In a thrilling last minute Jamal Haynes touchdown sprint, Georgia Tech won at Kenan Stadium in North Carolina on Saturday, 41-34.

   The dramatic score came after the Tar Heels had rallied back, scoring ten points in quick succession to tie the game at 34 with just 44 seconds remaining.

   Georgia Tech got on the board first with a 2-yard touchdown run by Chad Alexander, capping off a 38-yard drive after recovering a fumble by UNC’s quarterback Jacolby Criswell.

 North Carolina quickly responded with a drive of their own, tying the game at 7-7 with Criswell’s 1-yard touchdown run.

   The Yellow Jackets regained the lead with a field goal and another touchdown, going into halftime with a 17-10 advantage.

   UNC managed to tie the game again at 24-24 in the third quarter, but Tech’s running game was too much to handle. Jamal Haynes career high 174 yards and quarterback Haynes King’s 107 combined were part of 371 yards on the ground overall, pushing the Yellow Jackets to a 34-24 lead late in the fourth quarter. It was a season high in rushing yards and the most in four seasons.

  With the game looking like it was headed to overtime as the clock wound down with the game suddenly tied, Georgia Tech took possession. On just their second play of the final drive, Haynes broke through the UNC defense for an electrifying 68-yard touchdown run, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead 41-34 with only 16 seconds left.

   Haynes finished the day with an impressive 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his explosive speed when it mattered the most.

   Head Coach Brent Key praised his team’s resilience: “We took some good punches at ourselves, but the better half of us ended up winning in the end.”

  This victory marked Georgia Tech’s fourth consecutive win over North Carolina and improved their record to 5-2, solidifying their position for potential bowl eligibility.

   It is the team’s best record through seven games in ten years.

  The defeat left North Carolina reeling as they fell to 3-4, struggling to find their footing after a promising start to the season. Head Coach Mack Brown emphasized the need for improvement: “There’s so many things we can fix that give us a chance to be a better team.”

   As Georgia Tech looks ahead to face No. 11 Notre Dame next week at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they carry forward not only momentum from this exhilarating win but also hope for continued success as they aim for their first bowl appearance in years.

  Kickoff Saturday is 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.