Walk-Off Field Goal Pushes Georgia Tech Past Clemson, 24-21
ATLANTA – No. 12 Clemson rallied to tie the game on an Adam Randall touchdown with 3:26 remaining, but a 55-yard field goal as time expired gave Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0 ACC) a 24-21 victory on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) erased a 13-point first-half deficit and a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Aidan Birr hit the third of his three field goals to clinch the win.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik finished 15-of-26 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. led the way receiving, hauling in seven passes for 126 yards, including a go-ahead 73-yard touchdown reception. Running back Adam Randall added 80 rushing yards on 15 carries as Clemson ran for a season-high 174 yards on 35 carries and outgained the Yellow Jackets, 381-358, in total offense.
Clemson recorded eight tackles for loss while surrendering 147 rushing yards, a season low for Georgia Tech, and safety Ronan Hanafin led Clemson with 10 tackles.
Georgia Tech used a 12-play, 67-yard drive to reach Clemson’s four-yard line on the opening possession, but Ricardo Jones made the stop on fourth down to give Clemson possession at the eight-yard line.
Klubnik fumbled on Clemson’s first possession, giving Georgia Tech the ball back in Clemson territory at the 30-yard line. Clemson did not yield a first down on the ensuing possession, but Georgia Tech opened the scoring on a 40-yard field goal by Aidan Birr to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 10-0 on the first play of the second quarter, finishing a five-play, 65-yard drive with a Jamal Haynes rushing touchdown from five yards out. After forcing Clemson to punt on the next drive, Georgia Tech pushed its lead to 13-0 with a 42-yard Birr field goal with 7:46 remaining in the first half.
Clemson responded on the ensuing possession, capping a 16-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 6:57 with a one-yard Klubnik rushing touchdown, which cut the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 13-7. On the drive, Clemson converted a 3rd-and-22 in its own territory when Adam Randall rushed up the middle for a 30-yard gain.
Clemson received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 66 yards to the Georgia Tech 9-yard line, but Klubnik was intercepted by T.J. Daniels, who gave the Yellow Jackets the ball at the Clemson 48-yard line after a 45-yard return.
After forcing a three-and-out, Klubnik connected with Wesco over the middle, and the sophomore broke outside and found room near the home sideline, taking it the distance for a 73-yard touchdown to give Clemson its first lead of the game at 14-13. It was the second-longest connection for the duo, just behind a 76-yarder against App State last season.
Across the third and fourth quarters, Georgia Tech drove 90 yards in 13 plays, and Haynes King rushed for a one-yard touchdown to take the lead with 10:02 remaining in the game. The Yellow Jackets converted a two-point attempt to push the score to 21-14.
Clemson responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Adam Randall to tie the game, 21-21, with 3:26 remaining.
Georgia Tech drove 38 yards in 10 plays to the Clemson 37-yard line, where Clemson made a stop on third down, but the Yellow Jackets sent the field goal unit on the field with the clock running, and Birr made a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give Georgia Tech the 24-21 victory.
