ATHENS — Georgia Tech became the first team to score a touchdown on Georgia in the first quarter of a game this season.
The upset-minded Yellow Jackets drove 75 yards on 11 plays on their opening drive, converting on a fourth-and-9 pass at the UGA 41-yard line when Nate McCollum beat Javon Bullard for a 23-yard gain.
Two plays later, Georgia Tech QB Taisun Phommachanh kept the ball and sprinted 7 yards around the end for a touchdown.
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Tennessee, Missouri and Kent State were previously the only teams to score in the first quarter of games against Georgia’s defense, each kicking field goals.
Georgia went three-and-out on its first series when Stetson Benett missed an open Kearis Jackson on third-and-6 after two passes to Brock Bowers netted 4 yards.
The Bulldogs drove 12 plays and 44 yards on their second possession to set up a Jack Podlesny field goal, but it was Georgia Tech holding a 7-3 lead as the teams started the second quarter.
The Sanford Stadium crowd was stunned from the onset as the Yellow Jackets pounded out 9-yard runs on their first and second plays from scrimmage.
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Georgia, a unanimous No.1-ranked team, was a 35 1/2-point favorite and won last year’s game 45-0.
Georgia Tech has not beaten the Bulldogs since Kirby Smart’s first season in 2016, when the Yellow Jackets won in Athens, 28-27.
Georgia is currently riding a 17-game home win streak and the senior class has 45 wins -- one win away from the school record for wins by class.
The Bulldogs have clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game and will play at 4 p.m. next Saturday against LSU in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
