More than a decade later, the Miracle on Techwood Drive still feels almost impossible to believe.
On Oct. 24, 2015, Georgia Tech faced a Florida State team that had won 28 straight ACC games and looked poised to keep the streak alive.
The Yellow Jackets were a field goal away from a sixth straight loss, with overtime appearing to be their best hope of keeping the night alive.
Then came a finish nobody saw coming, one that sent Bobby Dodd Stadium into pandemonium, brought FSU’s conference winning streak to a stunning end and delivered Georgia Tech fans an unforgettable victory for the ages.
How the chaos unfolded
- The setup: Florida State and Georgia Tech were tied at 16 with 6 seconds left as Seminoles kicker Roberto Aguayo lined up to attempt what would have been a career-best 56-yard field goal.
- The block: Patrick Gamble surged through the line and got a hand on Aguayo’s low-trajectory kick, seemingly sending the game into overtime.
- The scoop and scramble: Players from both teams started to relax, thinking the ball would roll dead. Instead, Georgia Tech’s Lance Austin scooped up the ball at the 22-yard line near the FSU sideline with 1 second remaining.
- The sprint to glory: Ignoring shouts to fall on the ball, Austin cut across the field toward the Yellow Jackets’ sideline, got a crucial block from Chris Milton and raced 78 yards into the end zone with the time on the clock having long expired.
- The aftermath: Bobby Dodd Stadium erupted into a wild scene as the Yellow Jackets snapped their five-game losing streak with the 22-16 victory and handed the Seminoles their first conference loss since 2012.
Here’s how it sounded on the ESPN broadcast, with play-by-play announcer Mark Jones delivering these classic lines: “You can’t believe what just happened! What a time to be alive!”:
Here’s how it sounded on the Georgia Tech radio network, with play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin and color analyst Sean Bedford describing the mayhem:
And here’s how it looked from the stands behind the Georgia Tech sideline, with fans starting to rush the field just after Austin reaches the end zone:
Listen to the calls again as well as the crowd reaction and you can hear the disbelief turn into pure pandemonium.
It’s a reminder of what makes college football so special: Sometimes, the moments that seem impossible are the ones that become immortal.
One kick. One block. One unforgettable finish.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.