This was how well prepared Georgia Tech was Saturday night for Clemson: Tech defensive back Jemea Thomas made a game-turning interception midway through the fourth quarter in his own end zone because he apparently knew Clemson's play better than Tigers wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
From video study last week, Thomas said, "As soon as they get in the red zone, their No. 2 (Watkins), on the backside, they're going to throw the fade, so I was kind of waiting on it."
Clemson's momentum was building after Tech quarterback Tevin Washington threw an interception that set up the Tigers on the Tech 9-yard line and gave them an opportunity to draw within 31-24. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Watkins ran to the end zone and turned for the ball as quarterback Tajh Boyd's lob pass floated over his head into Thomas' outstretched hands. After Thomas' play, Washington said, "I was the happiest man out there on the field."
Defensive coordinator Al Groh might have been a close second. His unit played a central role in Tech's 31-17 upset, which lifted the Jackets back into the national rankings: No. 22 in the Associated Press writers poll, No. 23 in the USA Today coaches poll. The Tigers' 17 points were the fewest of their season and also the second fewest allowed by Tech. In 12 possessions, Clemson turned the ball over four times, a season high both for the Tigers' offense and Jackets' defense. The Tigers gained 399 yards, their second-lowest total of the season. Without running back Andre Ellington, the Tigers ran for 95 yards on 24 carries.
The Jackets neutralized an offense that in previous Saturdays had become just the third in league history to score 56 points or more in consecutive games and was 15th in the country in total offense. Effective run defense and consistent pass-rush pressure generated by frequent blitzes caused problems for Clemson.
While Watkins and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wiggled away from coverage a few times for big gainers, Tech kept a lid on big plays with good tackling and a minimum of mental errors. Cornerback Louis Young was a big element of Groh's game plan, sending him on blitzes more than he had all season, Young said.
"That's the way we practiced all week," Young said. "We said, ‘We're going to bring the house on [Boyd], put pressure (and) disrupt him,' so I guess [Groh] just unleashed me."
The long-anticipated improvement from Groh's defense might be taking form in time for the Jackets' closing run. After getting gouged for an average 190.2 rushing yards per outing from the second through the seventh games, the rushing total dropped to 122 in the loss to Miami last week and 95 on Saturday.
After giving up 100-yard rushers in four consecutive games, often getting hurt on slashes through the Tech line or toss plays to the perimeter, the Jackets have had consecutive games without a back going for 100 yards. Clemson running back Mike Bellamy had some success on read-option handoffs but not much else as the Jackets filled running lanes. Bellamy led Clemson with 67 yards on eight carries, but also lost a third-quarter fumble forced by Thomas.
"He made some great plays," coach Paul Johnson said of Thomas, who operates as Tech's No. 3 cornerback behind Rod Sweeting and Young. "We've got to get him on the field because he makes plays."
