NC State
Georgia Tech
Wolfpack Come Up Short Against Yellow Jackets, 27-17
10/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 20, 2001
By Tony Haynes
Atlanta, Ga.--This time Georgia Tech's sturdy defense made sure there would be no more heartbreaking overtime losses at Grant Field. After Philip Rivers had connected with little used walk-on Jeremy Mebane on a 55-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17 with 5:14 left in the third period, Tech scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to record a 27-17 victory over NC State.
The win, which had come on the heels of back-to-back overtime defeats to Clemson and Maryland, improved the 23rd ranked Yellow Jackets to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. The loss, NC State's third in its last four games, left the Pack with a 3-3 mark.
"I thought the kids came out today and hung in there against a pretty good passing attack," said Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary. "I've always said that our team has good character and handles setbacks and quick scores very well. They did a good job today against a good NC State team."
But when Rivers found Mebane wide open in the middle of the field to tie the game, the Wolfpack seemed poised to ruin another home game for the Tech faithful. Prior to his game-tying play, Rivers had been in the lockerroom to receive I-V fluids for leg cramps, which made his scoring toss even more improbable.
"Philip Rivers never ceases to amaze everyone with what he does, and he's only 19," said NC State head coach Chuck Amato. "He takes this whole team on his shoulders, and does such a great job."
But the quarterback on the other side of the field showed that he also has a flair for the dramatic. After the Rivers to Mebane hook up had tied it, Georgia Tech's George Godsey responded by leading his team on an impressive 12-play 85-yard march that culminated with Godsey finding wide out Jonathan Smith end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass to put the Jackets in front to stay 24-17.
Then Georgia Tech Field kicker Luke Manget capped an adventurous afternoon by nailing a 50-yard field goal to put the Yellow Jackets ahead by 10. Prior to his clutch kick, which came with 7:42 left in the game, Manget had missed four of five field goal attempts, including two that were blocked.
"Luke Manget has been a good kicker for us and I just thought that his timing was off a little bit today and he was off on the snap. On the 50-yarder, I asked him if he could make the kick and he said yes, so I told him to go out there and get it. I was going to send him out there anyway and if he said he couldn't make it, I would have been disappointed."
Once they had grabbed a 10-point advantage, the Yellow Jackets turned things over to a defense that is ranked as the No.1 unit in the ACC. Take away the 55-yard touchdown throw to Mebane, and NC State had only 49 total yards in the second half.
The Wolfpack was also hurt by three costly turnovers and 10 penalties for 87. NC State has been called for 22 penalties in it last two games.
"It was the first game that we had more turnovers than our opponent did," Amato said. "We've been on the plus side of that all year, and those turnovers hurt us. One was for a touchdown and one was right after the half when we were heading down the field and might have put some points on the board."
For one of the few times this season, NC State actually got of to a fast start. On its opening drive of the game, the Pack traveled 59 yards in 12 plays. The march produced a 23-yard field goal by Adam Kiker to make it 3-0. After Magnet had tied it with a short field goal, Rivers came back with a lightning quick march that covered 80 yards in just four plays. The drive opened with tailback Robinson taking a screen pass and scampering 47 yards. Just three plays later, Robinson would put NC State in front 10-3 on an eight-yard run right through the heart of the Georgia Tech defense.
But Robinson would also produce what was perhaps the game's most important turnover. With the game tied at 10-10, Robinson fumbled after being hit in his own backfield. Georgia Tech cornerback Chris Young scooped up the ball and raced 25 yards to give the Jackets a 17-10 lead. It was an advantage that they would preserve through halftime.
By games end, Georgia Tech owned an edge in just about every statistical category, including first downs (25-15), total yards (380-264), and time of possession (33.24-25:26).
Rivers finished up 20-of-30 for 223 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. For Tech, Godsey was 24-of-39 for 256 yards and two scores. Workhorse tailback Joe Burns led Tech's rushing attack with 114 yards on 34 carries.
With a first quarter sack, Yellow Jackets defensive end Greg Gathers became the schools all-time career sack leader with 29.
