{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Georgia Tech 22, Florida State 16
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 24, 2015
Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Temperature: 67°
Head Official: Jeff Heaser
Attendance: 55000

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech found an unusual and dramatic way to terminate its five-game losing streak.

Sophomore reserve Lance Austin recovered a blocked field goal attempt and returned it 78 yards as time expired as Georgia Tech stunned No. 9 Florida State 22-16 on Saturday night to end the Seminoles' 28-game ACC winning streak.

"It still hasn't hit me," said Austin, who dedicated the win to his late grandmother.

Florida State drove the ball to the Georgia Tech 38-yard line, using a 22-yard reception by tailback Dalvin Cook and a 9-yard catch by wide receiver Jesus Wilson, to set up a 56-yard field goal try by Roberto Aguayo.

But the interior of the Georgia Tech line got a huge surge and blocked the ball. It rolled over to Austin, who picked it up and cut across the field and down the sideline. He turned toward the North stands and beat the final Florida State defender at the 5-yard line to score the winning points.

"I don't know what happened on that last play," FSU 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 it up, and we couldn't get him on the ground."

The amazing finish set off a raucous on-field celebration, with several thousand white-clad Georgia Tech fans staying to celebrate for 30 minutes after the game.

"This is what it is all about. This is college football," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

Georgia Tech didn't allow Florida State to score in the second half. The Yellow Jackets tied the score on Harrison Butker's third field goal, a 35-yarder with 54 seconds left.

"We played with so much energy and so much intensity," Georgia Tech defensive end KeShun Freeman said.

Georgia Tech (3-5, 1-4 ACC) got 68 yards passing and 88 yards rushing from quarterback Justin Thomas. The Yellow Jackets ran for 261 yards and ended their five-game losing streak.

Florida State (6-1, 4-1 ACC) was led by quarterback Everett Golson, who completed 20 of 30 passes for 210 yards but threw his first interception of the season. Cook rushed 17 times for 82 yards and one touchdown.

The teams exchanged field goals is the first quarter.

Florida State opened with a 20-yard field goal by Aguayo, a drive set up when linebacker Josh Sweat intercepted a pass from Thomas and returned it to the Georgia Tech 19. The Yellow Jackets stopped the Seminoles at the 2-yard-line to force the field goal.

Georgia Tech answered with a 53-yard field goal by Butker, which matched his career best, and tied the score 3-3.

Thomas had a pass intercepted 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 after a 10-play drive that stalled at the Georgia Tech 10, which extended the lead to 13-3.

Georgia Tech broke through to score thanks to two big plays engineered by Thomas. On second down from his 3, he 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 ran 60 yards for a touchdown to cut the 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 by Aguayo at the gun, which put the Seminoles ahead 16-10.

Georgia Tech cut the lead to 16-13 with a 40-yard field goal from Butker in the third period.

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 Georgia Tech's Jamal Golden for his eighth career interception. It was Golson's first pick of the season.

"I thought he had it," Fisher said. "I wanted the ball up a little higher. He had it right there; he cradled it. I don't know if a knee knocked it out or what."

Georgia Tech responded with the game-tying drive that ended with Butker's final field goal of the night.

NOTES: The previous five meetings between the teams had been decided by a total of 17 points. Florida State defeated Georgia Tech 37-35 in the 2014 ACC Championship game. ... Georgia Tech played without A-backs Qua Searcy (leg) and Broderick Snoddy (broken hand). The Yellow Jackets started Step Durham at cornerback in place of the injured D.J. White. Florida State started Reggie Northrup at linebacker in place of Terrance Smith. ... Florida State CB Jalen Parker celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday. ... FSU CB Trey Marshall had surgery to repair a torn bicep sustained in the Louisville game. Recovery time is expected to be three months. ... It was a "White Out" game for Georgia Tech, which dressed in white jerseys, white pants and white helmets. The school distributed 30,000 white shakers to fans.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Florida State   Georgia Tech
Dalvin Cook Player Justin Thomas
17 Attempts 13
82 Yards 88
4.8 Avg Yards 6.8
1 Touchdowns 1
0 Long 0
Receiving
Florida State   Georgia Tech
Kermit Whitfield Player Brad Stewart
6 Receptions 1
61 Yards 36
10.2 Avg Yards 36.0
0 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Florida State 280 70 210 1 3 2 1.0 0
Georgia Tech 328 261 67 2 3 1 3.0 0