Kendall Milton rushed for a career-high 156 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead top-ranked Georgia to a 31-23 victory over rival Georgia Tech in nonconference play on Saturday night at Atlanta.
Carson Beck was 13-of-20 passing for 175 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Bulldogs (12-0), who extended their nation-best winning streak to 29 games. The victory established a new Southeastern Conference record that Georgia previously shared with Alabama, which twice won 28 games in a row (1978-80, 1991-93).
Daijun Edwards rushed for a score and Dominic Lovett had a touchdown reception for the Bulldogs, who won their 15th straight road game.
Haynes King rushed for 24 yards and two touchdowns and went 11-of-20 passing for 158 yards for the Yellow Jackets (6-6). Jamal Haynes had 81 yards on 15 carries, and Eric Singleton Jr. had four catches for 96 yards.
Georgia has won the past six overall meetings with Georgia Tech and has emerged victorious in each of the past 12 games played in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets last notched a home win over the Bulldogs in 1999.
Georgia Tech staged a rally in the fourth quarter as Aidan Birr kicked a 40-yard field goal to pull the Yellow Jackets within 31-16 with 12:13 remaining.
The Bulldogs were threatening to add more points, but Beck’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by K.J. Wallace with 8:24 to play. Georgia Tech then traveled 80 yards on 10 plays with King’s 5-yard run cutting Georgia’s lead to eight with 3:46 left.
But the Yellow Jackets never again saw the ball as the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs ran out the clock to conclude their third consecutive 12-0 regular season.
Earlier, the Bulldogs went ahead to stay on Milton’s 3-yard run for a 14-10 lead with 12:40 left in the first half. Birr’s 45-yard field goal pulled the Yellow Jackets within one with 6:06 left before Edwards scored on a 3-yard run with 1:14 remaining to give Georgia a 21-13 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs added 10 third-quarter points as Peyton Woodring kicked a 39-yard field goal with 5:15 left and Milton scored from the Georgia Tech 4 to make it 31-13 with 31 seconds left in the period.
Georgia Tech led 10-7 after the first quarter thanks to King’s 9-yard scoring run and Birr’s 25-yard field goal. Georgia received Beck’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Lovett midway through the frame.
–Field Level Media
