Georgia Tech Rolls to 59–12 Win Over Gardner-Webb in Impressive Home Debut
Georgia Tech finishes off Colorado Buffs in Colorado
ATLANTA, Sept. 6, 2025 — Georgia Tech’s offense was on full display this weekend, as they crushed Gardner-Webb 59–12 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets electrified fans while showcasing depth, explosiveness, and poise across the board.
Game Breakdown
Quarterback Play: With starting QB Haynes King sidelined by injury, freshman Aaron Philo made a statement in his debut — racking up 373 passing yards and one touchdown. Backup Graham Knowles even threw an 84-yard touchdown late in the game.
Offensive Firepower: Tech exploded for a staggering 680 total yards (457 through the air and 223 on the ground), marking one of the most dominant performances in team history.
Ground Game: Malachi Hosley and Jamal Haynes each carried the offense with over 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns apiece.
Defense & Special Teams: The Jackets tallied six sacks and 14 tackles for loss, and special teams stole the show when JJ van den Berg blocked a field goal that Ahmari Harvey returned 65 yards for a touchdown.
Despite slow starts and early turnovers, Georgia Tech flexed its depth and closed the game with authority — all eight touchdown drives took fewer than three minutes off the clock.
Quick Stats Snapshot
CategoryGeorgia TechGardner-WebbTotal Offense680 yards326 yardsPassing Yards457 yards209 yardsRushing Yards223 yards117 yardsPhilo’s Passing373 yards, 1 TD—
What It Means
This win cements Georgia Tech’s place as a serious contender in their early-season slate. The offensive explosion—and impressive poise after early turnovers—sets the tone ahead of a major test: the upcoming showdown with No. 8 Clemson.
But it's not all perfect. The early miscues highlight a need for cleaner starts and better ball security. If Tech can smooth out the rough edges and build off this overwhelmingly dominant performance, they’ll enter conference play with confidence and swagger.
Sources
From the Rumble Seat – “Georgia Tech Wins, Tradition Streak Breaks”
Ramblin’ Wreck (Georgia Tech Athletics) – “Jackets Roll Up 680 Yards…”
SI.com – “Six Big Takeaways From Georgia Tech’s Dominant Win…”
ACC.com – “Georgia Tech Football Coasts to 59-12 Win Without Starting QB Haynes King”
ESPN – Game summary and box score
