Fast Start Was Key To Georgia's Big 42-20 Win Over The Florida Gators
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, thanks to a fast start offensively and great defense, were able to completely handle the Florida Gators in a big 42-20 victory.
News and Notes...
Bulldogs Register Another Victory: Top-ranked Georgia improves to 8-0 (5-0 SEC) with a 42-20 victory over Florida.
*The Bulldogs now have won 23 straight regular season games including their last 16 SEC games in that span.
*Georgia’s 555 yards of total offense was the most-ever against the Gators, eclipsing the 502 in 1976.
*Georgia now leads the UF series 55-44-2. Head coach Kirby Smart is 5-2 against UF and 74-15 overall.
Defensive Highlights: Georgia came in ranked second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 9.1 points a game. Florida was held to 20 points including just three in the first half. UF scored 10 points off three Bulldog turnovers.
*Georgia collected three sacks on the Gators who came in having allowed an SEC-low five overall, which ranked fifth in FBS. Senior Chris Smith, sophomore Chaz Chambliss and freshman Mykel Williams registered sacks.
*Florida was limited to 100 yards rushing on 34 attempts (2.9 yards per carry) after entering leaading the FBS at 6.4 yards per carry.
*The leading tacklers were sophomore star Javon Bullard with a carer-high eight followed by sophomore linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (7) and sophomore Smael Mondon (career-high 7).
*The Gators finished with 371 yards of total offense. In the first half, UF had just 88 yards on 28 plays. A big chunk of yards came on a 41-yard completion, and it led to a 52-yard field goal to make it 21-3.
*The Gators got their first first down with 11:25 left in the first half.
*Florida scored only the second rushing TD allowed by the Bulldogs this season as Trevor Etienne scored from three yards outs to make it 28-10 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
Offense Tallies Record Output In UF Series: Georgia came in averaging 41.7 points a game and 526 yards of total offense. Today, the Bulldogs registered 42 points and 555 yards of total offense, the most-ever against Florida in a series that dates back to 1904.
*Senior QB Stetson Bennett completed 19-of-38 passes for 316 yards and 2 TDs and 2 INTs. In the 2nd quarter, he connected with Brock Bowers for a 73-yard TD pass for a 21-0 lead with 12:36 left in the half. He completed a 7-yard TD pass to sophomore Ladd McConkey to make it 28-3. For McConkey, it was his second of the year and seventh of his career.
*Georgia improved 8-for-9 on 4th down this year after converting a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 34 and a 4th-and-7 at the UF 33. Up 42-20 with 1:39 left, Georgia went for a 4th-and-3 at the UF 34 and resulted in an incompletion.
*Georgia posted a 28-3 halftime advantage with 346 yards of total offense. The final TD of the half came after a 45-second drive that covered 54 yards in seven plays.
*Junior Daijun Edwards (12 rushes, for career-high 106 yards, 2 TDs) had a one-yard TD for a 7-0 lead in the first, and then In the third quarter, he had a 22-yard scamper for another TD to give him a team-high seven for the year and 11 for his career. It made it 35-20.
Senior Kenny McIntosh had 90 yards on a career-high 16 carries with 2 TDs. He collected a rushing TD to make it 14-0 with 1:30 remaining in the first. It capped an eight play, 80-yard drive in 3:28. He picked up his sixth rushing TD and 12th of his career to make it 42-20 when ran in from four yards out.
*The tight ends were the top targets with sophomore Brock Bowers (5 for career-high 154 yards, 1 TD) and junior Darnell Washington (3 for 47 yards) Bowers had his third receiving TD and 16th of his career today on a tipped pass that covered 73 yards. It was his fourth TD catch of 70+ yards in his career. Also, he has six games with at least 100+ yards receiving including two this year. Bowers’ 154 receiving yards was the most-ever by a Bulldog against UF, the former mark was 140 by Shannon Mitchell in 1993.
* Exclusive Event: UGA DB Kelee Ringo Autograph Signing *
Sunday, November 20, 2022 || @ Red Zone in Athens
Red Zone Review: Georgia went 4-for-4 in the Red Zone with 4 TDs. Coming in today, the Bulldogs ranked 2nd nationally in Red Zone.
*Georgia is now 46-for-47 in scoring in the Red Zone with 33 TDs and 13 FGs. UF finished 2-for-2 with a touchdown and a field goal.
Special Teams: Freshman P Brett Thorson punted only three times (all in the 1st half) for a 39.3 avg. and placed two inside the 20.
*UF came in leading the nation with the fewest punts (14) and today they had six. Georgia ranked 2nd with only 15 and punted thrice.
*Senior PK Jack Podlesny tallied six points, all on PATs. He handled the kickoffs too.
Points Off Turnovers: Georgia is now Even in Turnover Margin this year after having three turnovers today. Opponents have scored 26 points off nine Bulldog miscues after UF got 10 today. UF notched an INT (Jadarrius Perkins) on the first play of the 2nd quarter at the UF 39. It led to a punt after three plays and -2 yards. In the third quarter, UF recovered a fumble by Kenny McIntosh at the UGA 27. It led to a field goal to cut it to 28-13. With 4:27 left in the third, UF got another INT (Amari Burney) at the UF 33. It led to a TD and made it a a 28-20.
For Starters, Captains & Coin Toss: Senior Stetson Bennett (QB), senior Nolan Smith (SLB), senior Kenny McIntosh (RB) and sophomore Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB) were the captains. UF won the toss and elected to defer the ball until the second half. After missing a pair of games due to injury, Smael Mondon (MLB) returned to the starting lineup. He had started the first five this year.
Up Next: No. 1 Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) plays host to No. 3 Tennessee on Nov. 5 at 3:30 pm ET (CBS Sports). The Vols (7-0, 3-0 SEC) face No. 19 Kentucky in Knoxville at 7 pm on the SEC Network.
The Georgia Bulldogs WIN the 2021 NATIONAL TITLE!
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