Georgia Tech wide receiver DeAndre Smelter nearly played the hero Saturday night. He just was too good at his role, it turned out.
Smelter’s 75-yard touchdown run off a reverse with 3:07 left in the game gave Tech a 43-42 lead, its first advantage since taking a 24-21 leading three minutes into the third quarter. The score capped a rally from a 42-31 deficit with 12:34 left in the game.
Tech coach Paul Johnson called the play with the Yellow Jackets facing a first-and-25 on their 25-yard line after a clipping penalty, trailing 42-37. Quarterback Justin Thomas ran right, as though running a standard option play. Smelter broke from right to left, Thomas flipped him the ball and Smelter raced down the left sideline with scant opposition.
“Their defense was playing pretty aggressive the whole game,” Smelter said, “so we thought if we got a reverse, we could make a big play happen, and did.”
Smelter’s numbers for the night – three touches (two catches, one rush) for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
As it turned out, Smelter’s run gave the Tar Heels a little more than three minutes to take back the lead, which they did, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left.
Said Johnson, “I felt like the play was there, but I almost wish somebody had tackled him.”
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