Haynes Scores Three Touchdowns as Georgia Tech Rolls Past Mercer 44-11 for First Win

Justice Haynes rushed for 141 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Georgia Tech to a 44-11 win over Mercer on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, the Yellow Jackets' first victory of the season.

Georgia Tech (1-2) avoided its first 0-3 start in 37 years, pulling away after an uneven first half behind Haynes and quarterback Alberto Mendoza. Mendoza completed 15 of 21 passes for a career-high 249 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

The Yellow Jackets scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the first half to take a 24-3 lead into the break. Haynes opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and added a 1-yard touchdown run in the second. Aidan Birr's 32-yard field goal and Mendoza's 37-yard touchdown strike to Jaiven Plummer with 32 seconds left in the half broke the game open.

Defense Holds Mercer Out of the End Zone

Mercer's 11 points came on three Simon Zeidan field goals and a defensive two-point conversion after Cameron Goggins returned a blocked extra point in the third quarter. Georgia Tech did not allow a touchdown for the first time in 100 games, dating to a 41-0 win over Alcorn State in the 2018 season opener.

Taje McCoy, Tawfiq Thomas and Noah Carter each recorded a sack and a forced fumble for the Yellow Jackets, who closed the game with three consecutive three-and-outs. Freshman linebacker C.J. Gamble's diving interception on the first play of the fourth quarter set up Chad Alexander's 1-yard touchdown run.

Haynes added a 31-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and finished with 167 yards from scrimmage, the second-highest total of his career. It was his eighth career 100-yard rushing game. Mendoza's third touchdown pass went to Debron Gatling from 33 yards late in the third quarter.

Bears Find Some Room on the Ground

Mercer (2-2) outrushed Georgia Tech 188-156. Zahmari Palode-Gary led the Bears with 71 yards on 15 carries, and Zeidan was perfect on three field goal attempts. The Bears changed quarterbacks late in the second quarter, with JP Pickles completing 7 of 11 passes for 82 yards while adding 53 rushing yards.

Georgia Tech played without six starters because of injury, including leading tackler Kyle Efford.

The Yellow Jackets open Atlantic Coast Conference play at Stanford next Saturday. Mercer returns to Football Championship Subdivision play at Abilene Christian.