Georgia Tech Pulls Away From UCF and Wins Their First Bowl Game Since 2016
If you counted Georgia Tech out of the game once they fell behind UCF 17-3 tonight, you must not have watched many Georgia Tech games this season.
The Knights went up 14-0 and then 17-3 and were dominating the game. Known for their run game, UCF was finding a lot of success early through the air and the Yellow Jackets were having a hard time covering them.
UCF made a few mistakes and Georgia Tech took full advantage. A fumble, a dropped touchdown, and a missed field goal kept Georgia Tech in the game and then they learned on their running game in the second half to salt the game away. It is the program's first bowl win since defeating Kentucky in the 2016 Gator Bowl and Brent Key finishes his first full season as the head coach of his alma mater with a 7-6 record and a lot of momentum going into 2024.
Here is a recap of tonight's Gasparilla Bowl.
1st Half
UCF got the ball to start the game and they started the game off about as well as they could have hoped.
All it took on the opening drive was four plays for the Knights to go 51 yards for a score. Quarterback John Rhys-Plumlee found receiver Javon Baker for the score and not even two minutes into the game, UCF led 7-0. Georgia Tech's offense was going to need to respond.
Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the offense could not stay on the field long enough. Jamal Haynes had a big first down run, but that was the only big play for Georgia Tech. They went six plays and only managed to get 20 yards and had to punt it away. The best thing was that UCF's return man tried to bring the punt out of the endzone and he was tackled at the two-yard line.
The field position did not matter for UCF though. The Knights ran 10 plays and went 98 yards for their second score of the game. UCF wide receiver Kobe Hudson caught his first touchdown of the game and just like that it was 14-0. It was only the first quarter, but it felt like Georgia Tech was already in need of a touchdown in the game. All the momentum was with UCF early in the game.
In desperate need of a scoring drive, Georgia Tech proceeded to go three and out and had to punt the ball back. The offense could not protect King up front and on top of that, committed a false start. They had to punt it away and UCF was going to have a chance to go 3-3 on their scoring drives.
The Knights started the drive out fast and looked to be marching towards the end zone again, but Yellow Jackets defensive tackle Horace Lockett forced a fumble and cornerback Myles Sims picked it up and got the ball back for Georgia Tech. It was the biggest play of the quarter by far for the Yellow Jackets.
After being gifted the ball with the fumble, Georgia Tech needed to punch it in. King busted a big 32-yard run to get into the red zone and to start the second quarter, Georgia Tech was going to have a huge scoring opportunity.
2nd Quarter
UCF quarterback John Rhys-Plumlee
To start the second quarter, Georgia Tech had a 2nd and five, but they went backward. Dontae Smith lost two yards on a carry and King's pass was incomplete. Aidan nailed the 36-yard field goal try and Georgia Tech was finally on the board, now trailing 14-3.
Georgia Tech's defense allowed UCF to drive 13 plays and go 59 yards to get into the red zone, but the Knights dropped a touchdown pass that would have made it 21-3. They had to settle for a field goal and UCF led 17-3. That was considered a win for Georgia Tech, but they needed to put together a touchdown drive on offense.
And that is what they did.
King led the offense onto the field for the Yellow Jackets' best drive of the game, going seven plays for 74 yards and ending with King running into the end zone for his 10th touchdown run of the year. There was 4:23 left to go in the first half and for the first time all game, it felt like Georgia Tech had some momentum.
After the offense led a touchdown drive to cut it to a one-score game, the Yellow Jackets had to figure some things out on defense. The offense had just had their best drive of the game and it was the defense's turn now. They held UCF to a three-and-out and got the ball back for King and the offense with time to go and score.
They wasted little time in getting back on the scoreboard.
After struggling for the first few drives, the offense had finally found a rhythm and they went on a six-play, 67-yard drive to tie the game, King found Malik Rutherford for a 41-yard touchdown and just like that, it was 17-17. A dropped touchdown and then a three-and-out forced by the defense gave the Yellow Jackets the momentum they needed.
With 56 seconds left on the clock, UCF had an opportunity to go down the field and get a score. The Knights did get down the field and settled for a 30-yard field goal attempt, but he missed it and the game was tied going into the half. After a nightmare start for Georgia Tech, they settled in, found what worked on offense, and took advantage of the UCF mistakes.
3rd quarter
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King
After going on a 14-0 run to tie the game in the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets began the half with the ball and a chance for their first lead of the game.
The running game took over for the Yellow Jackets. Jamal Haynes found a way to get going and on that opening drive, he eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season. He got Georgia Tech down in the red zone and when faced with a 4th and one from the 12-yard line, Brent Key opted to kick the field goal instead of go for it. Birr nailed the kick and for the first time all game, Georgia Tech had a 20-17 lead with 12:07 left in the third quarter.
The Knights had no trouble getting down the field with RJ Harvey breaking big runs and UCF getting into the red zone. Facing a 4th and 1, Harvey broke around the edge for a first down, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. Knights head coach Gus Malzahn opted to go for it instead of try the field goal and the pass was incomplete. Georgia Tech took over at their own 30-yard line and had a chance to go up multiple scores.
What ended up happening though was a controversial call by the referees. King took a shot downfield for Eric Singelton Jr, but it was intercepted. It appeared the ball hit the ground before the UCF defender got control, but even after a review, the officials confirmed the call. UCF took over at their own 25-yard line.
Once again though, the defense made a stand and forced a punt. They did a good job of adjusting after a tough start.
Georgia Tech took over and proceeded to march right down the field. The quarter ended with the Yellow Jackets leading 20-17 and on the UCF six-yard line.
4th Quarter
Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith running the ball vs UCF
Georgia Tech quickly faced a big decision at the start of the fourth quarter. It was 4th and goal from the one yard and Key elected to go for it. Dontae Smith came into the game at running back and punched it in the end zone and Georgia Tech took a 27-17 lead with 13:37 left in the game.
UCF faced a huge drive of their own, suddenly down multiple scores and being unable to stop the Georgia Tech rushing attack. Paul Moala came up with a big sack on 3rd down to force a sack and Georgia Tech was going to get the ball back with a 10-point lead and a chance to milk the clock away.
The Yellow Jackets went on a 10-play, 42-yard drive and took nearly six minutes off the clock. Aidan Birr knocked in a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 30-17 and there was only 4:52 left in the game.
UCF took over and after Timmy McClain, the Knights's backup quarterback, had to come in the game, he did lead them into Georgia Tech territory, but senior safety Jaylon King broke up a fourth down pass and that was the end to the game. Georgia Tech had blocked any attempt at a UCF comeback and was on their way to a winning season.
This is a huge season for Brent Key and the program. For the first time in a long time, it feels like this program has momentum and Key is pushing them forward to continue it in 2024.
Georgia Tech finished with nearly 300 yards rushing, with Jamal Haynes going over 100 yards for the fourth time this season and winning the Gasparilla Bowl MVP in the process
The next time you will see Georgia Tech play a football game that counts, it will be against Florida State in Ireland to open up the entire 2024 college football season. That will be a huge opportunity for a team that is going to bring a lot of key players back.
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