Hope all that turkey’s just about done digesting, folks, because Clean Old-Fashioned Hate is upon us. And the afternoon will end with one fanbase celebrating — and the other feeling sick to the stomach.
Kickoff between No. 4 Georgia and No. 23 Georgia Tech arrived at 3:30 p.m. from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
While the Yellow Jackets’ postseason dreams have taken a bit of a hit in recent weeks, their nine wins and Georgia’s 10 still combine for the most ever ahead of the matchup. The Jackets are looking for revenge from last year’s eight-overtime thriller in Athens, while the Bulldogs are out to extend their seven-game winning streak in the series.
They’re 14-point favorites.
“Played those guys three times already. Haven’t won once,” Tech defensive back Rodney Shelley said this week. “I feel like a win would be a good accomplishment. It’ll feel great. Even though it’s not for anything, ACC championship or anything of that nature, just knowing we can go out there and leave it all on the field, I think that’s what matters most.”
The game will also mark the first matchup between quarterbacks Haynes King and Gunner Stockton, both of whom are dark horse Heisman candidates.
Come along with the AJC as we relay the latest from the Benz and beyond:
Georgia held on for the 16-9 win, sealing their eighth-straight victory over Georgia Tech.
Here's the initial game story from the AJC's Gabe Burns.
The Bulldogs finish the regular season 11-1 and are (almost certainly) College Football Playoff bound. They'll need Texas A&M or Alabama to lose to return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for next week's SEC championship game.
The Yellow Jackets finish at 9-3 and need ... a lot to happen to sneak into the ACC title game.
Today's final stats:
Hold onto your butts — that 28-yard pass gets Tech to the Georgia 44 with *one second* left to play.
Breath is being held on both sides of the Benz.
Ahmari Harvey with a big hit on Gunner Stockton, setting up a massive third-and-1 for both teams.
But Josh McCray converts for a Georgia first down. Tech's down a score with two minutes left.
Tech's Aidan Birr makes it 16-9 Georgia with the sixth field goal of the game.
We've got 3:30 left to play.
Expecting any shenanigans on the kickoff?
That was Jordan Boyd's first career sack for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are hanging around, out to the UGA 31 with five-plus minutes to go.
As sportswriter Pat Forde put it:
The longest play for either team today: Brett Seither's 30-yard catch for Tech, in the first minute of the first quarter.
(Naturally, Gunner Stockton threw a 23-yarder to Zachariah Branch as I was typing this.)
Both teams grinding things out today.
Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring makes a 50-yarder to get the Bulldog lead back up to 10.
Just one total touchdown in this contest, just like we all expected.
The Tech faithful are feeling optimistic (and thirsty) heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tech faithful did not like that first-down call being upheld.
Meanwhile: Our friend, Tech beat writer and press box neighbor Chad Bishop points out that Georgia's Gunner Stockton currently has 11 rushing attempts — two away from his season high of 13.
Just 35 yards, though.
Georgia faces a big third-and-10 from Tech's 38 when the fourth quarter begins.
Aidan Birr got Tech within a touchdown with that 44-yard field goal.
It was his 24th of season, which is a Yellow Jackets record.
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