Georgia Tech shocks No. 9 Florida State on blocked FG TD in final seconds (Video)
Another week, another insane ending on a special teams play.
Florida State had a chance to stay unbeaten as Roberto Aguayo lined up for a 56-yard field goal with just a few seconds remaining on the road at Georgia Tech. Aguayo, who had never missed a fourth quarter kick in his career, had his attempt blocked and Georgia Tech’s Lance Austin returned it 68 yards for a game-winning touchdown as time expired in an unbelievable ending.
Tech’s clutch block and return gave the Yellow Jackets a 22-16 come-from-behind victory and knocked the ninth-ranked Seminoles from the ranks of the unbeaten.
The improbable ending came after the Yellow Jackets, who trailed for almost the entire game, tied things up on a Harrison Butker 35-yard field goal with 54 seconds remaining.
Florida State then regained possession and quickly moved down to the GT 42-yard line. After lineman Wilson Bell was penalized for a false start, the Seminoles made Aguayo’s field goal attempt a little more manageable with a nine-yard catch by Jesus Wilson.
But the trajectory of Aguayo’s lengthy try was low and the Yellow Jackets overwhelmed the FSU line to block the kick – allowing for Austin’s heroics, which comes a week after Michigan State shocked Michigan on a blocked punt touchdown in the final seconds.
The loss stings for FSU, especially because the Seminoles had a chance to take a two-score lead with just over eight minutes to go. Leading 16-13, FSU drove all the way down to the Tech 4-yard line, but another false start set the goal line possession back five yards. Two plays later, Everett Golson, who was plagued by turnovers when he played for Notre Dame, threw his first interception of the season on third-and-goal.
Golson had Travis Rudolph on a skinny post, but a Georgia Tech defensive back got a hand in, allowing Jamal Golden to corral the interception off the deflection.
The teams traded punts after the interception and the Yellow Jackets got another shot at tying or going in front when they regained possession with 4:25 to go. And quickly, Florida State’s defense forced the Yellow Jackets to go for it on fourth-and-six from their own 41.
That’s when Tech decided to go to the air for just the eighth time of the game as Justin Thomas hit freshman Brad Stewart in stride down the right sideline behind the defense for a critical 36-yard gain. The big play moved GT down to the FSU 23, and after three short runs, Butker tied things up at 16.
That field goal, of course, then set up the incredible ending that may doom Florida State’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff. The Seminoles, now 6-1 and 4-1 in ACC play, needed to win in order keep pace with No. 6 Clemson in the Atlantic Division.
Now the Tigers, who demolished Miami 58-0 earlier in the day, sit alone atop the division with a perfect 7-0 (4-0) record. Of course, Florida State still has a chance to win its division if it can knock off the Tigers on Nov. 7, but the loss to a now 3-5 Georgia Tech team could be the nail in the coffin as far as the playoff is concerned.
For more Georgia Tech news, visit JacketsOnline.com.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
