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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
|  | | Georgia Tech's Kerry Watkins made the game-winning touchdown catch with seven seconds left to stun Clemson. |
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson coach Tommy Bowden thought his team
was on its way to Florida State undefeated after Rod Garnder's
diving catch put the Tigers ahead 28-24 with 1:52 left.
But Georgia Tech (6-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) drove 80
yards on 11 plays, with Kerry Watkins' one-handed, 16-yard
touchdown catch giving the Yellow Jackets a 31-28 victory over Clemson (No. 4 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) on Saturday.
Watkins' catch marked the third lead change in the last seven
minutes.
"We just happened to have the ball last," Georgia Tech coach
George O'Leary said.
George Godsey set a Georgia Tech record with 454 yards passing.
He went 35-for-57 and had three touchdowns as Clemson gave up its
most yardage ever through the air.
"Godsey came up with some big plays on third down when we had
to have them," O'Leary said.
After the game, Bowden said his team's inexperience led to the
Yellow Jackets' 550-yard day.
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Sat, October 28
With their schedule, Clemson could not afford this loss today. They have already taken a beating in the BCS rankings over their strength of schedule, but suffering a loss like this hurts them more than, say, Florida State losing to Miami. The Tigers may have been looking past Georgia Tech to Florida State next week, and it will certainly cost them. They will play a Florida State team who will be fired up and ready for them. The loser of that game will clearly be out of the BCS.
Georgia Tech's George Godsey was huge in that last drive, including completing 7 of 10 passes and withstanding any pressure the Clemson defense brought his way. Godsey, with his 454 yards, got the formidable job done.
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"I'm kind of disappointed. I did not think they would be that
productive," Bowden said.
Clemson (8-1, 6-1) probably fell out of the national championship
picture, but can still win a share of the conference title if the
Tigers beat Florida State next week.
Clemson star Woody Dantzler left the game at halftime after
reinjuring his left ankle. He passed for 76 yards and ran for 18
more.
"Credit Georgia Tech -- their defense was very good. This hurts
now, but we will come back," Dantzler said.
His replacement, Willie Simmons, passed for 131 yards and rushed
for 25 yards.
"There were a lot of momentum swings, which to me tells a lot
about a team's ability to bounce back and retake control. That
hasn't happened a lot this year wt tis team," Bowden said.
Clemson's special teams kept the Tigers, who had a season-low
354 yards total offense, in the game.
A blocked punt recovered at the 1 led to Dantzler's touchdown in
the first quarter. In the third quarter, Brian Mance's 88-yard punt
return put Clemson ahead 21-16.
"When you block a punt and return one for a touchdown, you
should win the game," Bowden said.
But Clemson couldn't stop the Yellow Jackets' passing attack.
Kelly Campbell tied a school record with 14 catches for 209 yards.
Joe Burns added 98 yards on the ground for Georgia Tech.
Clemson had a chance to take an eight-point lead early in the
fourth quarter, but Aaron Hunt's 29-yard field-goal attempt hit the
left upright.
The teams traded the lead three times in the last 6:35 after
Godsey's 48-yard pass to Campbell and a 2-point conversion gave
Georgia Tech a 24-21 lead.
In the first quarter, Dantzler had a 1-yard touchdown run after
the blocked punt. His 29-yard touchdown pass to Travis Zachery made
it 14-3. Zachery led the Tigers in rushing with 101 yards.
Georgia Tech responded with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Godsey
to Watkins to make it 14-10.
Georgia Tech's Luke Manget kicked three field goals in the first
half.
Clemson has lost four in a row to Georgia Tech, each by three
points.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Georgia Tech Clubhouse
Clemson Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Georgia Tech's Kerry Watkins hauls in the 16-yard game-winner from George Godsey.
avi: 840 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Willie Simmons finds Rod Gardner for the 18-yard touchdown to recapture the lead for Clemson.
avi: 797 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
George Godsey hits Kelly Campbell 48-yards downfield for the Georgia Tech score.
avi: 1091 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Georgia Tech's George Godsey finds Kerry Watkins for the 33-yard TD pass.
avi: 750 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Travis Zachery hauls in the 29-yard pass from Woody Danzler for the Clemson score.
avi: 436 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Toure Francis blocks the Georgia Tech punt to set the Clemson offense up inside the 5-yard line.
avi: 824 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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