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3 takeaways from Georgia Tech’s dramatic last-minute win at North Carolina
Georgia Tech continues to be North Carolina’s Kryptonite. The Yellow Jackets needed some late dramatics to continue their dominance over the Tar Heels this time.
But the result was the same.
Jamal Haynes’ stunning 68-yard run with just 16 seconds remaining lifted Tech to its 6th win in its last 7 games against its former Coastal Division rival. The decisive play came on the 2nd play after UNC appeared to send the game into overtime on a field goal that erased a 10-point deficit in the final 3½ minutes.
The victory improved the Yellow Jackets to 5-2, their best start since 2014 while handing the Tar Heels to their 4th straight loss. Adding insult to injury is that the decisive touchdown was scored as the result of a breakdown by a UNC defense led by former Tech coach Geoff Collins.
Here are 3 takeaways from the wild game in Chapel Hill:
Georgia Tech’s running men
Haynes King had his least productive passing game of the season, completing only 50% of his throws (11-of-22) for 127 yards before leaving with an injury midway through the 4th quarter. But it didn’t matter the way he and his Yellow Jackets teammates ran the ball against the Tar Heels.
The junior quarterback used his best rushing performance of the year to carve up UNC’s defense for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 carries. Running back Jamal Haynes added 170 yards and 2 scores, including the dramatic game-winner in the final minute, to highlight an offense that piled up 371 yards and averaged 7.7 yard per carry on the ground.
Tech came into the game having rushed 190-plus yards in each of its 4 victories this season. Thanks to King’s planned quarterback runs and Haynes’ shiftiness, the Yellow Jacket already had 214 by halftime.
It was almost a carbon copy of last year’s game in Atlanta, in which Tech ran for 348 yards in a 45-42 victory against the Tar Heels.
Chad Alexander’s great week gets even better
Alexander’s week got off to an exciting start when he was awarded a scholarship during practice on Tuesday. Coach Brent Pry surprised the sophomore running back by having police cars pull up to the field with their lights on and sirens blaring. When the team gathered around to see what was going on, Pry made the announcement.
A preferred walk-on from Atlanta, Alexander distinguished himself on special teams last year before becoming the top backup to Jamal Haynes this season. He had a career-best 59 yards on 10 carries in last week’s win against Duke.
Alexander celebrated his new status by making an immediate impact in Saturday’s game by scoring his 1st career touchdown. It came on a 2-yard run midway through the 1st quarter to help the Yellow Jackets cash in on a UNC turnover and take an early 7-0 lead. He finished the game with 61 yards on 10 carries, including a 28-yard run that helped set up another Tech score.
A fitting tribute to Tylee Craft
UNC honored its ailing wide receiver during a Cancer Awareness Day ceremony between the 1st and 2nd quarters. It was an occasion that brought Brown to tears as he shared a lengthy embrace with Craft’s mother.
That wasn’t the most fitting tribute of the day, however. Teammate JJ Jones provided that by wearing Craft’s No. 13 jersey against Georgia Tech. It turned out to be more than just a gesture. Jones caught a 53-yard pass from Jacolby Criswell to set up the Tar Heels’ 1st touchdown. He scored their touchdown, himself, on a 4-yard reception late in the first half he celebrated by pointing to the number on his chest.
Craft was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2022. But even as the disease spread to other areas of his body, he remained part of the team and served as an inspirational leader until being hospitalized last week.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.