Stafford capped Georgia’s opening drive with a 1-yard scoring pass to Tripp Chandler, then hooked up with Massaquoi on touchdown passes of 10, 49 and 3 yards. Georgia Tech botched the extra point after Burnett’s TD, then was unsuccessful on a two-point try after Cox scored on a 2-yard run.

But the Yellow Jackets turned the game around with a stunning display at the start of the third quarter. On what looked to be a routine run, Dwyer broke a tackle and was gone for a long touchdown, then got in on the two-point conversion that made it 28-20.

Georgia went three and out, and Georgia Tech quickly marched for another score on Jones’ 8-yard run. Nesbitt’s conversion run put up another two points, tying the game at 28.

Richard Samuel fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the Yellow jackets recovered and scored on the very next play: Dwyer’s 23-yard run. Two TDs just 16 seconds apart gave Georgia Tech its first lead of the game, 35-28, and the Bulldogs never recovered, even though Richt gathered his entire team on the sideline for a tongue-lashing.

“We did well in some spots, but that third quarter killed us,” Stafford said.

He finished 24-of-39 for 407 yards, becoming the third quarterback in school history to throw five TDs in game. David Greene and D.J. Shockley also did it. Massaquoi had 11 receptions for 180 yards.

Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno, who like Stafford may leave school early for the NFL, rushed for 94 yards and scored on a 32-yard run. Stafford added a 12-yard scoring pass to A.J. Green with 4:04 remaining, but the Bulldogs couldn’t stop the triple-option.

Georgia Tech ran out the clock without giving Georgia another shot. So much for those skeptics who never thought an offense that brings back memories of the wishbone could succeed at a major-conference program.

“Now we don’t have to listen to them say that it can’t work on this level against a ’mighty SEC defense,”’ said Richard, who had a piece of hedge stuck above his ear. “Georgia Tech is going to be a team to contend for championships.”  

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