ATLANTA, Ga- The Governor’s Cup will remain in Athens as the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (12-0, 8-0 SEC) defeat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-9, 2-6 ACC) 45-0 in front of a Bobby Dodd Stadium Crowd and nationally televised ABC audience.
With the win, the Bulldogs complete the regular season with an undefeated record for the first time since 1982. Head coach Kirby Smart on the unbeaten record stated, “I hate to just demean it, it’s a big deal, it’s an honor, it’s great, but it’s the next step in the process for this group. It’s never been about going 12-0, it’s about beating the next team we play.”
Quarterback Stetson Bennett finished the game 14-of-20 passing for 255 yards and 4 touchdowns. Brock Bowers led all Bulldog receivers with 100 yards on just 3 catches including 2 touchdowns. His 2 touchdowns today gave him the team lead in total touchdowns throughout the regular season with 11. Stetson Bennett on Brock said, “First of all he’s a heck of an athlete. Just what his body can do is special. The game just moves so slow for him and for a freshman that’s impressive to see.”
Kenny McIntosh led the Bulldogs in rushing yards with 66 on just 2 carries. 59 of those yards came on a 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Daijun Edwards followed behind with 43 yards on 6 carries including a touchdown.
Nakobe Dean led the defense with 6 total tackles. Quay Walker and Lewis Cine followed behind with 5 tackles in an effort that forced Georgia Tech into punts 7 in route to the Georgia defense’s third shutout this season.
The opening drive of the second half saw the Bulldogs march down the field and into the endzone on 9-plays. The 75-yard drive was capped off after Stetson Bennett connected with Brock Bowers in the endzone from 9-yards out extending the lead to 31-0. Bower’s second touchdown of the day would be his 10th receiving touchdown on the year making him just the second Bulldog in school history to record double digit touchdown grabs in a season.
The Bulldog defense makes its first stand of the second half by forcing an incompletion on fourth-and-14 giving the Bulldog offense the ball back at the UGA 33-yard line. The Yellow Jacket offense made it as deep as the Bulldog 27-yard line before a false start penalty set them back before their fourth down play.
On Georgia’s ensuing drive, running back Kenny McIntosh rushed for 59-yards and into the endzone on the drive’s third play. Following Jack Podlesny’s extra point, the Bulldogs would lead 38-0 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter.
With largely reserve defenders in the game, the Bulldog defense forced a second-straight turnover-on-downs after sacks from Jamon Dumas-Johnson on second down and Robert Beal on fourth down.
Following the Georgia Tech turnover, JT Daniels would enter at quarterback for Georgia’s third drive of the half. Running back Daijun Edwards would take 6-straight carries for 51 total yards including a 3-yard touchdown rush to extend the Bulldog lead to 45-0 with 9:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Following the 7th punt of the day from Georgia Tech, Sevaughn Clarke receives the final 5 carries as the final 4 minutes come off the clock.
The Bulldogs will play Alabama next Saturday for the SEC Championship in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. ET and will air on CBS.
Please see Georgia Takes Big Lead into Half on In-State Rival Georgia Tech for first half recap.
