Atlanta, GA. – The fourth-ranked Georgia football team maintained its winning streak on Friday evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, securing its eighth consecutive victory over No. 23 Georgia Tech with a final score of 16-9. Despite challenges on offense, the Bulldogs demonstrated resilience and sufficient overall performance across all phases of the game.
Historically, Georgia had achieved multiple seven-game series wins against its rivals, but Friday’s victory marked the first time achieving an eight-game streak since the series’ inception in 1893. Although technically a home game for Georgia Tech, the crowd at the Invesco QQQ Gridiron Classic was approximately 60% Georgia supporters, providing a notable home-field advantage for the Bulldogs. The game concluded with a defensive stand that prevented a late-game Hail Mary pass, securing the win.
Georgia (11-1) trailed 3-0 after the first quarter but responded with 13 unanswered points in the second quarter to take and maintain the lead. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch scored the only touchdown of the game on a 7-yard reception, while kicker Peyton Woodring successfully made all three field goals attempted.
The Bulldogs relied heavily on their ground game, accumulating 190 rushing yards out of a total of 260 yards of offense. Quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 11 of 21 passes for 70 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. Running back Nate Frazier led the rushing effort with 108 yards on 16 carries. Georgia’s defense limited Georgia Tech to 250 total yards, including 69 yards on 23 rushing attempts.
Georgia Tech (9-3) opened the game with possession, but pressure from Bulldog defenders disrupted quarterback Haynes King’s initial drive. Defensive lineman Christen Miller recorded the only sack, losing seven yards, while the Bulldogs’ defensive pressure impeded most of the Yellow Jackets’ plays before they had to punt.
The Yellow Jackets then forced a turnover with linebacker Tah’j Butler intercepting a pass from Stockton near midfield, returning it to Georgia’s 37-yard line. Tech capitalized with a 30-yard field goal by Aidan Birr, taking a 3-0 lead with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter; linebacker Raylen Wilson’s key third-down stop at the Georgia 13 kept Georgia Tech from scoring a touchdown earlier.
In response, Georgia drove 55 yards on nine plays, reaching inside the Tech 10-yard line before settling for a 22-yard field goal by Woodring, tying the game at 3-3 with 9:42 remaining in the first half. A shanked punt by Tech then gave Georgia possession at its own 45-yard line. The Bulldogs capitalized quickly, moving 55 yards in nine plays and taking a 10-3 lead following Stockton’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Branch, aided by a 24-yard gain earlier in the drive.
Following a three-and-out by Georgia’s defense, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 13-3 with a 30-yard field goal just before halftime, and Georgia dominated statistically in the first half, outgaining Tech 181-78 yards, with a significant edge in time of possession (18:12 to 11:48).
After halftime, Georgia’s initial drive ended in a three-and-out, while Tech advanced the ball but was thwarted by a critical interception by Ellis Robinson IV near the goal line. Tech later kicked a 44-yard field goal to close the gap to 13-6 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Georgia responded with a sustained drive, converting a crucial fourth-and-1 play, and ultimately increasing its lead to 16-6 with a 50-yard field goal from Woodring, marking his 15th successful kick of the season and his third from 50 yards or more.
In the final quarter, Tech cut the deficit to 16-9 with a 41-yard field goal after reaching inside Georgia’s 25-yard line. Despite efforts, the Yellow Jackets could not score further, and a Hail Mary pass as time expired was deflected by the Bulldogs’ defense to end the game.
Georgia now awaits the outcome of Saturday’s games—specifically whether they will advance to the SEC Championship game, depending on results involving No. 17 Texas and No. 10 Alabama—and will learn its College Football Playoff destiny with the announcement of the 12-team bracket on December 7.
Photos/GeogiaBulldogsAthletics
