After win, awards roll in for Georgia Tech
Defeat a top-10 team at home by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown on the last play of the game and the awards come streaming in. Georgia Tech and its players were recipients of multiple weekly honors after their 22-16 win over then-No. 9 Florida State.
Safety Jamal Golden was named the Walter Camp national defensive player of the week for his role in the upset. Golden had a career-high nine tackles, one for loss, and most notably intercepted FSU quarterback Everett Golson in the end zone in the fourth quarter. It was the Seminoles’ first offensive turnover of the season, snapping a streak of 438 plays without a turnover.
The ACC named Golden its defensive back of the week and selected as its specialist of the week Lance Austin, who returned the FSU field-goal try blocked by Patrick Gamble 78 yards for the game-winning touchdown with no time remaining. The win broke the Seminoles’ 28-game winning streak over ACC opponents.
The team also named its players of the week – A-back Isiah Willis (offense), defensive tackle Adam Gotsis (defense) and kicker Harrison Butker (special teams). Willis had seven carries for 29 yards, including three attempts that gained first downs, and had an effective blocking game. Gotsis had four tackles, including a sack, and frequently pressured Golson. Butker made all three of his field-goal tries, including a 53-yarder that tied his career and a clutch 35-yard make to tie the game at 16 with 54 seconds left. He also recorded touchbacks on all five of his kickoffs.
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
