Josh Nesbitt's three-yard run in overtime sent
10th-ranked Georgia Tech past Wake Forest, 30-27, at Dodd Stadium.
Wake Forest's opening possession of the extra session ended with Jimmy
Newman's 34-yard field goal and a 27-24 contest.
On Georgia Tech's first drive, Nesbitt gained five on a 3rd-and-6 from the 10-
yard-line, but, instead of a field goal, opted to try and pull the Demon
Deacons offside on fourth down to no avail. Following a timeout, Nesbitt
picked up the first down on a two-yard sneak, then kept it himself on the next
play to end the game.
"I play to win. The kids work hard and put in a lot of time and effort. If we
can't make an inch there, we don't deserve to win the game," said Yellow
Jackets head coach Paul Johnson on the decision to go for it on fourth down.
"Shoot, the ball's on the three yard line, give the kids a chance to win the
game."
Nesbitt was only 4-of-14 passing for 51 yards and an interception but rushed
for 54 yards and two scores for the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1 ACC), who have
reeled off seven consecutive wins and moved closer to clinching the Coastal
Division.
Jonathan Dwyer led all rushers with 189 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries,
and Preston Lyons added a rushing TD in the victory.
Riley Skinner finished 26-of-40 for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the
Demon Deacons (4-6, 2-4), losers of four straight.
Marshall Williams posted 111 yards on eight receptions, while Devon Brown had
seven catches for 62 yards and two TDs in defeat.
"It's frustrating," said Skinner, who played well despite suffering a
concussion last week. "We are right there in every game. We're just not
finishing it."
Georgia Tech took a 10-0 lead after one quarter thanks to Scott Blair's
career-best 45-yard field goal and a 31-yard TD run from Lyons.
Wake responded early in the second when Kevin Harris plunged in from the one
and went ahead on its following series on Brown's 20-yard touchdown catch.
A potential 66-yard run for a score by Stephen Hill was negated by a holding
call and Nesbitt recovered his own fumble on a failed fourth-down at the
Deacons' 38. The visitors took over and increased their lead after Newman hit
from 35 yards out and led 17-10 at the break.
After holding Wake Forest on the first drive of the second half, Georgia Tech
tied the game on Dwyer's electric 59-yard run. The Jackets eventually forged
ahead with 8:19 remaining in the game, when Nesbitt rushed for a 12-yard score
to cap an 11-play drive.
Skinner and the Deacons came right back down the field, and Brown hauled in an
11-yard pass to knot the game with 4:27 to play.
Nesbitt was then sacked on a 4th-and-8 inside of two minutes remaining, but
Wake Forest failed to convert a 3rd-and-7 in Georgia Tech territory. A punt
left the ball at the three with 58 seconds to play, and the Yellow Jackets
let the clock run out.
Game Notes
Georgia Tech posted 412 yards rushing to just 28 for Wake Forest and enjoyed a
19-1 first-down advantage on the ground...The Yellow Jackets have won three of
the last four meetings and have won 21 of 29 total matchups...On the opening
kickoff, Wake Forest redshirt junior linebacker Lee Malchow was carted off the
field with an aircast on his lower leg. He did not return.
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