Jackets stun Clemson — and did that just happen?
Tevin Washington and teammates celebrate after his second-quarter touchdown run.
(UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.)
Was it all a setup? Was the plan to unravel offensively like never before during Paul Johnson’s tenure on The Flats, lose consecutive games after a 6-0 start, then hit the BCS’s No. 5 team across the head with a 2-by-4 — you know, just for a little drama?
Or maybe Georgia Tech was just teasing Independence Bowl officials.
The Jackets didn’t merely upset Clemson Saturday night. They handled the Tigers with alarming ease. They played easily their best game against their strongest opponent of the season. They allowed Clemson the first three points of the game, then scored the next 24. They had well over 400 yards in offense. They won 31-17.
Did that just happen?
“We played hard and we played with emotion,” coach Paul Johnson said. “When that happens, you have a chance to win.”
And suddenly, a season that seemed to be spinning out of control still has the chance to turn into something special.
When it was over, fans swarmed the field. I’m not sure, but I think I even saw Johnson smile.
“I knew we wouldn’t quit — unlike some people,” Johnson said, referencing doubts about the team from media and fans. “I knew we would play hard.”
Quarterback Tevin Washington, who came back from two shaky performances to rush for 176 yards (a school record for a quarterback) and a touchdown, said, “Coach just told us that it was a great team win and everybody had written us off.”
That won’t be an issue going into the Virginia Tech game Nov. 10. The Jackets (4-2, 7-2) are a game behind the Hokies in the ACC Coastal, but another win over a likely favorite would all but put them in the ACC championship (with only the Duke game remaining on the conference schedule).
Dabo Swinney’s first game as Clemson’s interim head coach came against Tech and Johnson in 2008. The Jackets won 21-17. Johnson was 3-1 in four head-to-head meetings between the two going into Saturday, so it’s not as if the Jackets haven’t had recent success against the Tigers.
But how do you see leads of 24-3 (halftime) and 31-10 (third quarter) coming for a team that only two weeks ago lost to Virginia?
Clemson had won eight straight. It has one of the nation’s most prolific offenses, with 114 points in the last two games. Tech had lost two straight. It’s offense had been more like an old tire with a leaky valve. In the last 10 quarters going into Saturday, the Jackets had scored three offensive touchdowns.
That’s like giving Paul Johnson the key to the U.S. mint and telling him, “You can only take a nickel.”
But neither team looked itself in the first half. Clemson had five full possessions and was held to one field goal, two punts, a fumble and a missed field goal. Swinney left the field with that stunned wildebeest look on his face.
The Jackets failed to gain even a first down on their first two possessions. Then they scored 24 points on their next four.
They got some help. Louis Young forced a fumble on Clemson’s backup running back, D.J. Howard, and Rod Sweeting recovered at the Tigers’ 19. (Officials originally ruled Howard down but the play was overturned on replay.) Six plays later, Orwin Smith scored from the one to give Tech its first lead at 7-3.
But the key to the offense on this night was Washington. He ran and passed better than he had in weeks. It seemed in recent games that his confidence was shaken. When Synjyn Days played the final inglorious minutes in last week’s loss at Miami, the thought occurred Johnson might even make a change at quarterback if Washington struggled early against Clemson.
That wasn’t necessary. He looked like the Washington of early season. He had a career-high 46-yard run in the first half (when he rushed for 85) and then trumped that with a 56-yarder in the third quarter. He completed a 44-yard pass to Stephen Hill (whose spectacular catch led to a late-half touchdown run by Smith). Washington also might’ve thrown a long touchdown pass to Hill but the wide receiver let a perfect pass slip between his hands near the Clemson 20 as he streaked down the right sideline.
The Jackets’ offense was churning. It had touchdown drives of 80 and 78 yards to close the half, making it 24-3. When Clemson scored in the first 1:26 of the second half, Tech responded with a 77-yard scoring drive of its own to make it 31-10.
Tech tried to make it interesting. A Washington fumble at the Clemson three late in the third quarter prevented a potential 38-10 lead and an early celebration. With the score 31-17, a Washington interception with 10:39 left gave the Tigers possession at the Jackets’ nine, with a chance to close to within a touchdown. But on first and goal, Taj Boyd’s pass into the end zone was intercepted by Jemea Thomas (wide receiver Sammy Watkins turned around after the ball already was over his head).
That was it. Clemson had been given its last chance. And Tech had morphed back into a winner.
By Jeff Schultz
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379 comments Add your comment
Hater
October 30th, 2011
12:45 am
Congrats on your win Tech dudes. Washington is scary.
Rodney Dangerfield
October 30th, 2011
12:45 am
WnE some of your old points were slightly valid, kind of in the same way some of the crackpotss that talk about 2012 and the planet Nuribu disrupting Earth’s orbit, but now you are just sounding like a total dumbass.
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
12:46 am
It’s all good. Hope you enjoyed making money in your profession : D
You’re a sick individual as is your friend. Who contacts college athletes to try and intimidate them? Seriously. LMAO at what a sad, pathetic life you lead. How many online dating sites are you on again? 3, 5…more than that?
