By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Faizan Bokhari- The Mojo Network)
Georgia Tech fans might still have nightmares about the 2019 trip to Philadelphia, but Saturday erased some of those ghosts. In their first game as a ranked team in 2025, the No. 18 Yellow Jackets rolled past Temple 45-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, evening the all-time series at 1-1 and starting 4-0 for the first time since that magical 2014 season.
A Fast Start, Then a Scare
Tech came out firing, building a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter behind a balanced attack. Haynes King capped the first drive with a 17-yard touchdown run, then connected with Malik Rutherford for a 24-yard score. Moments later, Isiah Canion hauled in a 37-yard touchdown, and the Jackets looked like they might cruise.
But the second quarter told a different story. Tech’s offense sputtered—averaging just one yard per play in the period—while Temple quarterback Evan Simon kept the Owls alive with his legs and short passing game. After King fumbled to start the second half, Temple turned the mistake into a quick touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14. Suddenly, Bobby Dodd was uneasy.
“We had self-inflicted mistakes that let them back in the game,” running back Jamal Haynes admitted afterward.
Haynes, Hosley Put the Game Away
Just when Tech needed a response, the ground game answered. Haynes ripped off a long run to flip momentum, and Malachi Hosley sprinted 34 yards for a touchdown that pushed the lead back to two scores. From there, the Jackets reasserted control.
Haynes added runs of 13 and 47 yards to set up another Hosley score, and kicker Aidan Birr stayed perfect on the season with a 32-yard field goal. Backup Daylon Gordon provided the dagger with a 47-yard touchdown run after a failed Temple onside kick, stretching the lead to 45-17 before the Owls tacked on a late touchdown against Tech’s reserves.
Key’s Message: Standards, Not Just Scoreboards
The final margin looked comfortable—just as the analytics suggested—but Brent Key didn’t let his team off the hook.
“That second quarter was not Georgia Tech football,” Key said postgame. “We’ll celebrate this win, but we know we left things on the field.”
His players echoed the sentiment. Linebacker Kyle Effort said the team’s goal is to play four quarters like they did in the first: fast, physical, and mistake-free.
What It Means
For longtime Tech fans, the difference under Key is clear: this program no longer folds when adversity hits. Instead, it responds. A 21-14 game quickly ballooned back to a multi-score cushion, something previous Jacket teams rarely managed.
With the win, Tech improves to 4-0 for the first time in over a decade. Next week brings a road trip to Wake Forest, a noon kickoff on ESPN or ESPN2. A chance to go 5-0—and keep building momentum toward a bigger ACC showdown looming in October.