#18 Georgia Tech gets through Temple 45-24

In their first game as a ranked team in 2025, the #18 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets beat Temple 45-24, drawing the all-time series even at 1-1 after losing a game in 2019 that I will never speak of again after today.

Tech went out to a 21-0 lead after a near flawless first quarter, but self-inflicted mistakes (as Jamal Haynes put it) led to three straight three and outs and Temple drawing within a touchdown early in the second half.

Nonetheless, Tech put their foot back on the gas pedal with big runs from Jamal Haynes and Malachi Hosley in the second half and secured a 4-0 record, their first since 2014 (pretty good year if we remember correctly).

How it Happened

Temple opted to receive after winning the coin toss, but nothing after a three and out to start the game. Tech’s offense was rolling from the get go with a 37 yard swing pass to Jamal Haynes and an eventual Haynes King 17 yard TD run to go up 7-0.

After another Temple punt, King took his first deep shot of the game missing Eric Rivers but still connected with Malik Rutherford later in the drive for a 24 yard touchdown pass, King’s first TD pass of the season for a 14-0 lead.

Tech’s third drive was as good as it got in the first half with solid runs by Haynes & Haynes, a third down conversion by Bailey Stockton, and then a 37 yard touchdown reception by Isiah Canion down the right sideline to go up 21-0.

Early in the second quarter, Temple scored on their first cohesive drive of the game converting a 3rd & 1 before Evan Simon scrambled for 34 yards to get inside the five (Tah’j Butler somehow went to tackle the wrong guy) to set up an easy punch in touchdown.

From there, Tech’s next 4 possessions were complete duds (averaged 1 yard per play for the quarter) while Temple did just enough to make the game a conversation despite not scoring again in the half. On their final drive to close the half, Temple attempted a 61 yard field goal that landed short, but Tech for some reason didn’t send anyone back to potentially receive the kick.

With the ball to start the second half, King fumbled on the second play, giving Temple prime field position which they converted on an easy slant pass touchdown to make it 21-14. We were not feeling good in that moment.

Tech thankfully answered right back with a long run by Haynes to get something going before Malachi Hosely ran 34 yards for Tech’s 4th TD of the game.

Temple’s next two drives resulted in nothing, but on one where they started with the ball at their 1 yard line should’ve resulted in either an interception in the endzone or a sack for safety, but instead Simon converted a 3rd & 9 pass through soft coverage. On the next third down, Tech got wise to the situation and sent the house for a sack.

Jamal Haynes hit a 13 then 47 yard runs to put Tech goal to go, and Hosley knocked in a two yard touchdown for a 35-14 lead.

Tech’s next scoring drive came courtesy first downs by Hosley and Bailey Stockton to set up a 32 yard Aidan Birr field goal to keep him perfect on the year and making it 38-14 with 8:50 left in the game.

Temple’s next drive put them at 4th & inches on their side of the field, and of course that means they blasted a 42 yard run right on by us. Our defense held up at that point, Temple settling for a 41 yard field goal to make it 38-17.

Temple went for an onside kick, failling to recover and immediately allowing a 47 yard TD run by Daylon Gordon (Philo was in at QB on this play) for a 45-17 lead.

With the backups in, Temple scored one last touchdown for the backdoor cover to reach our final of 45-24.

The analytics as seen above via gameonpaper.com show a comfortable win for Tech. To be clear, in the end it was. Some of us were quite freaked out after that second quarter because we’ve seen the Tech of the last decade find a way to lose this specific kind of game against a G5, but the difference with Key is that the worst of this team is so, so much better than before. When they needed a rebound drive, they got it and controlled the game the rest of the way.

After the game, Brent Key was forthright about the second quarter being poor Tech football, but that they are taking today to be grateful for the win and celebrate that.

For the players that spoke after the game, all were very clear that they did not meet the standard of play they wish to see. Kyle Effort noted that the version of Tech football we saw in the first quarter is what they want to maintain for four quarters. They had things they left on the field to clean up for Wake Forest, and that was already their mindset minutes after the game ended.

Tech goes for 5-0 next week at Wake Forest. Noon kick on ESPN or ESPN2.