Dawg Whisperer
October 30th, 2011
12:46 am
Congrats on a well played game, offensively and defensively. I’m happy for Tevin Washington. He couldn’t have executed the QB play much better.
Rodney Dangerfield
October 30th, 2011
12:47 am
I for one think that CPJ would like to keep his job so the starting QB next year will be the one that helps him attain this goal.
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
12:47 am
ole yeller, I’ve been a fan for a while and have see my share of coaches, players and games. For a “fan” to honestly think they know more than the men who earn their living coaching at the highest level just drives me a bit nuts. We can all disagree about a call or a game but to think just because someone is a fan of the game that they know more than the professional is just ludicrous!
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
12:48 am
That was a nice touch though tweeting to our offensive line last week too. Forgot to mention that gem.
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
12:49 am
I’m a GT fan, and pull for GA anytime they’re not playing us. Even if I didn’t like them, I definitely wouldn’t take the time to contact recruits and players to tell them how much their school sucks. Get a life.
macrotech
October 30th, 2011
12:51 am
Go Tech!!!
ole yeller
October 30th, 2011
12:51 am
Ol’Jacket, you must have me confused with someone else. What are you talking about? Never mentioned I knew more than the current Tech staff.
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
12:52 am
One more thing “Wrexie” as your richard sucking friend calls you…you really think Clemson “laid” down when they are in the hunt for a national title? Groh dialed up pressure all game long on Boyd and they didn’t have an answer for it.
Wow you really need a life. Who takes the time to create an entire website devoted to hating on amateur athletes and a coach? LMAO.
ole yeller
October 30th, 2011
12:53 am
Ol’jacket, give me a time of the post THAT YOU are talking about.
Dr. Morpheus
October 30th, 2011
12:53 am
Congrats, Tech, on a great win. Oh, BTW, Schulz, the Dawgs won, too. Keep winning, GT, and we’ll look forward to settling it on the field. Go Dawgs!
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
12:53 am
ole yeller, I was referring to WnE, didn’t mean to tar you with that brush
ole yeller
October 30th, 2011
12:55 am
Ol’ Jacket, Please do not ever ever put me in that category. You had me worried that I may have had a stroke and did not remember.
Old Gold and White Fan
October 30th, 2011
12:56 am
Sure hope some folks head CPJ’s pointed commented about folks breaking their necks jumping off the Tech band wagon. GREAT win Jackets! We believed in you before tonight and we believe in you STILL!!! GOOOOOO JACKETS!!! THWG!!!
I do so LOVE the awkward silence from all the mutts.
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
12:56 am
ole yeller, I was going back to what you had said in your 12:44 post. I wasn’t trying to say you had made such comments.
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
12:57 am
lol@ ole yeller, NEVER! I’ve seen enough of your posts to know you’re a true fan!
WnE
October 30th, 2011
12:58 am
GT ain’t as young as you think they are:
CPJ has been selling the GT fanbase a load of bull.
The DLine has 2 RS-SRs. and T-Jr. as starters, that means they are 3 to 5 yrs. out of HS on the DL.
The WRs start a T-Jr. and a T-Sr., they are 3 & 4 yrs. out of HS.
The A-Backs start a RS. SR. and a T-Jr. that means they are 3 and 5 years out of HS.
The QB is a RS-Jr. he is in his 4th yr. out of HS.
The O-Line has 3 RS-Sophs. and 2 RS-Jrs. that means they are in their 3rd & 4th years out of HS this season.
The top-2 B-Backs are a RS-Soph and a RS-Sr., once again in their 3rd & 5th yrs. out of HS.
The LBs have a T-Soph., a RS-Soph., a T-Jr. and T-Sr. that means they have 3/4 of their Starters that have been out of HS for 3 or 4 yrs.
The 2ndary is the only place GT is close to young, and we aren’t “really young” there either; our Top-5 in the 2ndary are a T-Sr., a T-Jr., a RS-Soph. and 2 T-Sophs.
Anyone that knows anything about CFB can see that GT is no younger than any other CFB team when you look at the guys that actually get on the field, basically CPJ has lied to the GT fanbase to make excuses for the Team’s poor play before tonight’s game.
GT is in no way a “young CFB Team”!
ole yeller
October 30th, 2011
12:59 am
Ol’Jacket still don’t understand but LOL. Trying to defend P.J.s red shirt strategy.
The Falcon Jedi
October 30th, 2011
1:00 am
im a dawg fan yeehaaaw!!!!!!!!!! tech is stupid those yeller uniforms and stupid wreck car dawgs rule!!!! when i get my ged im gonna go to bulldawg school!!!! woooohoooo!!!!!!!!!! dawgs are cool!!!! yeller jackets are nerds!!!!!! dawgs kick tech butts!!!!!! go dawgs!!!!!!!!!
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
1:00 am
Who gives a $h]t WnE? Why do you care so much how old the players are? Are you looking to see if they are legal to date?
