Tech Defense Dominates in 30-16 Win at WakeTech Defense Dominates in 30-16 Win at Wake
Football

Tech Defense Dominates in 30-16 Win at Wake

Jackets force five turnovers, record eight sacks in win over previously undefeated Demon Deacons

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Georgia Tech raced out to a commanding 20-3 halftime lead and went on to down previously undefeated Wake Forest, 30-16, on Saturday night at Allegacy Stadium.

With the win, Georgia Tech evened its record at 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Wake Forest (3-1, 0-1 ACC) lost for the first time this season, the ninth time in its last 31 games and the third time in its last 17 home games.

The Yellow Jackets’ victory came on the strength of a dominant display by its defensive front, which amassed eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss for a total of 42 yards. The eight sacks were tied for the fifth-most in Georgia Tech history. The sack parade was led by Kyle Kennard, whose four sacks are tied for the third-most in Tech’s single-game history and the most by a Yellow Jacket since Jeremiah Attaochu had four against Georgia in 2013.

Tech also forced five turnovers in the win, none bigger than Kenan Johnson’s interception at the Georgia Tech 11-yard line with less than two-and-a-half minutes to go in the game, which preserved the Jackets’ 23-16 lead. Four plays later, Jamal Haynes scored on a 26-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.

Eric Singleton Jr. and Abdul Janneh caught 31- and 33-yard touchdown passes from Haynes King and Aidan Birr made two of his three field goals in the first half to help the Yellow Jackets take the commanding 20-3 halftime advantage. They led 23-9 before Wake cut it to 23-16 with 5:26 to go in the ballgame. The Demon Deacons then forced Georgia Tech’s only three-and-out of the second half and marched all the way to the GT 21 before Johnson’s interception ended the Deacs’ final threat.

In addition to Johnson’s fourth-quarter INT, Tech also got takeaways from Jaylon King (two interceptions), North Carolina native Zeek Biggers (fumble recovery) and true freshman Chad Alexander (fumble recovery).

With the triumph, Georgia Tech has now won four of its last five ACC road games, dating back to last season.

Tech returns home next week to face Bowling Green at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ACC Network.

GATech-WFU-07-scaledGeorgia Tech vs. Wake Forest University, September 23, 2023, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Eric Singleton (13) celebrates his fourth touchdown reception in as many games as a Yellow Jacket, a 31-yard grab that gave Tech an early 7-3 lead (Joe Vogan photo).

 

Postgame Notes

Team Notes

  • Georgia Tech evened its record at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play.
  • Georgia Tech handed Wake Forest its first loss of the season (3-1), its ninth loss in its last 31 games overall and its third loss in its last 17 home games.
  • The win was Georgia Tech’s fourth in its last five ACC road games.
  • The win was Georgia Tech’s fourth-straight over Wake Forest.
  • The win was Georgia Tech’s sixth-straight regular-season win over Wake Forest.
  • The win was Georgia Tech’s fourth-straight at Wake Forest.
  • The win was Georgia Tech’s sixth-straight over an opponent from the state of North Carolina and its third-straight in N.C.
  • Georgia Tech’s defense, which came into the game with just one sack this season, had eight sacks on Saturday, tied for the fifth-most in school history, the most since it had eight against North Carolina on Sept. 25, 2021 and its second-most in the last 16 seasons (2008-23).
  • Tech’s defense also had 10 tackles for loss on Saturday after entering the game with just seven this season. The 10 TFL were the Yellow Jackets’ most in a game since they had 12 in las season’s 21-17 win at No. 13 North Carolina (Nov. 19, 2022).
  • Georgia Tech outscored Wake Forest 13-0 in the second quarter and has outscored its opponents 58-13 in the second quarter of all games this season.

 

Individual Notes

  • DL Kyle Kennard had four of Georgia Tech’s eight sacks. His four sacks are tied for the third-most in Georgia Tech single-game history and the most since Jeremiah Attaochu had four against Georgia on Nov. 30, 2013.
  • With his 31-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, Fr. WR Eric Singleton has caught a touchdown pass in each of the first four games of his collegiate career.
  • Singleton is the first Yellow Jacket with a touchdown reception in four-straight games since Kelly Campbell caught touchdown passes in six-straight games in 2000 (Sept. 30 vs. North Carolina-Nov. 18 vs. Maryland).
  • r-Jr. WR Abdul Janneh’s 33-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was his first at Georgia Tech. A transfer from Duquesne, Janneh had 10 TD receptions in three seasons with the Dukes, including nine last season.
  • Janneh’s two receptions and 47 receiving yards were his most as a Yellow Jacket (prev.: one reception for 33 yds. vs. Louisville – Sept. 1).
  • TE Luke Benson’s 38-yard reception in the first quarter was the longest at Georgia Tech, doubling his previous long of 19 yards, set vs. Western Carolina on Sept. 10, 2022.
  • Benson’s 38 receiving yards were his most in two seasons as a Yellow Jacket (prev.: 19 – 2x, last vs. Ole Miss – Sept. 17, 2022).
  • WR Avery Boyd’s 31-yard reception in the second quarter was a career long (prev.: 14 at Ole Miss – last Saturday).
  • Boyd’s 31 receiving yards were a career high (prev.: 14 at Ole Miss – last Saturday).
  • r-Fr. Aidan Birr’s 48-yard field goal in the second quarter was the longest by a Yellow Jacket since Wesley Wells’ 48-yarder vs. Virginia on Nov. 17, 2018.
  • Birr was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts (25, 48 and 27 yards). His three field goals were a career high (prev.: two vs. South Carolina State – Sept. 9).
  • r-Sr. DB Myles Sims’ 10 tackles were a career high (prev.: seven at Notre Dame – Nov. 20, 2021).
  • Playing in his home state of North Carolina, Jr. DL Zeek Biggers had a career-high nine tackles (prev. six vs. Ole Miss – Sept. 17, 2022).
GATech-WFU-03Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest University, September 23, 2023, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Myles Sims had a career-high 10 tackles in Saturday’s 30-16 win at Wake Forest (Joe Vogan photo).

 

Multimedia

Head Coach Brent Key Postgame Press Conference (Audio)

Postgame Press Conference (Coach Key, Haynes King, Myles Sims, Kenan Johnson, Zeek Biggers)

Game Highlights (ACC Digital Network)

Condensed Game (ACC Digital Network)

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