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JACKSONVILLE- Running back Chauncey Bowens broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run with 4:36 to play in the fourth quarter to lift the fifth-ranked Georgia football team to a 24-20 win over Florida on Saturday at EverBank Stadium. It was Georgia’s fifth straight win over the Gators and the Bulldogs’ fourth come-from-behind win in SEC play this season.
Georgia trailed 20-17 midway through the final period when its defense got a big stop on fourth-and-1 at the UGA 18-yard line, and the offense responded by driving for the go-ahead score. The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) had to rally in the second half to beat then-No. 15 Tennessee, Auburn and then-No. 5 Ole Miss, and they did it again Saturday.
Florida (3-5, 2-3) took the lead early in the fourth, but the Georgia defense turned the Gators over on downs on their final two possessions. The Bulldogs out-gained the Gators 361-281.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton was 20-for-29 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Zachariah Branch had a big day with 10 catches for 112 yards. Georgia rushed for 138 yards on 39 carries, with Bowens leading the way with 70 yards on nine attempts. Linebacker CJ Allen led the defense with 13 tackles.
Due to upcoming major renovations at EverBank Stadium, this was the final game in Jacksonville until 2028. Next season’s game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, followed by Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2027.
Georgia got the ball to start the game and moved the 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. A 12-yard pass from Stockton to wide receiver Dillon Bell on third-and-7 at the UGA 28-yard line kept the drive going, and the two connected again later to end the drive. On second-and-7 at the Florida 8, Stockton hit Bell in the end zone on a quick slant to put the Bulldogs in front early.
Florida tied the game with 6:32 left in the first quarter on a one-play drive, completing a 40-yard touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to Eugene Wilson III. The Gators got the ball back soon after, when a Stockton pass was intercepted by defensive back Devin Moore, giving Florida the ball at the Georgia 38. The Gators took a 10-7 lead on Trey Smack’s 22-yard field goal with 3:02 to go in the quarter.
The Bulldogs tied the game 10-10 with 12 seconds remaining in the first half on Peyton Woodring’s 39-yard field goal. At halftime, Georgia had a 197-127 advantage in total offense, with 12 first downs to Florida’s six.
After Georgia’s defense forced a three-and-out to open the second half, the Bulldog offense went 74 yards in five plays and took a 17-10 lead on Stockton’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Noah Thomas. Earlier in the drive, on third-and-5 at the UGA 31, Stockton hit Branch down the middle for a 42-yard gain.
The Gators tied the game on the ensuing drive, going 79 yards in 12 plays and scoring on a 2-yard Jadan Baugh run with 3:37 to play in the third quarter. Florida took a 20-17 lead with 14:52 left in the game on a 54-yard Smack field goal.
Midway through the fourth, Florida had the ball at the Georgia 18 and went for it on fourth-and-1. The Bulldogs’ Raylen Wilson and Elijah Griffin stopped the run short of the first down, and the offense took the field down three with 7:54 remaining.
Georgia made the most of the stop, regaining the lead, 24-20, on Bowens’ 36-yard touchdown run up the middle. Stockton and Branch did a lot of the work on the drive, connecting for 18 yards on third-and-8 at the UGA 20 and 13 yards later in the drive.
The Bulldog defense stopped the Gators again on fourth down on the next drive, with defensive back Ellis Robinson IV breaking up a pass on fourth-and-4 at the Florida 31 with 3:13 to play. Facing third-and-7 at the Gator 28, Bowens got free on the left side for a 14-yard gain to the 14 with less than three minutes remaining. Georgia was then able to run out the clock and secure the win.
The Bulldogs are back on the road next Saturday when they play at Mississippi State. Georgia leads the all-time series 21-6 and has won the past five meetings.
