Monday, September 16, 2024

Georgia Tech stuns No. 10 Florida State in Ireland for dramatic start to college football season

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DUBLIN — Aidan Birr made a 44-yard field goal as time expired and Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State 24-21 on Saturday in the first major college football game of the season.

Coming off an undefeated regular season, but with a remade roster, the Seminoles tied the game at 21 with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-play touchdown drive that included two fourth-down conversions by DJ Uiagalelei.

Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC) never touched the ball again, and Birr came on with five seconds left on the clock to drill the winner.

Georgia players celebrate after the NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and Florida State at the Aviva stadium in Dublin. AP
Georgia players celebrate after the NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and Florida State at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. AP

Jamal Haynes ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns for GeorgiaTech, and Haynes King threw for 146 yards and ran for 54 as the Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0) were able to control the line of scrimmage and accumulate 190 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry.

Uiagalelei completed 19 of 27 passes for 193 yards in his Florida State debut.

Ryan Fitzgerald made a 59-yard field goal, a career long and the second longest in school history, just before halftime to tie the game at 14.

Fitzgerald had a 52-yarder earlier in the game.

The teams had just seven drives apiece.

Georgia’s Eric Singleton controls the ball during the NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and Florida State at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 AP

Georgia Tech’s final two drives were among the best, an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive and then the 12-play, 49-yard drive to set up Birr’s kick.

Georgia Tech defensive lineman Kevin Harris II tackles Florida State University quarterback DJ Uiagalelei at Aviva Stadium. Tom Maher/INPHO via USA TODAY Sports

Florida State fans packed Aviva Stadium for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the third straight Week 0 opener in Dublin.

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