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
1:01 am
Well, WnE why is it that every publication I’ve seen shows Tech as the 2nd youngest team in FCS?
WnE
October 30th, 2011
1:01 am
I like to suck on my friend’s richard in the bathroom at Sanford Stadium. He has a small vienna sausage though, so it doesn’t take long to finish.
Loneshark
October 30th, 2011
1:02 am
Hi Jef hope you have the money you lost on that Georgia.For your shake!
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
1:03 am
And why, WnE, do you defelct and refuse to answer when I asked about your coaching credentials?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
October 30th, 2011
1:03 am
Mr. Schultz: Did you not see that Tevin did not fumble the ball @ the 3? A defender who was 3 feet offsides took the ball from him!! You can see, right?
WnE
October 30th, 2011
1:03 am
I know a good lawyer too, he aids me in my times of need.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
October 30th, 2011
1:04 am
WnE been a UGAGGER for a long time.. He hates CPJ and always has.
The Falcon Jedi
October 30th, 2011
1:04 am
i cant find my teeth
ole yeller
October 30th, 2011
1:04 am
So there is the real WnE. Anyone believe his misguided thoughts?
CAJacket
October 30th, 2011
1:05 am
Good Job Jackets! We’re still celebrating out here on the left coast!
WnE
October 30th, 2011
1:08 am
Please visit my website: http://firepauljohnson.blogspot.com/ so you can see what a sick F&CK I am to write about amateur college athletes in this way. I’m a member of quite a few online dating sites. I also take the time to email, IM, and tweet recruits & athletes when I’m at work, at home, wherever. In reality, I’m a UGA grad. The combination of all this (and more…..) makes me a sociopath for sure.
ty webb
October 30th, 2011
1:09 am
I don’t think Paul Johnson can ever win an ACC championship.
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
1:09 am
Great win Jackets. Let’s keep it up going into the VA Tech game!!!
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
1:10 am
Funny, Ty because he did it in 2009.
ty webb
October 30th, 2011
1:11 am
tp jones,
the NCAA says otherwise.
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
1:12 am
Heading out for the evening, I’m sure the blog will see more b.s. from WnE LOL!
Great win tonight and I am looking forward to the VT game!
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William Casey
October 30th, 2011
1:13 am
@Ol’JacketFan: Thank you! I get so annoyed with anonymous fans suffering under the delusion that they know better than a man with a proven track record of 26 years of successful college coaching. I coached high school football (GT & St. Pius legend George Maloof was my mentor) and those years of coaching taught me that I sure as h*ll don’t know what CPJ knows. I’ll say the same thing about the yahoos calling for Mark Richt’s head. Get real!
Old Gold and White Fan
October 30th, 2011
1:13 am
WnE – you seem to use that phrase “anyone that knows anything about CFB…” a lot. I guess you’re the only one here that knows anything because there’s not a single person here that agrees with a single thing you’ve said…..EVER. Could it be, just maybe, a possibility, that YOU’RE the one that don’t know jack about CFB? Dude, get over yourself!
GOOOOO JACKETS!!!! To the ENTIRE team: GREAT GAME!!! Special Teams, Defense, Offense….ALL played well tonite!
TN Jacket
October 30th, 2011
1:13 am
ummm…yeah. Any dude that takes THAT much time to write a website about a coach, college players, and then contacts them to make them change their mind about committing to that team is either a sociopath, f@g, loser, or all 3 of the above things.
Ol'JacketFan
October 30th, 2011
1:13 am
ty webb, FYI that hasn’t been settled yet and beside the TEAM won it on the field. But I’m sure you knew that.
ty webb
October 30th, 2011
1:15 am
Paul Johnson has never won an ACC title…probably never will.
William Casey
October 30th, 2011
1:15 am
WnE: not a sociopath, just weird.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 30th, 2011
1:17 am
I still can’t completely believe this team will win when it counts. Teams will figure us out and it’ll feel like Virginia and Miami all over again.
HEATHER DINICH IS A MORON
October 30th, 2011
1:18 am
CPJ MAY BE THE FIRST COACH TO WIN TWO ACC TITLES IN ONE YR, NCAA WILL REVERSE THE 09 RULING AND THE JACKETS WIN IT IN 2011 AS WELL, TAKE THAT DOG TARDS
TN Jacket
October 30th, 2011
1:18 am
Hey WnE, Ken S of the ajc just mentioned what a great job Tech’s ‘young’ secondary did of guarding Clemson’s WR. Guess he doesn’t know anything about college football either.
TN Jacket
October 30th, 2011
1:20 am
William Casey, no, that website pushes him to sociopath status. Did you look through it? WOWZA. Contacting recruits, players???? Heck he may as well get their address and stalk them at the dorms also.
ty webb
October 30th, 2011
1:20 am
and all caps make it more likely to happen.
tp jones
October 30th, 2011
1:20 am
+1 TN Jacket. He’s just a hot step away from being on silence of the lambs.