Georgia Postgame Notes Vs. Murray State
*Bulldogs Win 63‐17: The Bulldogs exploded for 35 points against Murray State in the second quarter after finishing the first quarter tied 7‐all. Georgia went on to post a 63‐17 victory at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, marking the most points scored since the Bulldogs topped Massachusetts 66‐27 last year. The 42 first-half points were the most points since UGA scored 42 points against New Mexico State in 2011. Georgia won that day 63‐16. The Bulldogs also scored 42 points in the first half versus Middle Tennessee and UMass last year. Today, Georgia collected 561 yards of total offense on 65 plays. The Bulldogs have won eight consecutive home openers including 4‐0 under Kirby Smart.
Junior QB Jake Fromm saw action only in the first half, going 10‐for‐11 for 166 yards and a TD. Graduate TE Eli Wolf finished with a career‐high four catches for 73 yards, including a season‐long 24‐yarder. Freshman George Pickens recorded his first catches of the year, finishing with four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt sophomore QB Stetson Bennett (9‐for‐13, 124 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) handled the duties at the end of the first half and most of the second half in his first action. Bennett connected for his first career touchdown on a 15‐ yarder to junior WR Demetris Robinson and had a 1‐yard rushing touchdown. Robinson now has scoring catches in his first two games this season. He finished with three catches for 21 yards.
*For Starters: Sophomore Jamaree Salyer (RT), redshirt sophomore Matt Landers (WR), sophomore James Cook (TB) and junior Jermaine Johnson (OLB) made their first career starts. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Wilson (RT) missed the game with a lower leg injury, which broke a streak of 15 straight starts. Jake Fromm started his 30th straight to lead the offense while graduate J.R. Reed (S) now leads the defense with 31 in a row.
*Last Time Since: J.R. Reed collected a fumble in the second quarter and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. This marked the first time the Bulldogs returned a fumble for a score since sophomore DB Tyson Campbell went 64 yards to the end zone against Missouri last year. Reed last returned a fumble for a touchdown during the 2017 Florida game. This marks the sixth defensive touchdown for Georgia since the Kirby Smart era started in 2016.
*Swift Rushing Attack: Junior TB D’Andre Swift capped a four‐play, 56‐yard opening scoring drive with a three‐yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Swift ran it in from 10 yards in the second quarter, giving him his third game of two rushing touchdowns in his career. These were his first touchdowns of the year and 14th and 15th of his career. With a season‐long 40‐yard rush at the end of the first quarter, Swift finished with 67 yards on six carries (11.2 avg). Senior Brian Herrien scored his second touchdown in as many games to put the Bulldogs up 14‐7. He finished with five carries for 31 yards and tallied the ninth score of his career.
*Firsts: Redshirt freshman TB Zamir White scored the first touchdown of his career and finished with a team‐best and career‐high 72 yards on eight carries. Freshman WR Dominick Blaylock registered his first career punt return (11 yards). Blaylock also had three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
*Defense: The Bulldog defense held the Racers to just seven points and 143 total yards in the first half, and MSU finished the day with 17 total points and 284 yards in 60 plays. The Racers had a three‐play, 72‐yard scoring drive in the opening quarter, highlighted by a 60‐yard scoring strike from Preston Rice to DaQuon Green. Junior DB Mark Webb led UGA with six tackles today. Freshman OLB Nolan Smith had 1.5 sacks while junior OLB Walter Grant added another sack as the Bulldogs finished with six sacks on the day.
Rodrigo Blankenship is second in SEC history for Career Consecutive PATs made with 166 and tied his career. The SEC record is 198 held by Daniel Carlson (Auburn) with 198. Blankenship already owns the Bulldog record.
*Points Off Turnovers: The Bulldogs gave up a fumble and an interception and Murray State turned the pick into a touchdown. Georgia recovered a fumble and turned it into a touchdown. Eli Wolf caught his second pass in a row late in the first quarter and then fumbled on the Murray State 32 yard line. The Racers recovered the ball and returned it to the 40. MSU punted on its next possession. The Racers’ Nigel Walton snagged an interception in the third quarter and returned it 35 yards for a score. Mark Webb drilled a Racer receiver at the beginning of the second quarter deep in MSU territory and J.R. Reed collected the loose ball and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. RS‐ sophomore Latavious Brini notched his first career interception with 35 seconds left as Georgia ran out the clock.
*Up Next: Georgia (2‐0, 1‐0 SEC) plays host to Arkansas State (0‐1) Saturday, Sept. 14 at Noon (ESPN) here at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. The Red Wolves are at UNLV tonight.