ATHENS – Georgia Tech jumped to a stunning 17-0 lead over Georgia in the first half of Friday night’s game at Sanford Stadium.

It’s the first time since 2019 that the Bulldogs have shutout the first half of a game, and the first time since 2014 that a Georgia defense has given up more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards passing.

“Brent Key and his staff are coaching circles around Kirby Smart and his staff,” ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said.

Georgia Tech, looking to win the rivalry game for the first time since 2016, has outgained Georgia 307 yards to 137 yards and boasts a possession advantage of 19 minutes, 48 ​​seconds to UGA’s 10:12.

“They’re like a three-option team, they give you money and they keep ownership of things like that, we knew that coming in,” Smart said during his halftime interview. “They have a really good quarterback running it and throwing it. They run a great offense and we can’t get off the field on third down.”

Tech quarterback Haynes King is 12 of 16 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown and has rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Carson Beck is 10 of 17 passing for 109 yards and has two carries for minus 5 yards: a 6-yard run and an 11-yard sack.

The Bulldogs have a 30-game home winning streak on the line, along with a College Football Playoff berth.

Georgia Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead on its opening possession, then forced a three-and-out after a wide-open Arian Smith dropped a pass.

“That’s been the problem all season for the Georgia picks, who are so talented, but they keep putting the ball on the floor,” ESPN anchor Jesse Palmer said.

“This is an easy route for Arian Smith to follow, and he drops this one.”

It was the 33rd drop of the season for UGA receivers, the most of any pass catcher in college football.

The Yellow Jackets made it 10-0 on Haynes King’s 2-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left in the half.

The Bulldogs drove to return Georgia Tech’s touchdown when Dominic Lovett caught a pass and ran 9 yards before fumbling the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at the 37 at the 3-minute mark.

Georgia Tech capitalized with 11 plays for 63 yards and a Haynes 4-yard touchdown catch from King to Jamal Haynes.

Georgia looked to score a late score, but Peyton Woodring’s 53-yard field goal amid the frigid, 41-degree weather sailed wide right.

Smart said his Bulldogs need to focus.

“The first thing you do is don’t convert it, the second thing you do is convert third-and-1 and fourth-and-1,” Smart said. “We had two drives that should have scored points that didn’t produce anything, and you don’t get a lot of possession against these guys.”

Georgia Tech held 20-0 leads over Georgia in 1978 and 2013, and the Bulldogs came back to win both games: 29-28 in 1978 and 41-34 (2OTs) in 2013.