Jamal Haynes rushed for 170 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a crucial 68-yard touchdown in the last minute, helping Georgia Tech defeat North Carolina 41-34 on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.
Haynes’ second touchdown came just 16 seconds after North Carolina tied the game with a 26-yard field goal from Noah Burnette.
“I had a couple coaches telling me, ‘Bust one, bust one, it’s coming,’” Haynes said. “They had been harping on it all game. ‘Calm down, one’s going to come.’ … I just saw daylight and hit it.”
The Yellow Jackets’ read-option offense totaled 505 yards, with 371 of those rushing. Quarterback Haynes King also contributed with a season-high 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
North Carolina narrowed the gap to 34-31 with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jacolby Criswell, his second touchdown of the game, and Burnette’s field goal tied it with 44 seconds remaining. However, the Tar Heels, who had trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, couldn’t hold off Georgia Tech’s offense in the end.
“We tried our best to fight ourselves today,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said. “We took some good punches at ourselves, but the better half of us ended up winning in the end.”
Omarion Hampton led North Carolina with 137 rushing yards on 18 carries, highlighted by a career-long 71-yard run that set up J.J. Jones’ 4-yard touchdown just before halftime.
Despite the effort, the Tar Heels (3-4) lost their fourth consecutive game. Coach Mack Brown remains hopeful for the future.
“There’s a thin line between winning and losing,” Brown said. “There’s so many things we can fix that give us a chance to be a better team and win the last five games. And that’s what we’ll do.”
Syeed Gibbs made a key play by sacking Criswell (17-of-31 for 209 yards, 1 TD) on North Carolina’s first possession, causing a fumble that Georgia Tech recovered at the Tar Heels’ 38. They scored shortly after with a 2-yard run by Chad Alexander.
North Carolina later responded with a quick 78-yard drive, including a 53-yard catch by Jones, leading to Criswell’s 1-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 7.
The team also shared the sad news that wide receiver Tylee Craft, 23, passed away after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
“Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for. He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity,” North Carolina Football posted on X.
