DESTINATION: ORANGE BOWL
Georgia Tech 39, Clemson 34
Dec. 5, 2009
Tampa, Fla.
Behind four field goals from Scott Blair and an offense that generated 470 yards, the No. 10 Yellow Jackets defeated the Tigers to win their first conference title since 1998.
The victory clinched a spot in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 5. That was Tech’s first appearance in the Orange Bowl since 1967, when it lost to Florida.
It took every yard the Jackets could muster. Neither team punted. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller amassed 233 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns. But in the end, Jonathan Dwyer carried the Jackets on the final drive to the victory.
Trailing 34-33 and starting a drive on its 14-yard line with a little more than six minutes to play, Tech plowed 86 yards with Dwyer carrying the load. He got the run call on the final four plays, the last for a 15-yard touchdown into the left corner that gave Tech a 39-34 lead with 1:25 remaining. Joshua Nesbitt was stopped inches short of the goal line on the 2-point conversion. Dwyer was responsible for 54 yards on the drive, which took 11 plays and ate 4:45 off the clock.
Holding a 33-27 lead on its previous drive and trying to run out the clock, Tech went for it on fourth-and-1 on Clemson’s 37. Nesbitt took the snap and pushed into the left side of the line, but defensive end Da’Quan Bowers penetrated and stopped him for no gain with 7:52 remaining.
On the next play, Spiller ran left and appeared to be stopped for a short gain. But he kept churning, emerged from the wash and sprinted 54 yards to Tech’s 9. Three plays later, Andre Ellington dove in for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 34-33 lead with 6:11 remaining.
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