Last week, it was Michigan and this week, it was No. 9 Florida State, who lost on an opponents’ special teams touchdown as time expired as the Seminoles saw their 28-game ACC winning streak end to Georgia Tech on Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium, 22-16.
With the score tied 16-16, FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo had his 56-yard field goal attempt with just seconds to play blocked and returned 78 yards for a touchdown by Lance Austin to give the Yellow Jackets (3-5, 1-4 ACC) their first ACC win of the season. Georgia Tech had dropped five straight games coming in, but to a slew of tough opponents, who entered Saturday with a combined 27-4 record. At home on Saturday night, the ball finally bounced its way.
Florida State was held scoreless in the second half after leading 16-10 at the break. Florida State raced to a 13-3 lead thanks to a pair Aguayo field goals and a 2-yard touchdown run from Dalvin Cook. Not scoring touchdowns would be a theme for the Seminoles (6-1, 4-1 ACC), who managed just one touchdown on four red zone trips.
Cook’s touchdown came after a long interception return from Lamarcus Brutus in the first half. Defensive end Josh Sweat also had an interception — the first of his career — that led to an early FSU field goal.
Georgia Tech’s lone offensive touchdown of the night came on a 60-yard run by quarterback Justin Thomas late in the first half. Kicker Harrison Butker was a perfect 3-for-3 for the Yellow Jackets. His 35-yard field goal with under a minute to play evened the game at 16 after the Yellow Jackets used a 36-yard pass from Thomas to Brad Stewart to convert a fourth down earlier in the drive.
FSU quarterback Everett Golson and Florida State’s first offensive turnover of the year would be a costly one. Golson was intercepted by Jamal Golden on a throw to the end zone on 3rd-and-goal with the Seminoles leading 16-13 and about eight minutes to play.
Cook was used sparingly by FSU in the second half on Saturday, but managed to finish with 132 yards from scrimmage. Georgia Tech managed 261 yards on the ground, including a game-high 88 from Thomas. Golson passed for 210 yards in the loss for the Seminoles.
The defeat not only prevents FSU from tying its own ACC streak, which was set upon entering the conference in 1992, but it snaps a 30-game regular season winning streak. Each of the last seven match-ups between the schools have now been decided by eight points or less.
Despite the loss, Florida State remains in control of its own destiny in the ACC. The Seminoles will return home next Saturday to face Syracuse. Georgia Tech will travel to face Virginia.
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