A Look Back at Past Matchups Between BYU and Georgia Tech
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BYU is set to take on Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida on December 27. It’s an exciting matchup with an ACC squad coming off of a successful 9-3 season that saw them rise as high as No. 7 in the AP poll this year.
BYU and the Yellow Jackets have faced off four times over the decades. Let’s take a look back at each one in chronological order.
2002, Georgia Tech 28, BYU 19 (Atlanta)
Despite both programs existing for over 100 years now, the Cougars and Yellow Jackets did not face off on the gridiron until 2002. BYU lost running back Marcus Whalen early in this game, which hampered the offense. Quarterback Bret Engemann was benched in favor of backup Lance Pendleton at halftime after three turnovers. BYU struggled to gain momentum in the second half. They initially took a 19-14 lead in the third quarter, but Georgia Tech’s offense with running back Tony Hollings gained traction. The Yellow Jackets scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, rallying to a comeback victory over BYU.
2003, BYU 24, Georgia Tech 13 (Provo)
A year after BYU suffered a defeat in Atlanta, they met in Provo. After an early field goal from the Yellow Jackets, the Cougars came out swinging. Quarterback Matt Berry found tight end Daniel Coats for a 38-yard touchdown to give BYU the lead. Tech led at halftime 13-7 thanks to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown for the Jackets, temporarily swinging momentum to their side.
Head coach Gary Crowton had BYU responding well in the second half. Berry tossed two touchdowns in the third quarter, one to Coats, the other to Toby Christensen. It was a sloppy game on both sides, with BYU committing 16 penalties. Two fourth quarter turnovers doomed the Yellow Jackets as BYU took advantage, adding a late field goal and draining the clock for the 11-point win.
2012, BYU 41, Georgia Tech 17 (Atlanta)
BYU’s second trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium went much better. The Cougars came to Atlanta licking their wounds after losing two tough games to top 10 teams in Oregon State and Notre Dame. The Cougars opened the game with an emphatic touchdown drive, capped by a Jamaal Williams six-yard score. GT responded with a pick-six on an ill-advised throw from Riley Nelson deep in their own territory.
Nelson and company would respond quickly with another rushing score from Williams. The Yellow Jackets’ triple option attack gained yards on BYU but a missed field goal swung momentum squarely in BYU’s direction for the rest of the game. A blocked punt set up an easy Riley Nelson scrambling touchdown to go up 21-7. The Cougars led 24-14 at the half.
A third quarter interception by Daniel Sorensen set up Jamaal Williams’ third rushing score of the game and put the game out of reach. Williams ended up having one of his best games of his illustrious Cougars career, with four total touchdowns and 161 scrimmage yards.
2013, BYU 38, Georgia Tech 20 (Provo)
BYU made an early statement with Taysom Hill connecting deep to Cody Hoffman for a long touchdown pass. Tech’s triple option attack tied the game soon after that. Jamaal Williams helped BYU get those points back with a rushing score. It was a high-scoring affair in the first half, with BYU leading 24-13 at the break.
Kyle Van Noy had yet another game where he just took over and dominated the opposing offense, wracking up three sacks and three tackles for loss.
Linebacker Alani Fua helped seal the deal with a 51-yard pick-six early in the fourth quarter, which put the score at 31-13. Both Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams reached 80 yards rushing. The Jackets got a late touchdown but it was too little, too late.
2025 Pop Tarts Bowl
The upcoming Pop Tarts Bowl will be the two programs’ fifth ever meeting. The Cougars enter with a three-game winning streak in the series.
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