09/19/26 02:30:00
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09/19 14:25 CDT Justice Haynes scores 3 TDs in 44-11 Georgia Tech win over
Mercer
Justice Haynes scores 3 TDs in 44-11 Georgia Tech win over Mercer
By ALAN COLE
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) --- Justice Haynes rushed for 141 yards on 22 carries with three
touchdowns --- two rushing, one receiving --- leading Georgia Tech to its first
victory of the season, 44-11 over Mercer at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Georgia Tech (1-2) followed up home defeats to Colorado and Tennessee with an
uneven performance for most of the first half, but pulled away thanks to Haynes
and quarterback Alberto Mendoza.
The Yellow Jackets scored 10 points in the final two minutes before the break
to take a 24-3 lead and added three more second-half touchdowns. Mendoza
completed 15 of 21 passes for a season-high 249 yards, finding Javien Plummer
and Debron Gatling for scoring strikes from 37 and 33 yards out.
Zahmari Palode-Gary led Mercer (2-2) with 71 rushing yards on 15 carries.
The Takeaway
Mercer: The Bears made a quarterback change late in the second quarter. JP
Pickles took over and led the Bears on two field goal drives, accounting for 53
rushing yards with an efficient 7-of-11 passing clip for 82 yards.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets finally got what they were looking for from
their star transfer, Haynes. After just 145 total rushing yards and no plays
over 20 yards in the first two games, the former Michigan back and projected
focal point of Georgia Tech's offense was explosive in open space, highlighted
by his 31-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Up next
Mercer: Steps back into Championship Subdivision play at Abilene Christian next
Saturday.
Georgia Tech: Opens its Atlantic Coast Conference slate at Stanford next
Saturday.
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