ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Because the clock crept previous midnight in a marathon for the ages, Nate Frazier lastly ended it for No. 6 Georgia with slightly 3-yard burst that will have locked up the largest prize of all.
One other journey to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Frazier ran for a 2-point conversion within the eighth time beyond regulation after Georgia pulled off an unbelievable fourth-quarter comeback, giving the Bulldogs a 44-42 victory over Georgia Tech on a Friday night time that stretched into Saturday morning.
“The time beyond regulation was epic,” Georgia coach Kirby Good mentioned. “What an incredible recreation.”
After falling behind 17-0 at halftime and being dominated many of the recreation, the Bulldogs (10-2, No. 7 CFP) confirmed loads of grit of their bid for a spot within the 12-team playoff — regardless of how they fare in subsequent weekend’s Southeastern Convention championship recreation towards both No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M.
“That’s for another person to resolve,” Good mentioned. “Our alternative is in entrance of us.”
Carson Beck threw 5 landing passes — two of them in OT — in a recreation the Bulldogs by no means led till after regulation ended 27-all. He completed 28 of 43 for 297 yards.
Georgia Tech (7-5) was powered by Haynes King, who ran for for 3 touchdowns and threw for 2 extra. However the Yellow Jackets took their seventh straight loss to the Bulldogs on a frigid, excruciating night time between the hedges.
King handed for 303 yards and ran for 110 in an excellent efficiency that wasn’t fairly sufficient.
Frazier, a freshman, took a handoff from Beck and burst up the center, sending fireworks into the sky above Sanford Stadium.
It was the longest recreation in SEC historical past and only one time beyond regulation shy of the file for any FBS recreation — Illinois’ 20-18 victory over Penn State in 2021 that went to 9 further intervals.
“We’re a beat-up soccer group,” Good mentioned. “We’ve obtained to get properly.”
King scored on an 11-yard run to provide Georgia Tech a seemingly snug 27-13 lead with 5:37 remaining, however the Bulldogs drove 75 yards in eight performs to provide themselves an opportunity. Beck linked with Dominic Lovett on a 17-yard landing go with 3:39 to go.
Then, the Bulldogs’ protection compelled an enormous turnover by King after struggling to include the slithery quarterback many of the recreation. He saved it himself on third-and-1 — solely to cough up the ball on an enormous hit by Dan Jackson.
Chaz Chambliss recovered the fumble on the Yellow Jackets 32, and Beck rapidly guided the Bulldogs to a tying landing on a 3-yard go to Lovett with 1:01 left in regulation.
Then, it was on to time beyond regulation — and a recreation that simply saved going and going.
Beck and King threw matching landing passes adopted by standard further factors. Then it was King scoring on a 1-yard run, solely to have Beck reply with a 25-yard scoring go to Money Jones. Each groups did not convert their 2-point tries, so it got here right down to nothing however 2-point tries.
Each groups transformed within the fifth OT, but it surely was Frazier who lastly ended it.
“There’s no ethical victories,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key mentioned, combating again tears. “However I’m happy with these guys.”
The primary half was an absolute stunner for the Bulldogs, who’ve lengthy dominated the state rivalry referred to as “Clear, Outdated-Common Hate.”
Georgia Tech raced to a lead that might have been even larger, outgaining the Bulldogs 307-137 in whole yards and almost doubling up in time of possession within the opening half.
King, who has battled shoulder points, appeared to be absolutely recovered as he guided the Yellow Jackets up and down the sector. He scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 4-yard landing go to Jamal Haynes, who made a hovering leap to the pylon. The Yellow Jackets additionally obtained a 31-yard subject objective from Aidan Birr.
However Birr additionally clanked a 25-yard try off the left upright, and Georgia Tech squandered one other scoring probability when Haynes was stuffed for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 on the Bulldogs 25.
Even with these setbacks, Georgia Tech constructed its greatest lead over the Bulldogs since a 20-0 edge within the 2013 recreation — when Georgia rallied for a 41-34 victory in double time beyond regulation.
These Bulldogs did it once more, extending their school-record house profitable streak to 31 in a row.
The takeaway
Georgia Tech: When Key took over this downtrodden program, he insisted the Yellow Jackets may compete with anybody — together with their mighty state rival. This one will damage for some time, however Georgia Tech confirmed it’s on the verge of backing up his daring phrases after simply two full seasons in cost. “He’s finished an incredible job turning that program round,” Good mentioned.
Georgia: The Bulldogs aren’t almost as dominant because the group that received back-to-back nationwide titles throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons. They surrendered 563 yards to the Yellow Jackets, together with 260 on the bottom. However, amazingly, Good’s squad nonetheless has a shot at profitable all of it for the third time in 4 years.
Up subsequent
Georgia Tech: Awaits a second straight bowl invitation and one other shot at its first eight-win season since 2016, which additionally was the final 12 months they beat the Bulldogs.
Georgia: Heads to the SEC championship recreation for the fourth straight season and seventh time in Good’s 9 years as coach. The opponent would be the winner of Saturday night time’s recreation between Texas and Texas A&M.
