Georgia Bulldogs Beat Kent State Behind Brock Bowers' TWO Rushing Touchdowns
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs beat Kent State 39-22 today. Notes:
Offensive Highlights: Top-ranked Georgia posted a 39-22 win over Kent State to improve to 4-0. Senior QB Stetson Bennett finished 27-for-36 for 272 yards and one INT plus a rushing TD. In the first half, he was 18-of-24 for 173 yards and the rushing TD.
Two Bulldogs had a team-high six catches apiece in RS-sophomore Ladd McConkey (65 yards), Kenny McIntosh (35 yards). Today, nine different Bulldogs caught a pass. Georgia had its longest TD-drive of the year (by time), chewing up 6:43 on a 12 play, 75-yard drive late in the 4th quarter for its final score..
Sophomore TE Brock Bowers led all rushers with 77 yards on two carries -- both resulting in first half touchdowns. He struck paydirt from 75 yards out, marking the longest rushing TD by a Bulldog since 2020 when Zamir White went 75 yards against Florida on the first scrimmage play of the game. Bowers first TD today came on the second play. The previous longest rush for Bowers was 24 yards againt Tennessee last year. Bowers scored again on a two-yard rush in the second quarter. It marked the first time in his career he had two rushing TDs in a game. Georgia attempted its first fourth-down attempt of the year, and it was successful (4th and 1 from the 50). Georgia has now outscored its opponents in the first half 108-16 and 169-32 on the year.
Red Zone Review: The Bulldogs were 6-for-6 in the Red Zone with three TDs and and three field goals. For the year, Georgia is now 25-for-26 in the Red Zone with 17 TDs and eight field goals.
A Look At The Defense: KSU finished the day with 22 points, running 52 plays for 281 yards of total offense. In the first half, KSU had 13 points, tallying 124 yards of total offense on just 24 plays. In the second half, KSU put together a 13 play, 70-yard drive in 5:29 that resulted in a field goal to trim the deficit to 29-16. On that scoring drive, the Golden Flashes had a 1st-and-goal from the three and a 3rd and goal from the one before an illegal motion penalty backed them up and ultimately had to settle for a field goal.
Georgia entered the game leading the nation in Scoring Defense, surrendering just 3.3 points a game and 10 total on the year. KSU’s field goal in the first quarter was the first points the Bulldogs had allowed this season in the opening quarter.
Today’s leading tacklers for the Bulldogs were Jamon Dumas-Johnson with six stops including 3 TFLs and 2 sacks and sophomore Smael Mondon with six tackles. The Bulldogs came in with one sack on the year. KSU’s first offensive play resulted in a sack by Dumas-Johnson for a six-yard loss. He would add one more in the first half to match his total from a year ago. Also, senior Nolan Smith picked up a sack later in the first quarter as the Bulldogs finished with three on the afternoon.
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Points Off Turnovers: Georgia forced one turnover, an interception by senior Christopher Smith, his second of the year fifth for his career. It came with 5:11 left in the contest, and the Bulldogs leading 39-22, and they ran out the clock. Meanwhile, KSU managed 10 points off three Bulldog miscues. The Bulldogs are now +4 for the year with 31 points off turnovers. In the first quarter, Georgia had its first turnover of the season on a muffed punt and it gave KSU the ball at the Georgia 26. It led to a 45-yard field goal. Later in the first, Stetson Bennett threw his first INT of the year as KSU took over at its own 5. It led to a blocked punt/safety. In the second quarter, Ladd McConkey fumbled after a reception at the KSU 32. It led to a touchdown, which marked only the second one allowed by the Bulldogs this year.
The Last Time: Freshman linebacker Jalon Walker notched his first career blocked punt, and it resulted in a safety for a 9-3 lead. It was the first blocked punt by a Bulldog since Nolan Smith against Missouri last year that also resulted in a safety. Georgia blocked five kicks last year including two punts. For the second time in as many weeks, opponents were succesful executing a fake punt. In the second half, KSU converted a 4th-and-1 and its own 34 with a 14-yard pass tfrom punter Josh Smith to graduate DE Zayin West.
It’s Good: Senior PK Jack Podlesny made a 39-yard field goal for a 12-3 lead. He added a 31-yarder in the second half for a 29-13 edge and a 32-yarder to extend the lead to 32-16. On the year, he is 8-for-9 in field goals with the lone miss coming on a 54-yard attempt against Samford. He was 4-for-4 on PATs to give him 13 points on the day.
For Starters, Game Captains & Helmet Stickers: Georgia did not have any first-time starters. KSU won the toss and elected to defer the ball until the 2nd half. Senior Christopher Smith (SS), senior Nolan Smith (SLB), Sedrick Van Pran (C) and junior Darnell Washington (TE) were the captains. In support of Curing Kids Cancer, Georgia wore special helmet stickers featuring the group’s logo. With today’s win, Georgia is now 2-0 all-time against Kent State.
Up Next: No. 1 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC) goes on the road to Columbia to face Missouri next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network). The Tigers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) faced Auburn on the Plains today and were going to overtime when the Bulldogs-KSU game ended.
