In a wild matchup that has come to define this ACC Coastal Division series, Georgia Tech fell to defeat after a valiant rally, absorbing a 37-34 loss on a last-second 31-yard field goal by Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt at Heinz Field Saturday afternoon.
Tech (3-3 overall, 1-3 ACC) lost its third game in a row. Pittsburgh (4-2, 1-1) has all but ended the Yellow Jackets’ chances at the ACC Coastal title.
The Jackets played from behind most of the game, finally tying the score at 27 with 10:01 to play in the fourth quarter on a 45-yard touchdown run by A-back Clinton Lynch. Struggling to come up with turnovers this season, the game turned on a Pittsburgh fumble on a botched sweep handoff that Tech linebacker Brant Mitchell recovered at the Pitt 39. Tech scored in six plays, reaching the end zone on a carry by A-back J.J. Green with 5:22 to play and giving the Jackets a 34-27 lead.
However, Pitt answered on the next drive, as quarterback Nathan Peterman fired a pass to tight end Scott Orndoff that safety Corey Griffin tipped but that Orndoff caught anyway and raced to the end zone for a 74-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 34 with 3:50 to play.
On Tech’s next possession, coach Paul Johnson took a considerable gamble, going for it on 4th-and-1 at the Tech 34-yard line. B-back Dedrick Mills was stopped just short, giving the Panthers the ball with 1:47 to play, setting up their game-winning field goal.
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