Stunner in Miami: Georgia Tech scores last-second touchdown to stun No. 17 Hurricanes

The Yellow Jackets scored on the last play to stun Miami at home

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Oct 7, 2023 11:37 PM EDT

In this story:

After a dismal performance last week against Bowling Green, the Yellow Jackets were looking to bounce back and show they are an improved team this year under Brent Key and pull a big upset against Miami. It would not be the first time that Georgia Tech had pulled a big upset on the road under Key, as they were three-touchdown underdogs against Pitt and North Carolina last season.

Miami came into this game off of their bye week and ranked No. 17 in the country. The Hurricanes had an impressive victory over Texas A&M this season but had been largely untested outside of that. The Yellow Jackets hoped to test Miami tonight and put themselves in a position to pull a massive upset.

Here is a complete recap of today's game from Miami.

1st Quarter

It was not a good start for the Georgia Tech offense.

After taking the opening kickoff, the offense went three and out and no positive yards were gained. It was not the kind of start that the Yellow Jackets needed and they had to punt the ball away after a quick drive.

Miami took over and appeared to have a good drive going. After picking up a first down, Hurricanes wide receiver Jacolby George was called for a personal foul and Miami was set back 15 yards. The Miami offense was targeting Xavier Restrepo early. Miami was faced with a 4th and 5 and threw a screen to Colbie Young, but the Yellow Jackets defense came up with a much-needed stop. After the week the defense had with the changes and everything, it was a welcome sight to see an early stop.

After another three and out, Miami took over for their second possession at their own 25-yard line with 7:07 left. The Yellow Jackets only let them drive a little bit and came up with another stop when they needed it. A great punt by Miami set the GT offense up at their own 10-yard line.

Once again though, the offense for GT could not move against this Miami defense and went three and out. The speed for the Hurricanes was not allowing GT to get going and Miami took over. Georgia Tech only managed 14 yards in the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

The defense for Georgia Tech got another stop to start the quarter, but Miami backed them up inside their own 10 yard line yet again.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Georgia Tech free 15 yards and then the offense started to move the ball a little bit. A run by King and then some quick passes got the ball into Miami territory.

After burning their second timeout of the half, Georgia Tech was backed up after a false start penalty. King proceeded to run around in the pocket and throw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted and Miami took over.

The Hurricanes methodically moved the ball down the field and after a 25-yard pass to Jacolby George, Miami was set up in red zone.

It looked like Miami had their first score of the game when Henry Parrish ran into the end zone, but a holding penalty brought it back. Facing a 3rd and 13, Van Dyke tried to throw it into the end zone and LaMiles Brooks picked it off and ran it out to the 25-yard line. It was another huge stop for Georgia Tech's defense.

The offense took over with 3:19 left in the first half and was hoping to get a score on the board considering Miami got the ball first out of the half.

Miami took over at their own 23-yard line with 1:22 left in the first half. The Hurricanes drove it down once again on the Yellow Jackets' defense, but they stopped Miami and held them to a field goal.

Miami outgained Georgia Tech 217-61 in the first half, but red zone stops were the difference. They gave themselves an opportunity to have a strong second half and pull a big upset, but the offense needed to play better.

3rd Quarter

Haynes King — Georgia Tech's offense had a hard time moving the ball against Miami tonight
Nathaniel Caudell

Miami began the second half on their own 23-yard line.

After finding Restrepo for his eighth catch of the game (a career-high for the Miami pass catcher), the Miami offense stalled yet again. Freshman right tackle Francis Mauigoa went down and facing a fourth and short, Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal opted for a punt.

Dominick Blaylock called for a fair catch and Georgia Tech took over at their own 13-yard line. A holding call on the first play from scrimmage and it kept going back from there. A drop by Blaylock on second down put the offense in another 3rd and long and Tech could not move it on 3rd down. A punt followed and Miami took over in great field position near midfield.

Georgia Tech forced a third and six, but Van Dyke found his favorite target of the night again. Restrepo picked up the first down and kept the chains moving for the Hurricanes. A few plays later, the first touchdown of the game was scored when Van Dyke found true freshman tight end Riley Williams got in the end zone to put Miami up 10-0. Given how the offense was playing, it seemed like an insurmountable lead for Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets took over and immediately faced a third and long, but King found Blaylock for the biggest play up to that point for GT. After a roughing, the passer penalty moved Georgia Tech inside the 20. King found tight end Luke Benson for a big gain to the one-yard line, but a false start would back them up and they faced a third and goal from the six-yard line. King ran it in himself and pulled Georgia Tech to within three points, 10-7.

The Yellow Jackets defense came up with its second interception of the night when Ahmari Harvey got his first career interception that set Georgia Tech up deep in Miami territory with a chance to take the lead.

The Yellow Jackets would do just that.

On third and goal, running back Jamal Haynes gave a great effort to pull a bunch of Miami defenders over the goal line for a touchdown to give Georgia Tech the lead 14-10. It was a tremendous play and a stunning turn of events after Miami went up 10-0.

Van Dyke would hit Restrepo for a big gain and Miami would be set up deep in Georgia Tech territory to start the fourth quarter. However, Georgia Tech was in a position to win the game as a three-touchdown underdog on the road and that is all they could have asked for heading into this game.

4th Quarter

The defense just kept coming up big in this game.

Facing a third down, the Yellow Jackets defense intercepted Van Dyke for the third time in the game, this time it was Jaylon King that got his third interception of the season. Georgia Tech was set up in great field position to add to the lead and pull closer to the upset.

Georgia Tech took over in great field position, but squandered it. Aidan Birr hit a 27-yarder to extend the lead, but it was a missed opportunity to not get a touchdown and extend the lead to two touchdowns.

Miami took over and immediately went deep to Colbie Young and he went down to the three-yard line and then Parrish ran it in for a touchdown. It was a great response from Miami. It was tied 17-17 with 9:55 to go in the game and Georgia Tech took over.

It was a disaster on the next drive.

King tried forcing a deep ball over the middle and Miami safety James Williams intercepted the pass and Miami started deep in Georgia Tech territory. It was another questionable decision by King and one that put Miami in great position to take the lead.

The defense for Georgia Tech was put in a tough position, but they held Miami to a field goal after a huge sack from linebacker Paul Moala. The Hurricanes led 20-17 with 6:23 to go in the game and Georgia Tech was going to get the ball back needing a score.

The Hurricanes fumbled the ball with 30 seconds trying to run out the clock and GT took over and had a chance to try and tie or win the game. Instead of taking a knee, Cristobal opted to try and run the ball and it backfired badly

King hit Rutherford for a big gain and then hit Christian Leary for the touchdown. It was an unbelievable play and left the entire crowd stunned. It was one of the most unbelievable endings you will ever see in college football.

Once again, Brent Key went on the road as a three-touchdown underdog and got a win against a ranked team. This time it was in the most unbelievable fashion imaginable and Georgia Tech walked out of Miami with a win.

Up next for the 3-3 Yellow Jackets is the bye week and then Georgia Tech faces Boston College and North Carolina at home

Stay tuned for more coverage of this unbelievable game in Miami.

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