OFFENSE WAKES TOO LATE
Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 15
Dec. 1, 2012
Charlotte, N.C.
The Yellow Jackets gave a game effort, but lived out flaws that had plagued them since the season opener.
Poor tackling and an inability to finish doomed Tech, despite cranking out 301 yards against the nation’s No. 2-ranked defense. The Jackets, whose record fell to 6-7, didn’t score a touchdown until less than seven minutes remained in the game.
Tech’s last gasp was a drive that began with 2:17 to play on its 15-yard line. The Jackets reached their 42-yard line, but quarterback Tevin Washington’s interception on a pass to A-back Robert Godhigh closed the door.
Far before that, however, a shoddy first half of defense backed Tech into a corner that, against FSU’s swift and punishing defenders, the Jackets had little chance to escape. FSU drove for touchdowns on three of their first four possessions, establishing a 21-3 lead with 4:56 remaining in the half. FSU running back James Wilder Jr. ran hard and shed tackle attempts with ease, gaining 55 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the first half alone.
FSU averaged 7.3 yards per play in the half, when they did all of their scoring. Tech’s offense, meanwhile, got into gear as the game wore on. After punting on their first three series, the Jackets advanced three times to at least the FSU 30 over the next five possessions, stretching into the third quarter.
However, those possessions produced only three field goals, leaving Tech behind 21-9 going into the fourth quarter.
Tech scored with 6:27 left in the game, a 70-yard Washington-led drive that he finished with a 1-yard dive for his 19th touchdown of the season. However, Tech couldn’t make the two-point conversion, as Washington rolled out and then came up short on a run to the corner. It left the score 21-15.
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