No. 5 Clemson Can’t Pass the Test

Kerry Watkins’ one-handed touchdown reception with seven seconds to play lifted Georgia Tech to a 31-28 victory over No. 5-ranked Clemson on Saturday at Clemson, S.C.

The 16-yard pass capped a career day for George Godsey, who completed 35 of 57 passes for 454 yards and three touchdowns.

“Godsey came up with some big plays on third down when we had to have them,” Georgia Tech Coach George O’Leary said.

After the game, Bowden said his team’s inexperience led to the Yellow Jackets’ 550-yard day.

“I’m kind of disappointed. I did not think they would be that productive,” Bowden said.

Clemson, 8-1 overall and 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, probably fell out of the national championship picture, but can still win the conference title if it beats Florida State on Saturday.

Clemson star Woody Dantzler left the game at halftime after re-injuring his left ankle. He passed for 76 yards and ran for 18 more. His replacement, Willie Simmons, passed for 131 yards and rushed for 25 yards.

After falling behind, 28-24, on the diving touchdown catch by Clemson’s Rod Gardner, Georgia Tech (6-2, 4-2) set off on the winning drive, which lasted 1:45 and covered 80 yards and 11 plays.

“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 with this team,” Bowden said.

No. 6 Florida State 58, No. 21 North Carolina State 14--Coach Bobby Bowden kicked himself for not running the ball more two years ago in an upset loss to North Carolina State so there was no second-guessing as the Seminoles rolled over the Wolfpack at Raleigh, N.C.

The Seminoles (8-1, 6-0) spent most of the first half polishing their ground game against a Wolfpack team led by former Florida State assistant Chuck Amato. FSU scored four touchdowns in a span of 14 minutes in the second quarter.

“I think a lot of the game was frustration from the last time we were up here,” Bowden said. “We came in here with the No. 2 football team and we got killed.”

Florida State’s emphasis on the ground attack was displayed in the play selection by Bowden. The Seminoles ran 14 more running plays than passing plays in the opening 30 minutes.

Travis Minor had 92 of his season-high 129 yards in the first half and scored on two two-yard runs as the Seminoles won their 68th ACC game in 70 tries with a season-high 324 yards rushing on 54 carries.

Maryland 20, Duke 9--LaMont Jordan’s 77-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second half sparked the Terrapins (4-4, 2-3) to victory over the winless Blue Devils (0-8, 0-5) at Durham, N.C.

Jordan, held to 12 yards on 11 carries in the first half, added a 28-yard touchdown with 3:11 left to play and finished with 158 yards on 21 carries. It was Jordan’s 16th career 100-yard game for Maryland.

Virginia 17, North Carolina 6--Receiver Tavon Mason ran 22 yards for a touchdown on a reverse to give the Cavaliers (5-3, 4-2) an eight-point lead with 1:23 left in the third as they beat the Tar Heels (3-5, 1-5) at Charlottesville, Va.