Kirby Smart: "It Makes it Easier to Win When You Get Three or Four Turnovers"
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JACKSONVILLE - Georgia Bulldogs QB Kirby Smart talks about the win over the Florida Gators in Jacksonville.
Final game stats...
*Dominating Game Again For The Defense: Top-ranked Georgia, which came in leading the nation in Scoring Defense (6.6 points per game), held UF scoreless until 2:49 left in the game and won 34-7 to improve to 8-0, 6-0 SEC. It was the lowest point total by Florida in the Dan Mullen era. UF came in averaging 34.4 points a game. Today was the fifth time this season that the Bulldog defense has blanked a team in the first half.
Georgia now has allowed just five TDs this year and 53 points (6.6 ppg). The 53 points through eight games is the lowest in a season at this point since 1971 (46 points). Tthe Bulldogs forced three turnovers that led to 21 points including a pick-six by junior Nakobe Dean that covered 50 yards. It was his first TD and second career INT. The Bulldog defense has four TDs this year. Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have 23 defense or special teams scores since 2016. Georgia improved to 20-1 when they register a non-offensive score in the Smart era.
Junior LB Nolan Smith caused and recovered a UF fumble at the UF 11. It was Smith’s second caused fumble this year and of his career. It led to an 11-yard TD run by senior James Cook and a 10-0 lead with 2:16 left. On UF’s next possession, Smith came up with his first career interception, getting it at the UF 36 after it was tipped by Travon Walker. It led to an immediate TD as Bennett snagged a 36-yard pass from Bennett for a 17-0 lead with 1:35 left in the first half. The leading tackler was Quay Walker with a career-high 13.
The Bulldogs are +3 in turnover margin and have scored 73 points off 13 turnovers. In the 2nd half, UF forced a fumble and took over at the UGA 49. It led to a missed field goal. Bennett threw two INTs, and they led to 7 points . Opponents have scored 27 points of 10 Bulldog miscues this year.
*Bennett Leads Bulldogs To Another Win: Georgia senior QB Stetson Bennett (10-for-19, 161 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) got the start for the fourth straight week and fifth time overall this season. With the win, he improves to 9-2 as a starter including 5-0 this year. In the first half, Georgia had three scoring drives, a 63-yarder in 6:22 that ended with a field goal. The second one went for a TD that covered 11 yards on one play in six seconds. The six-second drive was the quickest this year. The third scoring drive was another in just one play, this time covering 36 yards. The defense took care of the fourth score, capping a 24-point outburst by the Bulldogs.
*Rushing Highlights: Georgia tallied 193 rushing yards on 33 attempts for a 5.8 average. Senior Zamir White led the team with 14 rushes for 105 yards including a 42-yard TD. It was his fourth career 100+ yard game. Senior James Cook had an 11-yard TD and finished with 46 yards on 10 carries.
*Array Of Targets: Six different receivers caught a pass. Junior Kearis Jackson had a team-high three catches for 59 yards including a 36-yarder for a TD. Sophomore TE Darnell Washington had 41 yards on two catches.
*Series History/Up Next: With the 34-7 win, Georgia now has a 54-44-2 edge in the series history including 4-2 under Kirby Smart. Up next, Georgia (8-0, 6-0 SEC) returns home to face Missouri Saturday. Kickoff is TBA. The Tigers (3-4, 0-3 SEC) are playing Vanderbilt in Nashville today.
*Special Teams Summary: Senior punter Jake Camarda finished with two punts for a 48.5 average including a 51-yarder. Junior Jack Podlesny went 2-for-3 on field goals, making two (21 and 42 yards) and missing a 46-yarder. He is 12-for-16 on field goals this year. He made four PATs and is now 37-for-38 in PATs this year. Junior Kearis Jackson had one punt return for seven yards plus one kickoff return for 31 yards.
*Game Captains/Coin Toss: The captains were seniors Adam Anderson (SLB), James Cook (RB), Jamaree Salyer (LT) and Quay Walker (MLB). Florida won the toss and elected to defer the football until the second half.
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