The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost a heartbreaking eight-overtime game to the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday night. Georgia’s 44-42 win over Georgia Tech is UGA’s seventh straight victory in the series.

Georgia Tech had countless opportunities to win the game in regulation time, but the Yellow Jackets simply couldn’t deliver the final blow to Georgia. The Bulldogs came back in the fourth quarter after trailing 17-0 at halftime.

Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key has placed a lot of emphasis on beating Georgia in his program. Key’s Yellow Jackets outran and defeated Georgia. It wasn’t enough. Georgia Tech lost on a walk-off touchdown by Nate Frazier.

Emotionally, Key embraced Georgia head coach Kirby Smart in a long hug after the game. He later watched the scoreboard for more than a minute and was shocked at what he had just seen.

What did Brent Key say after Georgia Tech’s heartbreaking loss to Georgia?

Key’s opening statement after defeat

“It’s hard. I love the team in there who worked their asses off. There are no moral victories, but I’m proud of these guys,” Key said. “We will use this to continue to push ourselves and continue to improve in all areas of the program. Georgia Tech is special. These kids are special.”

Georgia Tech finishes the regular season 7-5. The Yellow Jackets pulled off a major upset against Miami a few weeks ago, overcoming an injury to starting quarterback Haynes King that limited him for several weeks.

Whether this is the hardest loss he has ever experienced

“What do you think? I think that’s it. Yes. Probably my career, my life,” Key said.

There’s no doubt that losing the second-longest game in college football history hurts, especially when it comes against a hated rival.

In the Georgia Tech locker room after the game

“It hurts. It hurts them. “I’ve never seen anything like this in this locker room,” Key said. “What I know about these kids, what I know about this team, what I know about this school, those emotions are going to turn into fuel. And we will use this fuel.”

About Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King

“He is a warrior. He is one of the toughest kids I have ever been around in my life. He wants to have others around him. Proud of him. Proud of them all,” Key said.

King had a career night against Georgia. He passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns. The junior quarterback added 110 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Thinking about a two-point conversion to try and win

“Yes, there are a lot of considerations. I didn’t like the play call at this point… We had used it before. So we didn’t bring him into the game,” Key said.

This article originally appeared on Bulldogs Wire: What Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said after heartbreaking 8OT loss to UGA