Tevin Washington, where have you been?
The bomb-throwing, run-breaking quarterback that led Georgia Tech to a perfect record and high rank in the AP college football poll was back on Saturday, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 31-17 upset over No. 5 Clemson at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
That Washington had been mostly missing the past two weeks, though it wasn't entirely his fault. But the result was an out-of-synch offense and two losses.
However, Washington played in Saturday's upset just like he did earlier this year: by completing long passes and finishing hard runs, so many that the 176 rushing yards he posted against the Tigers was the most by a quarterback in Tech's history.
Washington's night included a career-long 56-yard run, a 46-yard run and a 44-yard-yard pass. He had more yards running on one play than he totaled (36) on the ground in last week's loss at Miami. Both long runs came on draw plays.
"I can't give enough credit to the offensive line," he said.
Though Washington said he hadn't doubted his ability, many had after the previous two losses to Miami and Virginia. The Jackets mustered 7 points and 211 yards against the Hurricanes, a week after 21 points and 296 yards against the Cavaliers.
"I tried to use it as motivation for us," Washington said.
Perhaps the most reassuring aspect that Washington was back on were the big plays. Tech had four plays of 20 yards or more against Clemson. The Jackets had just three in the previous two games (none against Miami) after pumping out 45 during the six-game win streak.
Washington set up a field goal with a 46-yard run in the second quarter. He set up a touchdown later in the period with a 44-yard pass to Stephen Hill. He set up another touchdown in the third quarter with a 56-yard run on a third-and-six play, one of several "huge" conversions he picked up, according to Tech coach Paul Johnson.
"He'll get his confidence back," Johnson said. "I've said it's not all his fault, he's needed help. Tonight he got help."
It wasn't all great.
Washington did fumble on third-and-goal at the 1-yard line, denying the Jackets a chance to improve upon their 31-10 lead. Defensive tackle Rennie Moore appeared to jump offside, slicing through the line before swatting the ball from Washington as he turned away from center. No flag was thrown. Washington said after the game that Moore was offside.
Washington followed that by throwing an interception that the Tigers returned to the 9-yard line with 10:39 remaining. Washington had two receivers, Hill on the outside and Orwin Smith in the slot, running open downfield. Washington didn't see Hill waving his hand in the air. Washington instead floated it to Smith, which gave safety Rashard Hall enough time to sprint over, pick off the pass and return it to the 9-yard line.
Tech's defense answered with an interception in the end zone to kill the drive.
Shaking off the errors, Washington bounced back to lead the offense on a 16-play, 9-minute, 4-second drive in the fourth quarter. By the time the Tigers got the ball back, there was just 1:29 remaining.
"It's just like with a loss," Washington said. "You've got to be able to throw it under the run and keep going on to the next drive and that's what we did. We went on from the mistake on that drive and moved on to the next play."
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