Georgia Tech up 17-0 on Georgia, Brent Key ‘coaches’ around Kirby Smart

ATHENS — Georgia Tech jumped out to a stunning 17-0 lead over Georgia in the first half of Friday’s game at Sanford Stadium.

It is the first time since 2019 that the Bulldogs have been shut out in the first half of a game and the first time since 2014 that a Georgia defense has given up more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards passing.

“Brent Key and his staff are running circles around Kirby Smart and his staff,” ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said.

Georgia Tech, looking to win the rivalry game for the first time since 2016, has outgained Georgia 307 yards to 137 yards and holds a 19-minute, 48-second possession advantage to UGA’s 10:12.

“They’re like a triple-option team, they nickel and dime you and they keep possession like we knew going in,” Smart said during his halftime interview. “They have a really good quarterback who runs it, throws it. They do a great job and we don’t get off the field on third down.”

Tech quarterback Haynes King is 12-of-16 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown and has rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Carson Beck is 10-of-17 passing for 109 yards and has two carries for minus-5 yards — a 6-yard run and an 11-yard sack.

The Bulldogs have a 30-game home winning streak on the line, along with a College Football Playoff berth.

Georgia Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead on its opening possession and proceeded to force a three-and-out after a wide-open Arian Smith dropped a pass.

“That’s been the problem all season long for this Georgia receiving crop, which is so talented, but they keep putting the ball on the ground,” ESPN reporter Jesse Palmer said.

“This is an easy one for Arian Smith and he’s dropping it.”

It was the 33rd drop of the season for UGA receivers, the most of any pass catcher in college football.

The Yellow Jackets made it 10-0 on Haynes King’s 2-yard TD run with 4:40 left in the half.

The Bulldogs drove to answer the Georgia Tech touchdown when Dominic Lovett caught a pass and ran 9 yards before fumbling the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at the 37 on the 3-minute mark.

Georgia Tech went big, driving 11 plays for 63 yards and a Haynes 4-yard touchdown catch from King to Jamal Haynes.

Georgia appeared to have a late score, but Peyton Woodring’s 53-yard field goal in the chilly 41-degree weather sailed wide right.

Smart said his Bulldogs need to focus.

“The first thing you do is not turn it over, the second thing is convert third-and-1 and fourth-and-1,” Smart said. “We had two drives that should have been points that didn’t come off, and you don’t get a lot of possessions against these guys.”

Georgia Tech held 20-0 halftime leads over Georgia in 1978 and 2013, and the Bulldogs came back to win both games — 29-28 in 1978 and 41-34 (2OTs) in 2013.