In a thrilling Gasparilla Bowl showdown on Friday night, Georgia Tech emerged victorious against UCF, staging a remarkable comeback from a 14-point deficit to secure a 30-17 win. Haynes King played a pivotal role, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities by throwing a touchdown pass and adding another score on the ground.
Facing adversity early in the game with a 14-0 deficit, Georgia Tech rallied together to regroup and refocus. King, with a stat line of 7 completions on 13 attempts for 87 yards and 89 rushing yards on 12 carries, emphasized the team’s collective resolve. “We’ve been here before. We’re not going to press. Stick to the game plan. Trust each other. Everything else is going to take care of itself,” remarked King.
Jamal Haynes, the game’s MVP, made a significant impact, accumulating 128 rushing yards on 18 carries. His standout performance helped Georgia Tech achieve its first winning season since 2018 and marked him as the Yellow Jackets’ first 1,000-yard runner since 2017. Notably, Haynes transitioned from wide receiver to running back this season.
UCF’s John Rhys Plumlee, completing 16 of 29 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, faced a tough challenge. Plumlee, playing in his last collegiate game, left the field with 4 minutes to play, replaced by Timmy McClain. Despite UCF’s efforts, Aidan Birr’s 29-yard field goal early in the second half gave Georgia Tech its first lead at 20-17.
Reflecting on the game, UCF coach Gus Malzahn acknowledged, “We didn’t play good enough to win, really the bottom line.” The Knights, finishing their first Big 12 season at 6-7, fell short in their bid for victory.
Georgia Tech’s King, a red-shirt sophomore, stood out with impressive season stats, joining an elite group with at least 2,700 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and five rushing touchdowns. Looking ahead, UCF faces the challenge of replacing Plumlee, but the return of RJ Harvey for his fifth season offers a positive outlook. Harvey’s decision to return follows his seventh 100-yard game of the season.
The game also featured a memorable coin toss moment, with referee Cravonne Barrett initially calling tails before correcting himself.
As the Gasparilla Bowl concluded, the spotlight turned to the future plans of UCF’s Plumlee, a two-sport standout, who hinted at making a decision on playing baseball with UCF in the upcoming season in the coming weeks. The Gasparilla Bowl delivered an exciting clash, marking the end of the college football season with Georgia Tech celebrating a well-earned victory. This will conclude our Knight’s coverage of the season but we are excited for next season. Go Knights!
