Georgia Tech is 17-0 over Georgia, Brent Key’s “coaching circles” around Kirby Smart

ATHENS – Georgia Tech built a commanding 17-0 lead over Georgia in the first half of Friday night’s game at Sanford Stadium.

It’s 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 coaching circles around Kirby Smart and his staff,” said ESPN analyst Booger McFarland.

Georgia Tech, looking to win the rivalry game for the first time since 2016, outgained Georgia 307 yards to 137 for a 19-minute, 48-second lead over UGA, 10-12.

“They’re like a triple-option team, they pay you and they keep possession, we knew that from the start,” Smart said during his halftime interview. “They have a really good quarterback running it and throwing it. They do a great job on offense and we don’t leave the field in the third period.”

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

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 are on a 30-game home winning streak and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Georgia Tech took a 3-0 lead on its first possession and forced a three-pointer after Arian Smith left a pass wide open.

“That’s been the problem all season for Georgia’s receivers, who are so talented but keep putting the ball on the ground,” ESPN spokesman Jesse Palmer said.

“This is an easy sub for Arian Smith, and he drops it.”

It was the 33rd drop of the season for UGA receivers, the most among all pass catchers 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 were just about to answer Georgia Tech’s touchdown when Dominic Lovett caught a pass and ran 9 yards before fumbling the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at the 37 at the 3-minute mark.

Georgia Tech capitalized by running 11 plays for 63 yards and a 4-yard Haynes touchdown catch from King to Jamal Haynes.

Georgia looked to score late, but Peyton Woodring’s 53-yard field goal in a chilly 41 degrees sailed wide of the right goal.

Smart said his Bulldogs need to focus.

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

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