Late field goal lifts Georgia Tech over Clemson

By Paul Strelow - The (Columbia) State

ATLANTA -- C.J. Spiller slammed the turf, Clemson's last-ditch effort at salvaging a remarkable comeback having fallen short on a fourth-down incompletion.

For the second straight year, run-heavy Georgia Tech trumped Clemson through the unlikeliest of avenues — the air.

Standout receiver Demaryius Thomas struck again, snagging a long third-down catch to set up Scott Blair's game-winning 36-yard field goal with 57 seconds to go as the 15th-ranked Yellow Jackets beat the Tigers 30-27 on Thursday.

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Clemson (1-1, 0-1 ACC) had erased a 24-point deficit to briefly take a 27-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.

But with 1:38 remaining, Thomas got behind corner Chris Chancellor on third-and-11 from Tech's 34 and hauled in a 39-yard catch down to the 27.

Last season, Thomas caught a 23-yarder on third-and-14 in Georgia Tech's game-winning, fourth-quarter drive, capping it with a 24-yard touchdown with 5:22 remaining — again against Chancellor.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Parker spearheaded the rally with 261 passing yards and three touchdowns, but the catch that didn't count figures to haunt the Tigers the most.

Clemson appeared to be in position to post the go-ahead score in the final three minutes when Parker hit Jacoby Ford down the right sideline for a 38-yard completion to the Yellow Jackets' 18 on third-and-11.

But left guard Thomas Austin was called for holding.

Richard Jackson then nailed a 53-yard field goal with 11:33 remaining to push Clemson ahead 27-24.

The kick barely beat the expiring play clock and matched the Tigers' longest field goal since Nelson Welch banged a 53-yarder against Maryland in 1992.

Clemson forced Georgia Tech into a third-and-9 from its 19 the ensuing possession, but a busted coverage left back Anthony Allen over the middle for a 24-yard catch — the Yellow Jackets' first third-down conversion in 10 tries.

It gave new life to Georgia Tech's option, and the Yellow Jackets moved into the red zone before having to settle for a 34-yard field goal to tie the contest with 5:40 left.

For a while, it appeared as if Clemson's only solace might be found by the fact C.J. Spiller's 63-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter snapped its stretch of nine touchdown-less periods at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2003.

Georgia Tech appeared en route to veering from this series' recent history of nail-biters, putting the Tigers in their largest hole (21) by first quarter's end in a decade, increasing to a 24-0 advantage a few minutes later.

What had long been viewed as Clemson's statement game seemed to have escalated into an embarrassment reminiscent of last season's opening Alabama debacle.

The Yellow Jackets had struck for three big plays, all a condemnation of either Clemson's execution or focus.

Allen dashed 82 yards on an option right on Georgia Tech's second offensive play from scrimmage, tying the third-longest run against Clemson in program history.

Jerrard Tennant then raced for an 85-yard punt return - fourth-longest against the Tigers - on an arguably unnecessary fake 57-yard field goal that kicker Richard Jackson sent to the wrong spots.

Finally, following a ruled interception overturned by replay, Clemson was caught napping, and receiver Thomas snuck onto the field to go uncovered on a 34-yard touchdown pass via fake field goal.

NOTES: Clemson coaches and players alike were askedsubjected to questions this week about the program's lack of success on ESPN's Thursday night showcase.

Most replied with the company line about this being a new year and different team. When in reality, they perhaps should have deferred comment to administration.

While the Tigers entered Thursday's contest at No. 15 Georgia Tech with a 1-8 record in the ESPN slot since 1998, only two of the nine games were in Death Valley.

Including the Georgia Tech game, Clemson has gone on the road the past six Thursday night ACC games. Its only win came in 2005 at North Carolina State.

Athletics director Terry Don Phillips said the university requests that ESPN and the ACC bypass taking one of Clemson's home games for the prime-time slot because of logistics related to fan convenience.