SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 1, 2012
No. 13 Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 15: James Wilder Jr. rushed for two touchdowns and the Seminoles staved off a late rally by the Yellow Jackets to win the ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C.
Georgia Tech’s Jemea Thomas intercepted EJ Manuel with 2:17 left, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball on their own 15-yard line, but Florida State sealed the win when Karlos Williams intercepted Tevin Washington with 1:17 to play.
Florida State (11-2) earned a trip to the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day, while Georgia Tech was granted a waiver from the NCAA to be bowl eligible at 6-7. Wilder was named the game’s MVP after rushing 10 times for 69 yards.
The Seminoles led 7-0 with 10:45 left in the first quarter on Devonta Freeman’s 3-yard run, and they appeared to be in control after Wilder put them ahead 21-3 on a 1-yard score with 4:46 left before halftime.
Georgia Tech cut the deficit to 21-15 with 6:27 to play on Washington’s 1-yard touchdown run, capping a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The Yellow Jackets’ David Sims rushed for 91 yards on 19 carries in place of leading rusher Orwin Smith, who missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington’s score was his 19th rushing touchdown of the season, setting an ACC single-season record for quarterbacks. … Florida State has won 14 ACC championships, matching Clemson for the most in league history. ... Georgia Tech was 4-for-15 on third-down conversions, but 4-of-4 on fourth down.