Atlanta — The play designed to give Florida State a last-minute comeback win worked just as Coach Bobby Bowden expected -- until Marcus Sims lost the ball.
Sims fumbled into the end zone to finish No. 16 Florida State's comeback hopes in the final minute, and Georgia Tech beat the Seminoles, 31-28, on Saturday.
"It could have been one of the greatest comebacks, but we fumbled it," Bowden said.
Florida State trailed 24-10 in the first half and 31-20 before scoring with 6:04 left.
Georgia Tech safety Cooper Taylor's helmet-to-football hit popped the ball loose on Sims' second-down run from the three. Rashaad Reid recovered it with 45 seconds left, beating Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder and others in the fight for the ball.
"It was the last play of the game. We either had to stop them right there [or lose]," Taylor said. "I'm in shock right now."