Georgia Tech defense secures upset of FSU

Three months ago, Cooper Taylor and Rashaad Reid were anonymous Georgia Tech freshmen.

As night settled on Bobby Dodd Stadium Saturday night, they became part of Georgia Tech football legend.

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Georgia Tech’s Roddy Jones tries to break away from Florida State’s Ricardo Wright (48) ,ROD OWENS (88) AND DIONTE ALLEN (28).

BY THE NUMBERS

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• Photos: Game action
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• More on Jackets • Past games

The defensive backs, both true freshmen, combined to make the final momentous play in Tech’s 31-28 win over Florida State. The victory pushed the Jackets’ unlikely pursuit of an ACC title one game closer to possibility and gave catharsis to Tech fans whose hearts had been broken time and again by the Seminoles.

Said Taylor, “I’m in shock right now.”

Less than one minute remained with the score 31-28, Tech. Florida State had driven 56 yards to Tech’s 3-yard line and set up for a second-and-goal play. Bobby Dodd Stadium filled with the dread of the Seminoles snatching victory and extending their 12-game winning streak over the Jackets.

Florida State running back Marcus Sims was headed for the end zone with the ball when Taylor lunged head first at Sims. Taylor made a direct hit on the ball and it popped forward, landing in the end zone.

Said defensive tackle Darryl Richard, “‘Coop’ laid a hell of a hit.”

While a simple fumble recovery would have sealed the game, Reid attempted to pick it up as though planning to run with it, and the ball glanced away.

Said Reid, “I don’t really know what I was thinking.”

But Reid dove after it, grabbing it and rolling away from Florida State players converging on the ball. Reid had a touchback, and Tech had its victory.

“I saw him pick that up, I wanted to strangle him,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “Then I saw him roll over with it, I wanted to kiss him.”

Said Reid, “I don’t know what I would have been thinking right now if they had recovered it for a touchdown.”

Bedlam followed. After two kneeldowns to run the clock to zero, Tech fans spilled onto the field, a delirious blue and gold mob at midfield.

The fray was so wild, someone busted Richard in the mouth.

“It was actually a Tech dude,” said Richard, showing off a swollen upper lip. “I think he had been a little overserved when he came out (on the field).”

Taylor and Reid’s determination captured the essence of Tech’s win, which improved the Jackets’ record to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the ACC and made them eligible for a 12th consecutive bowl game.

Following last Saturday’s disappointing loss to Virginia, Johnson had called the Florida State game a “gut check” and tossed a few more chips on the table by saying that “good teams don’t lose two games in a row.”

Further, the Jackets needed a win to keep its ACC title hopes afloat.

Tossed into the mix was that Florida State (6-2, 4-2 and ranked 15th in the BCS) led the ACC in total defense and rushing defense, had won four games in a row and had stirred talk that it was on the path to reclaiming its past glory.

Further, Tech took the field without three regular starters, offensive tackle David Brown (spinal injury), safety Dominique Reese (concussion) and cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels (hamstring). Taylor and Reid, in fact, started in place of Reese and Word-Daniels, two of 15 underclassmen who started against the Seminoles.

Under those circumstances, Tech delivered.

The Jackets’ offense hammered Florida State for 288 rushing yards and six plays that went for 20 yards or more. B-back Jonathan Dwyer rang up touchdown runs of 36 and 66 yards without getting touched.

And Taylor and Reid delivered at the game’s crucial moment, one of three Florida State turnovers.

After Taylor dressed and left the locker room, he huddled with family, including his father Jim Bob, a Tech quarterback in the early 80’s. From the stands, he had seen his son get beaten earlier in the fourth quarter for a 39-yard touchdown pass that, along with a two-point conversion, drew Florida State to 31-28.

“To come back there and make the play there at the end, to redeem himself and help the team, oh my gosh,” the elder Taylor said. “[My heart] is still in my throat right now.”