UGA's Defense Continues To Shine with Another Shutout
*Bulldogs Blank Kentucky In Wet Battle On Homecoming: With a steady rain falling and temperatures in the low 50s all night, Georgia was able to score 21 points following a scoreless half and registered a shutout. It was the second shutout of the year (Arkansas State 55-0 on Sept. 14) and fourth in the Kirby Smart era. Before tonight, the last one in an SEC contest came in 2017, 44-0 over Tennessee in Knoxville. With tonight’s win, Georgia leads the UK series 59-12-2 including 10 straight over the Wildcats. Also, Georgia is 78-18-2 on Homecoming including 15-2-1 against the Wildcats. This was the first shutout of Kentucky since a 1981 Homecoming win (21-0).
Junior D’Andre Swift (21-for-179 yards, 2 TDs) finally ignited the crowd with a 39-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. That was the only play of the drive, and it was the fastest drive of the season at 11 seconds. Georgia forced and recovered a fumble on the next series and then scored its second touchdown of the quarter at the 1:54 mark. Senior TB Brian Herrien ran this one in from 8 yards out. Swift added a second score on a 3-yard dive in the fourth quarter. Georgia and Kentucky combined for 178 yards, including 123 from the Bulldogs, in the first half and finished the first two quarters at 0-0. This marks the first scoreless half in a Georgia game since 1991 when the Bulldogs played at Alabama. The Bulldogs went on to lose that contest 10-0.
*Defense Continues To Shine: Georgia came into the game leading the SEC and sitting sixth nationally in Scoring Defense at 12.3 points/game. Tonight marked the Bulldogs’ second shutout of the year after topping Arkansas State 55-0. The Bulldog defense held Kentucky to 177 yards of total offense (160-rushing, 17-passing). The Wildcats had just two first downs on 21 plays in the first two quarters. Senior Tae Crowder, junior Richard LeCounte, sophomore Quay Walker and freshman Nakobe Dean tied for the team lead with six tackles apiece. Sophomore Jake Camarda punted the ball six times for an average of 52.8, including a long of 64.
*Offense: The Bulldogs concentrated in the running game with the wet conditions and finished with 235 yards on the ground in 43 carries (5.5 avg.). D’Andre Swift had 21 carries for 179 yards (8.5 avg.) and two touchdowns (seven on the year) to lead the Bulldogs. He now has seven games with at least 100 yards rushing, including three 100-yard performances this year. This is the most rushing yards for the Bulldogs since Swift went for 186 on 17 carries in the 2018 victory versus No. 24 Auburn. Junior QB Jake Fromm was limited to just 35 passing yards, going 9-of-12. He is now 29-6 as a starting quarterback.
*Blankenship Boots It: Graduate PK Rodrigo Blankenship kicked three extra points. He has connected on a school record 184 consecutive PATs. The Bulldogs lead the nation with a streak of 275 consecutive PATs dating back to 2014. Blankenship is now tied with Blair Walsh (2008-11) for second place in all-time career PATs made by a Bulldog.
*Points Off Turnovers: Georgia is +1 in turnover ratio this year. Graduate S J.R. Reed drilled Kentucky QB Lynn Bowden to force a fumble at the 4:30 mark on the UK 31 yard line in the third quarter and junior DB Richard LeCounte collected the loose ball. Brian Herrien scored on an 8-yard scamper on the next drive. The Bulldogs have scored 30 points off nine turnovers while opponents have scored 21 points off eight Georgia miscues.
*For Starters: Freshman WR George Pickens started his first game. Brian Herrien returned to action after missing last week with a back strain. Jake Fromm started his 35th straight to lead the offense while J.R. Reed now leads the defense with 36 in a row. Also of note, redshirt freshman DB Divaad Wilson made his second start of the year.
*Homecoming King & Queen: Senior Wilkray Biboum who is from Norcross, Ga., and majoring in Nutritional Sciences was crowned the 2019 Homecoming king. Senior Chelsey Deranian who is from Grafton, Mass., and majoring in Early Childhood Education was crowned this year’s Homecoming queen.
*Next Up: The Bulldogs (6-1, 3-1 SEC) are off next Saturday before traveling to Jacksonville, Fla., for the annual matchup with Florida (7-1, 4-1 SEC) on Nov. 2. The game will be televised by CBS at 3:30 p.m.