A quarter-by-quarter look at Georgia Tech’s 22-16 win against Florida State on Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
FIRST QUARTER
Big play: Tech made the first big mistake of the game, when it faced a third-and-7 from the Tech 34-yard line on the Yellow Jackets' opening drive. Facing heavy pressure, quarterback Justin Thomas had his pass tipped behind the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Josh Sweat. It was returned to the Tech 19.
Turning point: On the first play of the ensuing possession, FSU running back Dalvin Cook carried to the 2, but the Seminoles were stopped short of the goal line on three plays and settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead with 7:14 left in the quarter.
Takeaway: The Tech defense, which was strafed often in the team's five-game losing streak, gave the Seminoles all they could handle, holding them to 33 yards on 12 plays.
Score: Tech 3, FSU 3
SECOND QUARTER
Big play: On a second-and-6, Thomas broke a tackle attempt by cornerback Jalen Ramsey and shot through the Seminoles defense for a 60-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 13-10 with 2:22 to play in the half. It was the longest run play against the Seminoles this season by 34 yards.
Turning point: On a third-and-5 from the Tech 44-yard line, Thomas was pressured and did not generate much power on a downfield throw to Ricky Jeune, leading to an interception by safety Lamarcus Brutus. The ball was returned 57 yards to the Tech 2-yard line, setting up FSU's first touchdown and a 10-3 lead at the 11:46 mark.
Takeaway: The Jackets were proving themselves the equal of the Seminoles through two quarters, but their two turnovers gave 10 points to FSU, not the sort of help the No. 9 team in the country needed. The Seminoles, meanwhile, continued to play turnover-free.
Score: FSU 16, Tech 10
THIRD QUARTER
Big play: To finish a drive twice extended by third-down conversions by Tech's A-backs, kicker Harrison Butker made a field goal from 40 yards at the 8:27 mark of the quarter. The kick cut Florida State's lead to 16-13. A-backs Isiah Willis and Clinton Lynch kept drives going on third-down run plays.
Turning point: Continuing their remarkably effective play, the Tech defense held on a third-and-5 from the FSU 41 in what turned out to be the Seminoles' only possession of the quarter. To that point, Florida State was 1-for-6 on third downs, well below its 43 percent conversion rate for the season entering the game.
Takeaway: The Jackets' control of the ball in the quarter kept FSU's most dangerous player unable to impact the game. Tech ran 19 plays to five for FSU, none of which were carries for Cook. The Heisman Trophy candidate had yet to break a run play longer than 17 yards in 14 carries and had 63 rushing yards, almost 100 yards below his season average.
Score: FSU 16, Tech 13
FOURTH QUARTER
Big play: On a play that will live in Tech lore forever, Patrick Gamble blocked Roberto Aguayo's last-second 56-yard field-goal try and Lance Austin returned the ball 78 yards into the end zone with time expired.
Turning point: Safety Jamal Golden intercepted FSU quarterback Everett Golson on a third-and-goal from the Tech 10-yard line with 8:07 to play in the quarter. The first turnover of the season by the Seminoles ended a streak of 438 turnover-free snaps and kept Tech in the game, keeping the score 16-13 in FSU's favor.
Takeaway: Not a bad way to end a losing streak.
Score: Tech 22, FSU 16
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