In a gritty, field-goal-fueled battle that evoked the spirit of the rivalry’s storied past, the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs scraped out a 16-9 victory over the No. 23 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday night at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The win extends Georgia’s dominance in the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate series to eight straight, improving the Bulldogs to 11-1 on the season while dropping the Yellow Jackets to 9-3.
Bulldogs Beat Yellowjackets in Atlanta
The game, played under the lights in front of a raucous home crowd for Tech, was a defensive masterclass with precious few big plays.
Georgia’s lone touchdown—a 7-yard strike from quarterback Gunner Stockton to wide receiver Zachariah Branch in the second quarter—proved to be the difference-maker in a contest decided more by kicking accuracy than offensive fireworks.
Both teams leaned heavily on their specialists, combining for seven field goals, but the Bulldogs’ sustained drives and timely stops sealed the deal.
“We knew coming in it’d be a dogfight,” said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart postgame. “Tech’s got heart, and they made us earn every inch. Proud of our guys for staying composed and grinding it out.”
Georgia Tech struck first in the opening quarter, capitalizing on a short field with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Aidan Birr, giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead after a methodical 7-play, 24-yard drive.
The Bulldogs responded emphatically in the second quarter, outscoring Tech 13-0. Kicker Peyton Woodring opened the scoring with a 22-yarder following a 13-play, 71-yard possession that chewed up over six minutes.
Moments later, Stockton found Branch wide open in the end zone for the game’s only touchdown, extending the lead to 10-3. Woodring capped the quarter with another 30-yard boot, sending Georgia into halftime up 13-3.
The second half saw both defenses dig in deeper, allowing just one field goal apiece in the third. Birr trimmed the deficit to 13-6 with a booming 44-yarder after a quick 6-play drive.
Tension mounted in the fourth as Woodring drilled a career-long 50-yard field goal to push Georgia’s advantage to 16-6 with under 10 minutes remaining.
Tech clawed back late, marching 64 yards in seven plays before Birr’s 41-yarder made it a one-score game at 16-9. But the Bulldogs’ defense stuffed a final Tech drive, forcing a turnover on downs to ice the victory.
Running back Nate Frazier provided the Yellow Jackets’ brightest offensive spark, rumbling for 108 yards on the ground, but Georgia’s front seven limited Tech to just those three field goals. Stockton finished the night efficiently with the key scoring pass, while Branch’s touchdown grab was his only catch but the most impactful one in Bulldog red and black.
For Georgia Tech coach Brent Key, the loss stings in a season of highs. “We fought like hell, but you’ve got to convert when you get opportunities against a team like that,” Key said. “Nate [Frazier] was special tonight—gave us a chance. We’ll learn from this and build.”
The victory keeps Georgia squarely in the College Football Playoff conversation as they await their SEC Championship matchup
Fans back in Athens can breathe a sigh of relief after another hard-fought chapter in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
Scoring Summary:
- GT: 3-0 (1Q, Birr 30 FG)
- UGA: 3-3 (2Q, Woodring 22 FG)
- UGA: 10-3 (2Q, Stockton 7 pass to Branch)
- UGA: 13-3 (2Q, Woodring 30 FG)
- UGA: 13-6 (3Q, Birr 44 FG)
- UGA: 16-6 (4Q, Woodring 50 FG)
- UGA: 16-9 (4Q, Birr 41 FG)
Georgia travels to Atlanta next weekend for the SEC title game, while Georgia Tech heads to the ACC Championship. Stay tuned to AtlantaFi.com for full coverage, analysis, and postgame reactions from the Classic City. Go Dawgs!
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