Georgia Bulldog Defense Paves The Way In 45-19 Win Over Miss. State
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STARKVILLE - Kirby Smart and the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs took care of business on the road and came away with a comfortable 45-19 win over Mississippi State.
Bulldogs Clinch The SEC Eastern Division
Georgia moves its record to 10-0 (7-0 SEC) with a 45-19 victory over Miss. State and clinches the SEC Eastern Division. The Bulldogs claim their fifth division crown under Kirby Smart and 12th overall in school history.
*At 10-0, Georgia has double-digit wins for the fifth time time in Smart’s seven seasons and 27th in school history.
*The Bulldogs now have won 25 straight regular season games including their last 18 SEC games in that span.
*Georgia now leads the MSU series 20-6 including 5-2 in Starkville. Smart is now 3-0 against MSU and 76-15 overall.
*With today’s win, Georgia is now 6-2 as the No. 1 ranked CFP team, going 1-1 in 2017, 4-1 in 2021 and 1-0 in 2022.
* Exclusive Event: UGA DB Kelee Ringo Autograph Signing *
Ticket-holders to this exclusive event receive a photo with Ringo; Ringo's signature (which may include one personal inscription per item) on any (3) items; (1) copy of Dawgstruction.
Sunday, November 20, 2022 || @ Red Zone in Athens
Defense Delivers Again
Georgia came in ranked 2nd nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 10.8 points a game while MSU came in scoring 32.6 ppg. MSU finished with only 19 points on 310 yards of total offense on 67 plays. MSU had a 62-yard punt return for a TD by Zavion Thomas with three seconds left in the first half to make it 17-12 after a two-point try failed.
*Junior Jalen Carter had a career-high seven tackles and notched a sack, his 2nd of the season and 17th by the Bulldogs this year.
*Georgia came in fourth nationally in 3rd down defense as opponents converted only 27 percent of the time. MSU went 3-14 on 3rd downs plus 0-3 on 4th downs. On the first 4th down, Smael Mondon (career-high 8 tackles) got a pass breakup at the line of scrimmage on a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 48.
*Sophomore Kamari Lassiter made a tackle for no gain on a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 8 with 9:54 left and Georgia leading 38-19.
*The Bulldogs have not allowed a TD in the first quarter this year (just three field goals) and led tonight 7-0 after the first. In the first, MSU had 30 yards of offense on 14 plays with one first down. Georgia has posted 20 scoreless quarters this season.
*MSU won the toss and took the ball and went three-and-out, gaining three yards before a punt. Georgia responded with a TD.
Offense Tallies 45 Points
Georgia came in averaging 40.1 ppg and 514.2 yards of offense and tallied 45 points and 468 yards tonight.
*On its opening drive, Georgia went 73 yards on nine plays capped by a two-yard scoring strike to Brock Bowers for a 7-0 lead.
*On its second scoring drive, Georgia converted a 4th-and-1 at the 16 to improve to 9-for-10 on 4th downs this year. It led to a FG.
*After MSU scored to make it 10-3 in the 2nd quarter, Georgia answered with a TD-drive, going 75 yards in eight plays in 2:32.
*Senior QB Stetson Bennett (25-for-37, 289 yards, 3 TDs passing 1 TD rushing, 2 INTs). Bennett had his seventh rushing TD (11th of career) too. He now has 53 career TD passes, good for fifth in school history. He led the offense to 28 points in the second half
*Sophomore TE Brock Bowers (5 rec., 41 yards, 1 TD) notched his fourth TD catch of the year for a 7-0 lead with 9:50 left in the first.
*Redshirt sophomore Ladd McConkey (5 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD reception, 1 TD rushing) rushed a career-long 70 yards for a TD to put Georgia up 24-12 with 14:13 left in the 3rd. It was the second longest rushing TD by a Bulldog this year, trailing only tight end Brock Bowers 75-yarder versus Kent State. He added a 17-yard TD catch on the next possession to extend the advantage to 31-12.
*Junior TE Darnell Washington collected his first TD of the year, a two-yarder, and that was first TD catch since the 2021 SEC Championship Game. He finished with a career-high five catches for 60 yards and one TD.
*Junior Kendall Milton scampered 34 yards for the final TD. It was his fifth of the year and made it 45-19.
Red Zone Review
Georgia went 5-for-5 in the Red Zone with four TDs and one field goal. Coming in tonight, the Bulldogs led the nation in Red Zone offense, scoring 98 percent and now for the year are 55-for-56 (39 TDs and 16 FGs).
*MSU went 3-for-4 in the Red Zone (2 FGs, 1 TD, 1 Downs). Coming in tonight, Georgia was ranked 3rd nationally in Red Zone Defense, limiting opponents to scoring just 65% (11-of-17) of the time.
Special Teams Summary
Senior PK Jack Podlesny tallied nine points, going 1-for-1 in FG (28-yarder) and 6-for-6 in PATs.
Podlesny is 17-for-19 in field goals this year including 8-for-8 from the 20-29-yard range.
*Freshman P Brett Thorson had three punts for a 47.7 yards. Georgia allowed its first PR for a TD since 2012 when Zavion Thomas raced 63 yards. In 2012, Ace Sanders (SC) took one 70 yards.
Points Off Turnovers
Georgia was minus two tonight in turnovers and is now minus two in Turnover Margin on the year. In the first half, the Bulldogs had one INT as Stetson Bennett was hit as he released the ball, it led to a three-and-out/punt. In the 3rd quarter, Bennett was picked off at the line of scrimmage at the UGA 22. It led to a TD. Opponents have scored 36 points off 13 Bulldog miscues.
For Starters, Captains & Coin Toss
Sophomore Kamari Lassiter (DB), sophomore Jamon Dumas-Johnson (MLB), junior Warren McClendon (RT) and redshirt sophomore Ladd McConkey (WR) were the captains. MSU won the toss and elected to take the ball.
Xavier Truss (LG) returned to the starting lineup after missing last week. He had started the first eight games this year.
Honoring The Greats
For the remainder of the season, Georgia will wear a special uniform patch honoring the legendary Bulldog coach and athletic director Vince Dooley who passed away Oct. 28 at the age of 90. Also, Georgia has helmet decals to honor one of the greatest athletes ever in Bulldog Charley Trippi, who passed away on Oct. 19 at the age of 100.
Up Next
Georgia (10-0, 7-0 SEC) plays at Kentucky on Nov. 19 at 3:30 pm ET (CBS). The No. 24 Wildcats (6-4, 3-4 SEC) were upset by Vanderbilt 24-21 earlier today in Lexington.
The Georgia Bulldogs WIN the 2021 NATIONAL TITLE!
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