Jackets sting Bulldogs with OT victory

photo Georgia Tech defensive back D.J. White (28) makes the game-winning interception against Georgia in overtime to preserve the 30-24 win Saturday in Athens, Ga.

ATHENS, Ga. - Hutson Mason's legacy as Georgia's quarterback was all set.

Until Georgia Tech rewrote the script to its liking.

Mason's 3-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell gave the No. 9 Bulldogs a lead with 18 seconds left in regulation and sent Sanford Stadium into a frenzy, but that turned out to be enough time for the Yellow Jackets to force overtime. Georgia Tech struck first in the extra period, and then Mason's last pass at home went from being a touchdown to an interception by cornerback D.J. White that sealed a 30-24 upset victory for the No. 16 Yellow Jackets.

"It's a sucky way to end your career -- sorry for my language," Mason said as he took a seat to address the media. "You go from maybe the greatest finish and storybook ending to your career to one of the worst ways to end your career. It just stinks."

White's game-sealing play was followed by Georgia Tech players pouring onto the field in celebration. It was the first win by the Yellow Jackets over the Bulldogs since 2008 and only the second since Mark Richt became Georgia's coach in 2001.

photo Georgia Tech running back Zach Laskey (37) gets past Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) grabbing for Laskey's face mask during their game on Nov. 29, 2014, in Athens, Ga. Georgia Tech won 30-24 in overtime after Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason's pass was intercepted by D.J. White.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson defeated Georgia in his first try in 2008 but had to endure five consecutive losses before tasting victory again. The Yellow Jackets completed a 10-2 regular season and will face Florida State in this week's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Charlotte.

"One game does not define a season," Johnson said. "Going 10-2 defines a season, and playing for an ACC championship defines a season. I have a lot of respect for Georgia's program, their stadium and their fans.

"They have a good football team and a good football program. They have for a long time and they will for a long time, which makes it that much more impressive for us to be able to come in here and get a win."

The Bulldogs dropped to 9-3 and could be heading to the familiar destinations of the Citrus Bowl or Outback Bowl against another Big Ten opponent. All the bowl matchups involving SEC teams will be announced a week from today.

After dropping to 12-2 against the Yellow Jackets, Richt said, "This is probably as sick as I've ever been after a loss."

Who could blame him?

Mason's pass to Mitchell occurred on fourth-and-goal, and it capped a drive that began when Bulldogs inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera recovered a fumble by Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas at Georgia's 31-yard line with 2:41 remaining. Thomas lost the ball on a pump fake.

Yet the disaster by Thomas would be surpassed with 18 seconds left, when the Bulldogs opted for a squib kickoff. Marshall Morgan's kick traveled 38 yards to Tech's 27 and was fielded by Anthony Harrell, who returned it 16 yards to the 43.

With 13 seconds remaining, Thomas scrambled for 21 yards to Georgia's 36, setting up a 53-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as regulation expired.

"I'm disappointed in my decision to squib kick," Richt said. "That gave them the field position to get it in range and kick it. That was a poor decision on my part, and it was no one's decision but mine.

"I should have just let him kick it deep and cover the thing and see what happened."

It was the first overtime game ever in Sanford Stadium, but it didn't take long to decide as Zach Laskey's 2-yard touchdown run put the Jackets up 30-24. Laskey had one rushing yard after the first quarter but wound up with 140 and three touchdowns on 26 carries.

"We were able to get good push on them all game," Laskey said. "Coach had told us before the game that they were bigger but to go out there and show them that we weren't. I think we established that today."

Georgia Tech's triple-option netted only 28 rushing yards in the first quarter but finished with 399.

"They just ran the ball," Georgia freshman outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter said. "There is nothing else you can say about it."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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