Georgia’s Streak in Rivalry Ends at 7

ATHENS, Ga. —  Brad Chambers kicked a 35-yard field goal with two seconds remaining as 17th-ranked Georgia Tech defeated the No. 12 Georgia, 21-19, on Saturday to end its losing streak against its rival at seven.

“This is the best game we’ve ever won,” senior running back Charlie Rogers said. “We’ve been waiting for this game since the first game of the season.”

Georgia Tech, 9-2 and co-champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference, lost to Georgia (8-3) the past three years by a total of 13 points.

Last season’s defeat was particularly frustrating for Georgia Tech, which went ahead on a touchdown with 48 seconds remaining but lost, 27-24, when Mike Bobo threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Corey Allen with eight seconds left.

“I think it was time for them to feel how we’ve been feeling the last seven years,” Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton said.

Hamilton, who threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, redeemed himself by directing a nine-play, 52-yard drive that set up the second field goal of the game by Chambers.

Georgia called two timeouts hoping to create more pressure for Chambers, who missed a 37-yarder in the first quarter, but the tactic didn’t affect the senior kicker.

“He looked spaced-out as he walked on the field,” Georgia Tech Coach George O’Leary said. “I think the two timeouts helped him get some color back in his face.”

The kick went right down the middle, but Chambers didn’t see it.

“I was mainly listening to [holder] Brett [Basquin],” Chambers said. “He said [before the kick], ‘You’ll know if you’ve made it because we’ll jump on top of you.’ I never did see the kick. I kicked it and the next thing I know Brett lifted me up and [then] I was down on the ground.”

On Georgia Tech’s winning drive, which started at its 30 with 3:57 left, Hamilton appeared to fumble after scrambling for a 14-yard gain. Larry Mann fell on the ball for Georgia, but the officials ruled Hamilton was down.

On third-and-11 at the Georgia 32, Hamilton then hooked up with Charlie Rogers for a 13-yard play. After a one-yard run by Phillip Rogers, Hamilton spiked the ball to stop the clock and give Chambers his chance to win the game.

When the game ended, Georgia Tech players danced briefly at midfield atop the Bulldogs’ “G” logo at Sanford Stadium--recreating the Georgia celebration on the “GT” at Bobby Dodd Stadium a year ago.