration deep into the night.
"I don't know what happened on that last play," Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We tried to put ourselves in a position for a field goal that was in Roberto's range. I don't know if they got penetration, or if it was a low kick. We've got to cover it. They picked up, and we couldn't get him on the ground."
The five-game losing streak was history, as was Florida State's 28-game ACC winning streak.
Georgia Tech tied the game at 16 when Harrison Butker kicked his third field goal, a 35-yarder, with 54 seconds remaining.
The Yellow Jackets got an inspired effort all night from defensive tackles Adam Gotsis and Gamble, defensive end KeShun Freeman and strong safety Jamal Golden. The Georgia Tech defense that entered the game allowing an average of 27.4 points and 371 yards per game, gave up just 16 points -- none in the second half -- and 280 yards against one of the most dangerous offenses in the ACC.
"We played a good game all day," Gamble said. "It's great to get a 'W' for Georgia Tech."
Golden led the team with nine tackles and intercepted a pass that preserved Georgia Tech's chances. Freeman had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. Gotsis had four tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. Gamble had a sack and a tackle for loss.
"We played with so much energy and so much intensity," Freeman said.
Gamble said, "I don't think I've ever felt that much energy coming out of our locker room."
Georgia Tech limited Florida State to 2-of-10 third-down conversions and allowed the Seminoles to keep the ball for only 10:33 in the second half. The same Yellow Jackets defense that didn't have a single play for negative yardage last week against Pittsburgh, had three sacks and four tackles for loss.
"We just played better against the run," Johnson said. ""We made a couple tweaks this week in the way we were playing, and it worked out. Guys played hard."
The Georgia Tech defense was tested early. It forced Florida State to go three-and-out upon receiving the opening kickoff and limited the Seminoles to a 20-yard Robeto Aguayo field goal after the Yellow Jackets' offense turned the ball over deep in its own zone.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas attempted to throw a screen pass on third down on Georgia Tech's first possession, but Josh Sweat jumped up to tip the ball and intercepted it at the 19. Florida State running back Dalvin Cook gained 17 on the first play only to have the offense fail on two runs and an incomplete pass.
Georgia Tech had better luck on its next possession. The Yellow Jackets ran the option effectively but had to settle for a 53-yard field goal from Butker, which matched his career best set a year ago against Georgia.
Thomas was intercepted again in the second quarter by Lamarcus Brutus, who returned the ball to the Georgia Tech 2. Cook ran it in from there on the next play, his 11th rushing touchdown this season, to give Florida State a 10-3 lead.
The Seminoles added a 27-yard Aguayo field goal following a 10-play drive that stalled at the Georgia Tech 10, which extended the lead to 13-3.
Georgia Tech finally broke through to score thanks to two big plays engineered by Thomas. On second down from his own 3, Thomas escaped pressure in the end zone and threw a 33-yard completion to Ricky Jeune. Two plays later, Thomas kept the ball on an option to the right and scored on a 60-yard run to cut the Seminoles' lead to 13-10 with 2:22 left.
Florida State was able to hurry down the field and set up a 38-yard field goal from Aguayo at the end of the half, which put the Seminoles ahead 16-10. He also kicked three field goals against Miami this season.
Butker kicked another field goal, a 40-yarder, on Georgia Tech's first possession of the second half to draw the Yellow Jackets to within 16-13 at the 8:27 mark of the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets were in position to at least tie the game when they faced third-and-11 at the Seminoles' 28 to open the fourth quarter. Thomas dropped back under pressure, but rather than throw the ball away, he took an 11-yard sack that knocked Georgia Tech out of field goal range.
Florida State answered by driving to the Georgia Tech 5 before being turned away. On third-and-goal from the 10, Golson threw into the end zone, only to have the ball bounce off receiver Trevor Rudolph and into the arms of Golden for his eighth career interception. It was Golson's first pick of the season.
"There were a lot of key plays in that game," Johnson said. "Stopping them on third down at our goal line a couple times, making them kick field goals, scoring right before the half."
This story was originally published October 24, 2015 at 10:54 PM with the headline "Lance Austin, Georgia Tech shock Florida State."