Title: Georgia Tech Pulls Off Stunning Last-Second Win Over No. 17 Miami
Subtitle: Quarterback Haynes King’s touchdown pass secures victory for the Yellow Jackets
Date: [Insert Date]
In a thrilling college football matchup on Saturday evening, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets secured a stunning victory over the No. 17 ranked Miami Hurricanes with an improbable last-second touchdown pass. Quarterback Haynes King’s remarkable play in the dying seconds of the game sealed a 23-20 win for his team.
With only 10 seconds left on the clock and the ball on Miami’s 44-yard line, Georgia Tech faced a momentous challenge. King, receiving the snap from the shotgun formation, initially found no open receivers downfield. Sensing the urgency, he scrambled towards his right, while wide receiver Christian Leary sprinted towards the end zone. King unleashed a perfectly timed pass, which Leary caught in stride around the 10-yard line, untouched by any defender. Leary’s subsequent slide into the end zone awarded Georgia Tech the decisive 23-20 lead.
Opting for a safer approach, the Yellow Jackets decided to kneel the ball during the extra-point attempt to eliminate the risk of a blocked kick. Miami had a mere two seconds left on the clock, but Georgia Tech’s defense held its ground, denying any scoring opportunity for the Hurricanes.
It is equally important to note the remarkable circumstances leading to this dramatic victory. Miami held a precarious 20-17 lead with less than a minute left on the clock. Georgia Tech had exhausted all their timeouts. However, in a perplexing decision, Miami coach Mario Cristobal chose to call a run play on third-and-10 from Georgia Tech’s 30-yard line, rather than running out the clock. Running back Don Chaney Jr.’s fumble was recovered by Georgia Tech and confirmed upon official review, which granted the Yellow Jackets another chance at victory.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Cristobal acknowledged the missed opportunity to secure the win, stating, “At the end of the game, chance to put it away and should have just told them to take a timeout right there. Recalibrate and just take a knee. So, we gave them a chance and they took advantage of it and scored.” Interestingly, a similar situation occurred during Cristobal’s tenure as the coach at Oregon, during a 2018 overtime loss to Stanford, as highlighted by a tweet shared by Chris Vannini.
During the ensuing drive, King connected with Malik Rutherford on a pivotal 30-yard pass, setting up the game-winning touchdown pass and sparking euphoria among Georgia Tech players and fans.
This resounding victory for Georgia Tech against a nationally ranked opponent demonstrates the team’s resilience and ability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes. The Yellow Jackets’ last-second triumph reinforces the unpredictability and excitement that makes college football so captivating.