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Georgia Tech beats Mississippi St 49-34 in Orange Bowl

Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas, right, hands off the football to running back Synjyn Days (10) in the first half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas, right, hands off the football to running back Synjyn Days (10) in the first half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Associated Press December 31, 2014 1 min read

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Justin Thomas ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, and Georgia Tech rushed for 452 yards to beat Mississippi State 49-34 on Wednesday night in the Orange Bowl.

Thomas ran for 121 yards and threw for 125. Synjyn Days rushed for 171 yards and three scores, including a 69-yarder that defused Mississippi State’s comeback bid.

No. 10 Georgia Tech (11-3) earned its first Orange Bowl victory in 63 years. The Yellow Jackets improved to 2-8 in bowl games in the past 10 seasons.

No. 8 Mississippi State (10-3) lost three of its final four games after being ranked No. 1 for five consecutive weeks.

After Mississippi State scored on a Hail Mary pass, the Yellow Jackets bounced back with touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half.