By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Rodney Cofield- The Mojo Network)
Georgia Tech keeps finding ways to deliver under Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets entered the day 6-1 against ranked ACC opponents since he took over. After Saturday night’s whiteout at Bobby Dodd, they’re now 7-1 — and did it in unforgettable fashion.
With the game clock melting away, junior kicker Aidan Birr lined up for the biggest kick of his life. On a chaotic fire-drill setup, he launched a 55-yarder that cleared with room to spare. The kick set a program record for the longest game-winning field goal and sent the home crowd into a frenzy as fans stormed the field, ending Clemson’s nine-game win streak in the series.
The Jackets’ 24-21 victory pushes them to 3-0 and locks them into next week’s AP poll after earlier wins over Colorado and Gardner-Webb.
King Delivers Again
Quarterback Haynes King once again proved to be Georgia Tech’s engine. The junior threw for 211 yards on 20-of-28 passing and added 101 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Just like the road win at Colorado, King played through heavy hits but still found ways to extend drives and make critical plays late.
King’s poise showed up on Tech’s go-ahead fourth-quarter drive, where he capped it with a rushing touchdown before pulling off a trick-play two-point conversion to Dean Patterson that put Tech ahead 21-14.
Clemson Keeps It Close
Clemson had chances, as Cade Klubnik led the Tigers on a late fourth-quarter drive that ended with Adam Randall punching in the tying score with 3:26 left. But Tech’s defense stiffened just enough, forcing Clemson to burn a timeout and leaving King a short window to set up Birr’s record-breaking kick.
Mistakes hurt the Tigers throughout. Klubnik’s two turnovers, including a red-zone interception, and dropped passes from the receiving corps opened the door for Tech’s upset bid.
What It Means
Georgia Tech isn’t just a nice early-season story anymore. The Jackets are squarely in the ACC title conversation, with a favorable schedule ahead that avoids Miami, Florida State, and SMU.
Now sitting at 3-0, Brent Key’s team turns its attention to next Saturday, when Temple visits Atlanta. After knocking off a national power in front of a sold-out crowd, Tech will look to keep its momentum rolling at home and solidify its growing reputation as one of the ACC’s toughest outs.