Georgia Tech: 35
Florida State: 41

After blowing out Navy in week one, Georgia Tech would take their #10 ranking to Tallahassee to face the top ranked Seminoles of Florida State. The game featured a marquee matchup of quarterbacks with the Jackets being led by Heisman candidate Joe Hamilton and the Seminoles being led by future Heisman winner Chris Weinke. The Seminoles had won the conference championship every season since joining in the ACC in 1992. A victory for Tech would’ve surely put them in the driver’s seat for the conference title, as well as increase talk of a potential national championship.

The Seminoles put the first points on the board late in the opening quarter when Peter Warrick took a direct snap 17 yards for a touchdown to cap off a 6 play, 74 yard drive. The Jackets didn’t give their defense much of a break. After taking over at his own 20 after the kickoff, Hamilton promptly hit Dez White for an 80 yard strike to tie the score at 7 apiece.

A shootout ensued in the second quarter when the game saw five total touchdowns. The teams scored on consecutive drives throughout the period with FSU scoring three touchdowns to Tech’s two. The first score came on a Seminole drive that carried over from the first quarter when Dan Kendra took Weinke’s pass three yards for the score. Hamilton then scored for Tech on a 19 yard touchdown run to cap off an 80 yard drive and tie the game at 14 all. The Seminoles retook the lead after just 5 offensive plays when Travis Minor marched 18 yards for a touchdown. Tech came back with a fury when Hamilton connected with Kelly Campbell for 21 yards on the first play of the next drive. Just three plays later, Hamilton threw another strike to Campbell, this one going for 56 yards and the touchdown to knot the score at 21 each with five minutes remaining in the half. The Seminoles retook the lead on their final drive of the half, scoring on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Weinke to fullback Jeff Cheney. Tech would trail 28-21 after two quarters of play.

Each team added a quick touchdown in the second half. The ‘Noles struck first when Weinke hit Peter Warrick on a 26 yard pass for the score, and Tech quickly answered with a 10 play 80 yard drive that was capped off by an 11 yard touchdown pass from Hamilton to Kerry Watkins; the score was now 35-28 in favor of Florida State. The only other score in the third quarter came on a 46 yard field goal by the Seminoles to make it 38-28.

Early in the fourth quarter, Florida State added another field goal to increase their advantage to 41-28, and Tech’s chances at victory looked to be slipping away. At one point the Jackets looked as if they might score but turned the ball over on downs after advancing to the Seminole 35 yard line. But the Ramblin’ Wreck refused to give up. Hamilton took the offense 62 yards on nine plays, throwing a 22 yard touchdown pass to Campbell to bring Tech within six at 41-35. With 1:35 remaining, the Jackets missed on an onside kick attempt and the Seminoles ran out the clock for the victory.

Hamilton’s performance was incredible! The senior Heisman candidate completed 22 of 25 passes for 387 yards, throwing four touchdowns and rushing for another for 5 total touchdowns! With 18 yards rushing, his total yardage came in at 405 yards (the second highest single game total in ACC history, at the time).

FSU would finish the regular season with a perfect record of 11-0 before defeating Michael Vick and Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl for the BCS National Championship.

Statistics:

First Downs:
GT – 24
FSU – 29

Rushing Yards:
GT – 114
FSU – 182

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
GT – 22-25-387
FSU – 16-29-262

Total Offense:
GT – 501
FSU – 444

Fumbles (Total-Lost):
GT – 3-0
FSU – 0-0

Penalties-Yds:
GT – 13-137
FSU – 11-96

References:
Game Summary: http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091299aaa.html