JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The nation’s top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (8-0, 6-0 SEC) remain unbeaten after defeating Florida (4-4, 2-4 SEC) 34-7 in a neutral TIAA Bank Stadium and a nationally-televised CBS audience.
Head coach Kirby Smart on the fans- “I really appreciate our fans. I appreciate them coming out. They made a difference in this game. In a game that’s 50-50 I didn’t think it was 50-50 today so thanks fans and go dawgs.”
Stetson Bennett starting his fourth straight game for the Bulldogs finished 10-of-19 passing for 161 passing yards and a touchdown along with 2 interceptions. Zamir White broke the 100-yard rushing mark for just the first time this season as he finished with 105-rushing yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries. Kearis Jackson led all pass catchers in catches and yards for the first time this season as well as he tallied 59-yards on his 3 first half receptions.
Quay Walker led all tacklers for the dominate Bulldog defense with 13. Safety Lewis Cine followed behind with 8 tackles. Nolan Smith recorded his first career interception in the first half as well as adding a strip fumble. Nakobe Dean recorded a pick-6 to give the Bulldogs their third 3 take away game on the season.
Head coach Kirby Smart on Nakobe Dean’s pick-6- “Nakobe has worked really hard on his coverage out in space and I was glad to see him get that one. It was probably the play of the game and broke the momentum.”
Following a Bulldog fumble, the Gator offense had their deepest drive of the game to this point reaching the UGA-6 before an Emory Jones pass is batted down on third down. Florida kicker Jace Christmann misses his second kick of the game as his 23-yard field goal goes wide left giving the ball back to the Bulldog offense at their own 20.
Georgia’s second drive of the half ends in a 42-yard field goal by Jack Podlesny extending Bulldog’s advantage to 27-0. Brock Bowers took a tight end screen 43-yards on the drive’s 5th-play to help set up this field goal attempt.
Florida’s third drive of the half ends at the UGA-25 following a failed fourth down attempt. This would be the second turnover on downs forced by the Bulldog defense. The Georgia offense follows the Gator turnover with their own after Stetson Bennett’s deep pass intended for Adonai Mitchell is intercepted. This would be the second turnover in three second half drives for the Bulldogs.
The Gators would capitalize this time as their fourth drive of the half goes 89-yards on 11-plays and is capped off by an Emory Jones rushing touchdown. Jones who entered the game earlier in the half for the injured Anthony Richardson ends Georgia’s shutout bid with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game.
Following a failed Florida onside kick attempt, Zamir White breaks a 42-yard touchdown run to extend the Georgia lead to 34-7 with 1:57 left in the game. Zamir broke the 100-yard mark on the day with that run for the first time this season.
The clock ran out on Florida’s final drive giving Georgia a 34-7 victory. Georgia is set to play Missouri next Saturday in Athens. Kickoff time is currently TBD.
Please see Defense Dominates as No. 1 Georgia Leads Florida 24-0 at Half for first half analysis.
