GEORGIA TECH (2-0, 1-0 ACC) 35, GEORGIA STATE (0-1) 12
August 31, 2024 • Atlanta, Ga. (Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field)
Postgame Notes
Team Notes
Georgia Tech moved to 2-0 on the season, while Georgia State fell to 0-1.
Georgia Tech is 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
The game was the first between Georgia Tech and Georgia State, whose campuses are separated by less than two miles. The teams will play again at Georgia State in 2026.
Georgia Tech moved to 40-4-2 all-time against in-state opponents besides archrival Georgia. The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost to an in-state opponent besides UGA since a 7-6 loss to Oglethorpe on Sept. 25, 1926. Tech’s other three losses to in-state opponents besides UGA came in the 19th century.
Georgia Tech moved to 97-29-4 (.762) all-time in home openers.
The win was Tech’s first in a home opener since 2019, but was its third-straight victory in its first game of the season at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. The Yellow Jackets’ 2022 and 2023 home openers were played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Georgia Tech had only 89 total yards, including just 8 rushing yards, with 3:49 to go in the first half. The Yellow Jackets amassed 410 yards, including 217 on the ground, over the final 33:49 of the game.
Individual Notes
With a 12-yard completion to So. WR Eric Singleton Jr. on Georgia Tech’s opening possession, r-Jr. Haynes King became the 13th player in school history with 3,000 passing yards as a Yellow Jacket. King reached the 3,000-yard plateau in his 15th game at Georgia Tech.
King completed 24-of-29 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and added 27 rushing yards with a touchdown. King’s .828 completion percentage marks a personal best and ranks second in school history behind Joe Hamilton’s .880 completion percentage vs. Florida State (Sept. 11, 1999).
r-Jr. WR Malik Rutherford finished with 7 receptions for 131 yards, both career highs (prev.: 6 receptions vs. North Carolina – Oct. 28, 2023 and 85 receiving yards vs. Louisville – Sept. 1, 2023). The 100-yard receiving game was the first by a Yellow Jacket since Singleton had 117 against UNC on Oct. 28, 2023.
Rutherford’s 131 receiving yards were the most by a Yellow Jacket since Dominick Blaylock also had 131 vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 30, 2023.
Singleton’s 35-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter was his first touchdown of the season and the first rushing touchdown of his career. He had six touchdown receptions as a true freshman in 2023.
Sr. TE Avery Boyd’s 4 receptions were a career high. Prior to Saturday’s game, Boyd had never had more than one reception in a game (which he had done four times previously).
r-So. LB Kyle Efford had 13 tackles to finish with double-digit tackles for the fourth time in the last seven games, dating back to last season. His 13 tackles surpassed his previous career high (11 vs. Syracuse – Nov. 18, 2023).
Sr. DL Zeek Biggers’ fumble recovery in the first quarter was the second of his career (prev.: at Wake Forest – Sept. 23, 2023).
