THE FLATS – Quarterback Haynes King ran for two touchdowns, Jamal Haynes had 81 of Georgia Tech’s 205 rushing yards and Eric Singleton Jr. hauled in four passes for 97 yards, but Georgia Tech came up on the short end of a 31-23 score, falling to undefeated and top-ranked Georgia at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field on Saturday night.
Tech, which finished its regular season at 6-6 and awaits its first bowl assignment since 2018, put up the highest point total of any team this season against the 12-0 Bulldogs’ defense. The Yellow Jackets kept Georgia within striking distance by running the ball for 205 yards, a total exceeded this season only by Auburn, going 5-for-5 in red zone chances and capitalizing on two Georgia turnovers to score touchdowns.
Tech got its first takeaway on Georgia’s first offensive play when D’Quan Douse forced a fumble at the Bulldogs’ 37-yard line. Four plays later, King ran up the middle for 9 yards and the first of his two touchdowns that gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead.
Georgia pulled even on its next possession, but the Jackets answered with the first of three field goals by Aidan Birr to lead 10-7 after one quarter.
The Bulldogs outscored Tech 24-3 over the next two quarters to take what appeared to be a comfortable 31-13 lead into the final period. However, the Yellow Jackets did not wilt, driving 52 yards on their first possession of the fourth quarter for a 40-yard Burr field goal that trimmed the deficit to 31-16.
The Jackets got their second takeaway on the Bulldogs’ next possession when K.J. Wallace picked off a Beck pass in the end zone. They then drove 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by King’s second touchdown run of the day from 5 yards out that pulled them within a score at 31-23 with 3:46 to go in the ballgame.
However, Georgia recovered Tech’s ensuing onside kick and picked up a pair of first downs to run the final 3:46 off the clock, ending the Yellow Jackets’ bid to become the first unranked team to defeat the nation’s No. 1 team since unranked Texas A&M beat No. 1 Alabama in 2021.
Haynes (81 yards), Dontae Smith (68) and King (24) combined for 173 of Georgia Tech’s 205 rushing yards, as the Yellow Jackets joined Auburn (219 yards on Sept. 30) as the only two teams in Georgia’s last 73 games, dating back to 2018, to rush for 200 yards against the Bulldogs. King also hit 11-of-20 passes for 158 yards, highlighted by Singleton’s four catches for 96 yards.
Milton finished the game with a career-best 156 yards on 18 carries for Georgia, while Beck went 13-of-20 through the air for 175 yards.
Georgia Tech will learn its bowl destination and opponent on Sunday, Dec. 3.