Georgia Tech hits 55-yard FG as time expires to stun No. 12 Clemson 24-21

ATLANTA — Aidan Birr made a 55-yard field goal as time expired, and Georgia Tech upset No. 12 Clemson, 24-21, on Saturday.

With no timeouts left and the clock running with under 20 seconds to play, the Georgia Tech special teams squad sprinted onto the field and lined up.

And on fourth-and-3, Birr connected, and the home crowd rushed the field. Birr’s kick tied for the longest field goal in Georgia Tech history.

“We worked that situation a lot throughout camp and practice,” Birr said. “Seeing the offense and the defense play so well, I didn’t want to let them down.”

Quarterback Haynes King returned from a lower-body injury that kept him out of Georgia Tech’s Sept. 6 win over Gardener-Webb. King was 19 for 27 for 216 yards and added 25 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter for the Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0 ACC).

King’s score and the 2-point conversion gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-14 lead.

“Georgia Tech is a special place,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said. “To see the student body, the way they’ve come out and supported us this year and get behind this team, that’s what it’s all about.”

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had an uneven performance in which he turned the ball over twice: one fumble and one interception.

Klubnik was 15 for 26 for 207 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Wesco early in the second half to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead. Klubnik added 62 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

For the second straight week, Clemson (1-2, 0-1) had to overcome a slow start and halftime deficit.

On the game’s final drive, Georgia Tech took possession from its 25-yard line with 3:26 remaining and two timeouts. The Yellow Jackets drove down the field, led by King, before Birr’s decisive kick.

“Early in that drive, Haynes came to the sideline and said put the ball in my hand and we’ll win this thing,” Key said. “And we did.”