In an afternoon of tension, momentum swings, and clutch plays, Wake Forest pushes #16 Georgia Tech to the brink, but couldn’t hold on as the Yellow Jackets pulled off a 30–29 overtime victory at Allegacy Stadium. The Yellow Jackets improved to 5–0 (2–0 in ACC) and showed their grit in a battle that appeared to be heading in the wrong direction from the beginning.
The Demon Deacons (2–2, 0–2 ACC) mounted a strong effort, putting up nearly 450 total yards, but ultimately came up one failed two-point conversion short after OT heroics by Tech. Let’s break down how this one played out — quarter by quarter — and highlight the players whose performances stood out on both sides.
Game Flow: Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
Here’s how the scoring shook out:
Georgia Tech: 3 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 7 = 30
Wake Forest: 0 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6 = 29
1st Quarter
- The game opened in defensive fashion. Wake Forest’s defense held firm on Tech’s first drive, forcing the Jackets to punt.
- Tech struck first with a 35-yard field goal by Aidan Birr to go up 3–0, with 8:09 left in the quarter. The drive covered 22 yards over 7 plays.
- Wake’s defense especially clamped down at the end of the quarter, holding Georgia Tech deep in their own territory and pinning them with a punt inside the 10.
At the close of 15 minutes, it was a low-scoring, cagey start — Tech 3, Wake 0.
2nd Quarter
- Wake Forest struck early. On a 66-yard, six-play drive, QB Robby Ashford connected with WR Chris Barnes for 34 yards, then on the next play Claiborne plunged 16 yards. Ashford himself punched it in from 4 yards out. That made it 7–3 with the Demon Deacons making it clear they felt they could be the more dominant football team today.
- Tech’s next drive ended with a failed 4th-and-1 attempt at Wake’s 31, where Wake’s linebacker Quincy Bryant blew through to stop Haynes King for a loss.
- Wake extended the lead to 14–3 when Claiborne ripped off a 27-yard touchdown run. That came after a 39-yard Ashford-to-Sterling Berkhalter connection.
- Just before halftime, Wake Forest added a 24-yard field goal by Connor Calvert with 22 seconds left, capitalizing on a 37-yard Ashford-to-Micah Mays Jr. connection to get in range, extending the lead to a massive 17–3 at the break.
By halftime, Wake seemed in control — 17–3 — after a dominant second quarter energized by their run game, big passing plays, and what appeared to be a dominant defense.
3rd Quarter
- Wake started the second half with the ball and the Demon Deacons quickly increased the cushion to 20–3 via a 24-yard field goal on their opening drive of the second half. That drive was sustained in part by a 29-yard Ashford scram and a 14-yard catch to Eni Falayi.
- Georgia Tech finally scored a touchdown when they answered with a 13-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 14-yard pass from Haynes King to Eric Rivers. That cut it to 20–10.
- Late in the quarter, Tech added a second score: a 5-yard run by King himself. With 17 seconds left, the Jackets were within striking distance for the first time in the game, 20–17.
The third quarter belonged to Tech, flipping momentum and making this a ballgame again for Coach Key and company.
4th Quarter
- Georgia Tech tied it at 20 with a 19-yard field goal from Birr after a 7-play, 53-yard drive.
- Wake refused to yield. Calvert responded by knocking through a 29-yard field goal after a short, efficient drive to push the Deacons ahead once again, 23–20.
- But Georgia Tech wasn’t done. Birr hit a 33-yard field goal with 0:02 to go, tying it at 23 and sending the game to overtime.
What a fourth quarter. Wake’s clutch field goal was answered almost immediately by Tech’s poise under pressure.
Overtime
- In OT, Tech struck first: Haynes King powered in a 2-yard touchdown run. Birr’s extra point was good. 30–23.
- Wake answer: Demond Claiborne broke free for an explosive 25-yard rushing touchdown on the first play from scrimmage for them in OT. But rather than risking another overtime, Wake decided to end the game in the first OT by going for a 2 point conviersion. Their two-point attempt failed, giving the Yellow Jackets the win.
