Johnson's risk pays off

ATLANTA --- Some coaches probably would have taken the easy way out, settling for the chip-shot field goal to set up a second overtime.

Not Paul Johnson.

The Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1 ACC) climbed to No. 7 in The Associated Press rankings and BCS standings after Johnson's gutsy call on fourth down led to a 30-27 overtime victory against Wake Forest.

The Jackets can clinch the Coastal Division title with a win Saturday at Duke, and a victory in the Dec. 5 ACC Championship Game at Tampa would send them to the Orange Bowl.

Those scenarios were in jeopardy when Georgia Tech faced fourth down at the Wake Forest 5, trailing 27-24 in overtime Saturday. The first-down marker was only a half-yard away.

Quarterback Josh Nesbitt took the snap, lowered his head and easily picked up the first down with a 2-yard gain. On the next play, Nesbitt went in standing for a 3-yard touchdown run that ended the game.

"Let's say we kick the field goal," Johnson said. "There's still a 50-50 chance to lose. ... You've got to get a half-yard. If you get a half-yard, you've got a chance to win the game. I thought our chances to get a half-yard were better than 50-50."

The Yellow Jackets already had failed four times on fourth down, even more reason for Johnson to kick. The coach was asked how many of his counterparts would make the same decision.

"A lot of it depends on what you're doing," Johnson said. "If you're in the shotgun and snapping the ball 6 yards deep to the quarterback, you might not go for it. But I'm operating with the ball right on the line. I've got to get a half-yard."