Georgia Tech: 35
Notre Dame: 28

On January 1st, 1999 the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2) would face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2) in the Gator Bowl. The teams last met in the 1997 season opener where the Irish narrowly defeated the Jackets 17-13. Tech’s last victory in the series came in 1976 when the Ramblin’ Wreck defeated the Irish without attempting a forward pass.

The Yellow Jackets struck the first blow with a trick play midway through the opening period. Hamilton tossed a pitch to freshman tailback Joe Burns, who promptly threw a touchdown strike back to the star quarterback for a 7-0 lead.

The Irish answered a little more than two minutes later when Autry Denson scored on a 9 yard run to tie the game at 7-all.

Tech then added two second quarter touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead at the half. Phillip Rogers accounted for the first score with a two yard run to cap off a 78 yard drive and Hamilton notched the second when he hit Mike Sheridan on a nine yard touchdown pass with roughly 4:30 to play.

The Irish came alive early in the second half, marching 80 yards in 10 plays to get within 7 on a one yard touchdown run by Denson.

The Jackets lost a turnover on the ensuing kickoff and the Irish scored just eight plays later on a two yard Jarious Jackson touchdown run. But Notre Dame kicker Jim Sanson would miss the extra point and Tech maintained its lead at 21-20.

With 3:42 remaining in the third period, Hamilton found Dez white on a 44 yard touchdown pass to extend the Ramblin’ Wreck lead to 28-20.

The Irish then marched 88 yards for a score on a one yard touchdown run by Denson three minutes into the fourth quarter. Jackson connected with Bobby Brown for the two point conversion to tie the game at 28 with 11:56 remaining.

But Hamilton refused to quit for the Yellow Jacket offense and midway through the quarter he hit Dez White on a 55 yard touchdown pass to go ahead for good at 35-28.
The Jackets would hold on to win and finish with more than 10 wins for the first time since 1990 and just the seventh time in school history.

Statistics:

First Downs:
GT – 23
ND – 28

Rushing Yards:
GT – 194
ND – 159

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
GT – 14-21-242
ND – 13-24-150

Fumbles (Total-Lost):
GT – 2-1
ND – 2-1

Interceptions thrown:
GT – 0
ND – 0

Penalties (Total-Yards):
GT – 7-53
ND – 6-30

Notable individual statistics:
Joe Hamilton (GT): 13-20, 237 yard passing, 3 TD; 1 reception, 5 yards, 1 TD; 10 rushes for 19 yards
Dez White (GT): 4 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD

References:
USA Today Recap: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores99/99001/99001313.htm