'Special' Haynes King Carries Georgia Tech To Upset Victory Over No. 4 Miami

Georgia Tech Football: Quarterback battle still in early stages

Georgia Tech drew first blood with a touchdown drive capped by King's 15-yard pass to Nate McCollum. Miami responded with a pair of touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead, but the Yellow Jackets fought back with a field goal and a touchdown run by Hassan Hall to tie the game at 17 at halftime.

In the second half, King unleashed his full potential, throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns. His first score came late in the third quarter, a 45-yard strike to Kalani Norris that gave Georgia Tech a 24-17 advantage.

Miami rallied to tie the game at 31, but King delivered the game-winning drive with less than four minutes remaining. He engineered an 89-yard march downfield, finding Adonicas Sanders for a 35-yard touchdown that put Georgia Tech ahead for good.

King, a transfer from Texas A&M, has emerged as a force under first-year head coach Brent Key. The sophomore quarterback completed 20 of 34 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 46 yards.

"Haynes has been a game-changer for us," Key said after the game. "His leadership and composure are infectious, and he gives us a chance to win every time he steps on the field."

Miami, which entered the game as a heavy favorite, struggled to contain King and the Georgia Tech offense. The Hurricanes also committed 10 penalties for 100 yards, which proved costly in the end.

"We didn't play like a top-five team tonight," Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. "We made too many mistakes, and we weren't able to get the stops we needed when it mattered most."

Georgia Tech's victory is a major upset that shakes up the college football landscape. Miami drops to 2-1, while Georgia Tech improves to 3-1 and establishes itself as a potential threat in the ACC Coastal Division.

"It's a huge win for our program," King said. "We're not satisfied, but it's a great step in the right direction. We have a lot of potential, and we're excited to see what the future holds."

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