Georgia hangs on to defeat Georgia Tech 31-23, finishes regular season 12-0

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia trailed twice and let the game get too close for comfort in the fourth quarter en route to its 12th straight win over Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Bulldogs held on for the 31-23 victory.

Carson Beck completed 13 of 20 passes for 175 yards, all season lows, plus a touchdown, and an interception. Kendall Milton had a career day with 18 carries for 156 yards and two scores while Dominic Lovett led all Georgia receivers with five grabs for 68 yards. The Bulldogs were without Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Rara Thomas.

Tech got the ball first and the Georgia defense broke a streak of five straight games where it gave up a touchdown on the opposing team’s opening drive. But a fumble from Daijun Edwards on the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage gave it to the Yellow Jackets in plus territory at the 37-yard line. Tech punched it in four plays later on a nine-yard touchdown run from Haynes King to stake itself to a 7-0 lead.

Georgia evened it up pretty quickly as Beck found Lovett for a 29-yard touchdown on the play after a tipped ball was initially ruled an interception but was overturned by replay. Peyton Woodring’s first PAT of the night tied the game at seven.

The score didn’t stay tied long as Tech put together an 11-play drive that stalled at the Georgia eight-yard line. Adam Birr came on to hit a 25-yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets a 10-7 lead.

From there on Georgia went on a 24-3 run that allowed it to temporarily take control of the game. The Bulldogs leaned on Milton, who pulled then out front with a three-yard touchdown run. Woodring’s PAT gave Georgia a 14-10 lead.

Birr ended Tech’s next possession with a 45-yard field goal to cut the lead to one at 14-13, but Georgia answered quickly. Edwards capped off an 11-play, 64 yard drive with a three-yard touchdown to five the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead.

Tech had a chance to pull closer right before the half when marched inside the 30-yard line, but Christen Miller’s first sack of the year pushed the Yellow Jackets back. Birr came on to try a 48-yard field goal but it was no good, sending the game into the half with UGA leading 24-13.

The in-state rivals traded punts to start the second half but Woodring made it a two-score game on UGA’s second possession. He hit a 39-yard field goal to make it 27-13. After Tech failed to pick up a first down on 4th and 7 from near midfield, Georgia needed just five plays to make it an 18 point lead. Milton punched it in from four yards our for his second score of the day and Woodring’s PAT made it 31-13 in favor of the visiting team.

The Yellow Jackets stopped the bleeding on their next possession but they couldn’t get seven. They picked up 57 yards on a pop pass to Eric Singleton, getting to the Georgia 13-yard line, but two of the next three plays were for loss as Marvin Jones sacked King on third down for a 13-yard loss. Burr came on and cut it to a two-score game by hitting a 40-yard field goal to make the score 31-16.

Georgia drove it down the field and had a chance to make it a three-score game again, but Beck was picked off on 3rd and 5 from the Tech five-yard line. He tried to force it to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and the ball was tipped up for the interception.

What came next racked the nerves of Bulldog nation. The Yellow Jackets went 80 yards on 10 plays with King punching it in from five yards out to cut the game to one score at 31-23. Tech attempted an onside kick with 3:45 left in the game but Georgia recovered it at the plus 48-yard line.

The Bulldogs never gave the ball back. They picked up a pair of first downs to salt the game away and came away with a 31-23 victory.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a matchup with No. 8 Alabama in the SEC Championship game. It’ll take place inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium with kickoff set for 4 p.m. ET on CBS.