ATHENS, Ga- The second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs finish strong in the second half taking down UAB 56-7 in the first full capacity game in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium since 2019. Head coach Kirby Smart opened his post-game press conference mentioning how great the Bulldog fans are and how much he’s missed playing in front of a sold-out Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs improve to 2-0 on the season.
Stetson Bennett filling in for the injured JT Daniels finished the game 10-12 with 288 yards passing and 5 passing touchdowns which tied a Georgia school record. It is worth noting all 5 touchdowns came in the first half. Stetson also had the longest rush of the day adding in a 20-yard carry.
“I was told Thursday morning I was going to get the start; I prepare the same way each week no matter if I am told I am QB1 or not” Stetson said following the victory. “I was so nervous before the game I couldn’t eat my pregame meal but that first touchdown to Burton helped get rid of those nerves.”
“I’m confident in every quarterback in our room,” head coach Kirby Smart said after the win. “We have a group of really smart players and I’m confident in the ability of Stetson and Carson to step in if needed. I don’t think I could say the same last year. Our plan was to go with Stetson the first 2 drives and give Carson a drive and follow that pattern.”
Junior Zamir White led the Bulldogs in rushing tallying 34 yards on 7 carries. Freshman tight-end Brock Bowers finished the game with 3 catches for a game-high 107 yards receiving and 2 touchdown receptions. Sophomore Jermaine Burton also added in 3 catches for 92 yards and a score.
The Georgia defense remained dominant in the second half adding 2 more interceptions by Kelee Ringo and Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Channing Tindall finished with a team-high 7 tackles.
“I was proud of him,” head coach Kirby Smart said of Jamon after the game. “That was a great first college play getting a chance to get an interception and score. He has been through a lot including not being able to play football because of restrictions last year in Maryland so I’m proud of him.”
Following a Blazer punt, the Bulldogs pick up where they started in the first half scoring on an 8 play, 70-yard drive. James Cook added the first rushing touchdown of the day finding the endzone on a 14-yard rush extending the lead to 42-0.
The Bulldogs get the ball back following the interception by redshirt-freshman Kelee Ringo. Carson Beck enters the game at quarterback and completes his first pass of the drive and as a Bulldog to Adonai Mitchell down the sideline for 32-yards. Beck would go on to lead the Bulldogs on a 3-play, 60-yard drive capped off by his first career touchdown pass to Justin Robinson. The 12-yard strike would give Georgia a 49-0 lead with 7:11 on the clock in the third.
Georgia gained possession with a minute left in the third following a turnover-on-downs by the Blazers at the Georgia 34-yard line. The Bulldog drive stalled at the UAB 15 following the longest drive of the day for the Bulldogs amassing 5:03. Kicker Jack Podlesny missed his second kick of the young season and his first attempt of the night after his 32-yard attempt would not go.
The Georgia defense follows with a 20-yard pick-6 by freshman Jamon Dumas-Johnson extending the Georgia lead to 56-0. This gives the Georgia defense back-to-back games to open the season with touchdowns off of interceptions.
Georgia gets the ball back with 8:02 left in the fourth quarter following a Blazer punt. Carson Beck throws an interception returned 61 yards for a touchdown making the score 56-7 with Georgia out front. Following the Blazer kickoff, freshman Brock Vandagriff enters the game for the Bulldogs at quarterback.
Georgia runs the ball 8-straight times amassing 4:42 in clock and turn the ball over on downs. The Blazers run the clock out in front of a cleared-out stadium to end the contest 56-7 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The Georgia Bulldogs will face the University of South Carolina to open SEC play next Saturday at 7:00 PM.
See “No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs Take Big Lead Into Halftime on UAB Blazers” for first half recap.
