The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, beginning the 2025 season as a ranked team, secured a dominant 45-24 victory over Temple, evening the all-time series at 1-1 after a painful 2019 loss – a game best left unmentioned.
How it Happened
Temple opted to receive the opening kickoff, immediately facing a three-and-out that set the tone for a struggling start. Tech’s offense, however, was immediately in gear. A 37-yard swing pass to Jamal Haynes followed by a 17-yard touchdown run by King put the Jackets up 7-0. Another Temple punt gave King the opportunity for a deep shot, connecting with Malik Rutherford for a 24-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Tech’s first half offensive struggles came to a halt after a solid drive by Haynes & Haynes, a third-down conversion by Bailey Stockton, and then a 37-yard touchdown reception by Isiah Canion down the right sideline. Early in the second quarter, Temple responded with a cohesive drive, converting a 3rd & 1 and culminating in an easy touchdown by Evan Simon to cut the lead to 21-14.
The Jackets’ next four possessions were a disaster, averaging just one yard per play. Temple, despite their offensive woes, managed to keep the game competitive. A missed 61-yard field goal attempt left the door open for Tech, followed by a costly fumble by King that gave Temple prime field position, ultimately leading to a touchdown.
Tech responded swiftly with a long run by Haynes and a 34-yard touchdown run by Malachi Hosley, extending their lead to 35-14. A 32-yard field goal by Aidan Birr kept him perfect on the year. Temple’s next drive stalled, but a 42-yard run by Tah’j Butler left them settling for a 41-yard field goal. An onside kick failure immediately handed Tech a 47-yard touchdown run by Daylon Gordon, sealing the 45-17 lead.
With the backups in, Temple managed a final touchdown, but it was too late. The analytics, as displayed on gameonpaper.com, clearly indicated a comfortable victory for Tech. Notably, this win represented a significant improvement over the “Tech of the last decade,” previously prone to losing to G5 teams in similar situations. Key’s leadership and the team’s ability to rebound drove the dominant performance.
Following the game, Temple coach Brent Key acknowledged the poor second quarter and expressed gratitude for the win. Tech’s players echoed this sentiment, stating they didn’t meet the standard of play they expected and aiming to maintain the strong first-quarter performance for a full four quarters, with a focus on addressing the mistakes before their upcoming game against Wake Forest.
Tech goes for 5-0 next week at Wake Forest. Noon kick on ESPN or ESPN2.
