Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo scored the go-ahead touchdown with 22 seconds remaining and then the Yellow Jackets watched as a would-be game-winning field goal try from NC State pulled just wide of the uprights to win 30-29 on Thursday evening.

Though the offense failed to score a single touchdown through the first 3 quarters, Georgia Tech went into the fourth with a 16-7 lead on the Wolfpack. NC State scored 22 fourth-quarter points but could not complete the comeback.

Georgia Tech moved to 7-4 with the victory and closed out ACC play with a 5-3 record, marking the first time since 2011-14 the school has posted consecutive winning seasons in league play.

NC State dropped to 5-6. The Wolfpack have one game remaining — at North Carolina on Nov. 30 — to reach bowl eligibility. NC State has failed to qualify for the postseason only twice under coach Dave Doeren — 2013 (his first year) and 2019.

The opening points of Thursday’s game came in wild fashion. NC State motioned 4 offensive linemen out wide and then brought a wideout back across the formation on a jet motion. A pop pass bounced off the receiver, then bounced off quarterback CJ Bailey’s hands as he tried to corral the loose ball, and fell into the hands of E.J. Lightsey, who returned the ball 21 yards for a score.

Bailey tied the game later in the quarter on a 16-yard rushing touchdown.

Georgia Tech kicked 3 field goals in the second and third quarters as the offenses ran dry.

The Wolfpack scored in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter to cap a 7-play, 75-yard drive. With 7:33 to play, NC State picked off Philo in the red zone, but Bailey gave it back 3 plays later on an interception that was returned to the 3-yard-line. Georgia Tech scored on the ensuing play to take a 23-14 lead.

Bailey scored his third rushing touchdown of the game with 4:07 to play and the defense quickly forced a 3-and-out. Hollywood Smothers broke free for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:30 to play that gave NC State its first lead of the night at 29-23.

Over the next 1:08, Philo engineered the only other touchdown drive of the night for the Tech offense. He hit all 4 of his passes on the drive — for 6, 2, 17, and 8 yards. He paid it off with consecutive 18-yard carries on the final 2 plays.

Baily got NC State to the 41-yard-line to try a 58-yard field goal as time expired. The kick from Collin Smith had the distance but went just wide of the left upright.

Philo finished 19-for-33 for 265 yards and an interception. He also ran for 57 yards and the game-winning score.

Bailey went 17-for-30 through the air for 147 yards. He added 83 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground, but he was also picked off 3 times. NC State ran for 253 yards as a team, 198 of which came in the second half.

Georgia Tech closes out the regular season next Friday against Georgia, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. NC State’s game against North Carolina will kick off the following day at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.