Georgia Tech entered Saturday’s matchup against Temple as a 24-point favorite, and the question all week was simple: could the Yellow Jackets actually dominate a game they were supposed to win big? After a blistering first quarter, a worrying mid-game slump, and a thunderous second-half push, the Jackets delivered a 45–24 statement at Bobby Dodd Stadium to improve to 4–0.
A Blazing Start from Haynes, King, and the Offense
The day began with a 30-minute weather delay, but the Yellow Jackets came out firing. Even before the open kickoff, in pre-game snaps Jamal Haynes was looking like he was ready to have a big day. In his pre-game carries he was displaying extremely quick burst and speed to the endzone. He first few touches proved my early assumptions correct. Jamal Haynes’ first touch was not a run but a perfectly timed swing pass in space — he sprinted 34 yards downfield to electrify the crowd. On the very next snap, Haynes broke off a 14-yard run to set up an early scoring opportunity. Coach Keys mentioned in the post-game press conference that it was there hope to get Jamal the ball in space.
Moments later, quarterback Haynes King capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. Georgia Tech’s offensive rhythm was undeniable, attacking Temple with a balanced mix of run and pass. King repeatedly looked to Eric Rivers on deep shots, testing the Owls’ secondary. Though two bombs to Rivers fell incomplete — one overthrown, another dropped — King found Isiah Canion on a 37-yard strike to give Tech a 21-0 lead late in the first quarter.
By the end of that opening frame, Tech had scored 21 points, its most in a single quarter in quite some time, and piled up 199 yards to Temple’s 28.
Temple Pushes Back, Tech Stalls
Temple finally found its footing in the second quarter with an 11-play, 75-yard drive ending in Jay Ducker 2 yard touchdown run. That cut the score to 21-7 and briefly quieted the Georgia Tech crowd.
At the same time, Georgia Tech’s offense faltered with three consecutive three-and-outs totaling only one yard. Head coach Brent Key was blunt in his postgame remarks:
“At the end of the day we had one yard and three, 3-and-outs… I don’t care if it was us or if it was them, whatever, we just didn’t get the job done. At all. The majority of it was us — we had drops, missed blocks, we had a missed blitz pick up, we didn’t sustain a couple of times. From what I saw that’s on us. But at the end of the day it was three straight three-and-outs and we had an opportunity to move the chains there.”
Temple’s pass rush, led by Cam’Ron Stewart and Abdul Kromah, capitalized on Tech’s slower-developing plays to sack King twice and disrupt his deep shots. A missed 61-yard field goal by Temple at the half preserved Georgia Tech’s 21-7 lead.
Second Half Surge: Haynes and Hosley Take Over
The second half began ominously for Georgia Tech with a Haynes King fumble, quickly converted into an Evan Simon touchdown pass to JoJo Bermudez, narrowing the lead to 21-14.
But the Haynes-Hosley duo answered. Running back Malachi Hosley scored on a 34-yard run after Haynes had driven Tech down the field, pushing the lead back to 28-14. Later, Haynes dazzled again with a reverse-field run that showcased his burst and vision, setting up another short Hosley touchdown.
Key praised Hosley’s physicality after the game, highlighting his “ability to run tough between the tackles” and finish drives. By day’s end, Haynes and Hosley combined for 171 rushing yards — Haynes with 112 yards and Hosley with 59 yards and two touchdowns — underscoring their one-two punch. Georgia Tech’s offensive line found its footing, and the Jackets closed the game on a 24-3 scoring run to seal the 45-17 victory.
Key Takeaways
- Fast Start, Mid-Game Lull: Georgia Tech scored 21 points in the first quarter — the most in recent memory — but let Temple hang around with mistakes and lack of urgency in the middle quarters. Against a stronger opponent, that lapse could have been costly.
- The Haynes-Hosley Combo: The running backs combined for 171 yards on the ground, with Hosley punching in two touchdowns and Haynes doing the heavy lifting between the 20s.
- Fans and Atmosphere Matter: Bobby Dodd was rocking for a 4-0 start, and both Coach Key and the players have consistently credited the home crowd for its impact.
- The Road Ahead: Georgia Tech remains on pace for a 7-0 start before facing a dangerous Syracuse team. Next up is Wake Forest on the road, followed by an October 11 home game against Virginia Tech.
Bottom Line
Georgia Tech answered the pregame question. Yes, the Jackets can dominate when favored — but not without moments of vulnerability. With Haynes and Hosley leading the backfield, and King settling into a rhythm, Tech showed the blend of explosiveness and resilience it will need as ACC play intensifies. Special mention goes to two student-athletes Malik Rutherford and Daylon Gordon who both had electric touchdowns. Gordon 1 rushing attempt 47 yards and a Touchdown. While Malik Rutherford caught only 2 passes out of the 3 times he was targeted for 33 yards and a touchdown. Jamal Haynes was especially excited for his fellow running back Daylon Gordon praising his work ethic and his perseverance. “If you all could see what type of man he truly is…” said Haynes about Gordon after his big day on the ground.