In classic ACC style, this one came down to a single decision and a single play. Tech’s defense bent but didn’t break (in the end). This came was another nice reminder to ACC fans what Coastal Chaos meant when we had divisions in the ACC.
Star Players & Standout Performances
Here’s who shined (and who battled) on both sides, offense and defense.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Offense
- Haynes King (QB, Tech)
The dual-threat quarterback was once again pivotal. He finished with a rushing touchdown in OT, and earlier orchestrated both of Tech’s third-quarter touchdowns — the Rivers connection and his own 5-yard run. Though I didn’t locate his full passing stat line in the box from Wake’s site, he was clearly central to Tech’s comeback. - Eric Rivers (WR, Tech)
Rivers hauled in the key 14-yard pass late in Q3 that kept the drive alive and ultimately led to Tech’s second score of that period. - Aidan Birr (Kicker, Tech)
Clutch doesn’t begin to cover it. Birr nailed field goals from 35, 19, 33, and was perfect in OT. Without his leg, Tech doesn’t get home.
Statistical Deep Dive & Key Numbers
Here are the major numbers and what they tell us about the game:
| Metric | Georgia Tech | Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 411 | 443 |
| Pass Yards | 248 | 233 |
| Rush Yards | 163 | 210 |
| First Downs | 27 | 20 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 7 of 16 | 9 of 19 |
| Penalty Yards | 23 | 81 |
| Time of Possession (excluding OT) | 32:46 | 27:14 |
A few observations:
- Wake had a slight edge in total offense, especially on the ground (210 vs. 163). That underscores how much they leaned on their run game, especially via Claiborne.
- Tech offset that by being more efficient — 27 first downs, sustained drives, and better field positioning. Most of this offensive efficiency being in the second half for the Yellow Jackets
- Time of possession leaned toward Tech, helping them control critical stretches late in the game.
In terms of season context: Wake ranked 132nd in FBS in red-zone offense, scoring on only 62.5% of trips.
On the flip, Tech’s red-zone defense was ranked ~62nd in allowing success rate. ESPN.com
Analytics had Georgia Tech favoring a run-heavy pace: Tech runs a high percentage of rush plays (they are among leaders), putting pressure on Wake’s rush defense. SI+1
Wake’s defense, meanwhile, is not terrible against the run (allowing ~132.3 rushing yards/game per SI) but struggles more in explosive plays and early downs. SI
Thus, Tech’s game plan to grind and control was sound — and when the defense bent, it didn’t break at the most critical moment. This win was far from pretty but Tech fans will have to take it going into the bye week.
What This Win Means for Georgia Tech
- Historic start: Tech is 5–0 for the first time since 2014. To be undefeated this deep into October has concrete implications for the program’s trajectory.
- ACC momentum: Winning on the road in conference (especially in such dramatic fashion) builds confidence for tougher matchups ahead.
- Roster and culture validation: This game was a test of leadership, depth, and composure. With key guys (King, Rivers, Birr) delivering under strain, internal belief grows.
- Margins matter: This one was razor thin. But Georgia Tech executed better in high-leverage moments: in the red zone (kicking), in OT, in limiting penalties, and in late-game decision-making.
- Wake’s credibility: Wake showed they’re no pushovers. Tech fans and coaches will know that every road date in the ACC will demand this kind of toughness.
Coach Brent Key’s emphasis on treating every week as a challenge paid off. He’s already spoken about expecting tight games, and this one provided textbook confirmation.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
- This wasn’t a blowout. It was a war of attrition, where Tech exhibited mental toughness and situational poise.
- Wake Forest came alive in Q2 and stayed in it until the last play — credit to their offense and some big defensive plays.
- Georgia Tech’s star players showed up when it mattered.
- The deeper stats reflect balance: Wake had the yardage, but Tech maximized opportunity, minimized self-inflicted damage, stayed focused after being down 2+ scores, and imposed discipline.
- For Tech fans: savor the win, but don’t get comfortable. The ACC gauntlet awaits. Yet today, in dramatic fashion, your Yellow Jackets proved they can win close.