The No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) extended their winning streak to eight games with a convincing 43-20 victory over the Florida Gators (5-3, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs dominated the game on both sides of the ball, as quarterback Carson Beck threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Daijun Edwards rushed for 95 yards and two more scores. The Georgia defense held the Gators to just 339 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers.
Beck Shines in Homecoming Game
Carson Beck, a sophomore from Jacksonville, had a memorable homecoming game as he led the Georgia offense with poise and accuracy. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also ran for 19 yards and a score. Beck connected with nine different receivers, including tight end Brock Bowers, who had six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jermaine Burton also had a big day, with five receptions for 77 yards and a score.
Beck’s performance was especially impressive considering that he was filling in for the injured starter JT Daniels, who missed his fourth straight game with a lat injury. Beck has started the last three games for the Bulldogs and has thrown for 778 yards and six touchdowns, with just one interception.
Edwards Leads Balanced Running Attack
Daijun Edwards, a sophomore from Moultrie, Georgia, had a career-high 95 yards rushing on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 16 yards. Edwards was part of a balanced running attack that amassed 208 yards on the ground and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Zamir White added 62 yards on nine carries, while Kendall Milton had 36 yards on seven carries.
The Georgia running game was effective against a Florida defense that ranked fourth in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing just 113.4 yards per game. The Bulldogs controlled the clock and wore down the Gators with their physical style of play.
Georgia Defense Stifles Florida Offense
The Georgia defense continued its dominant season by shutting down the Florida offense for most of the game. The Bulldogs allowed just one touchdown in the first three quarters, as they built a 36-7 lead. They also forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by cornerback Kelee Ringo and safety Lewis Cine. The Georgia defense also sacked Florida quarterback Emory Jones four times and pressured him throughout the game.
The Georgia defense leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 6.6 points per game. They have not allowed more than 13 points in any game this season. They also rank second in total defense, giving up just 223.9 yards per game.
Florida’s Late Rally Falls Short
The only bright spot for the Florida offense came in the fourth quarter, when they scored two touchdowns to make the final score more respectable. Jones threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacob Copeland with 10:42 left in the game, and then ran for a one-yard touchdown with 1:52 remaining. Jones finished the game with 146 yards passing and one touchdown, with two interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 65 yards and a score.
However, it was too little, too late for the Gators, who suffered their third loss in four games and fell to third place in the SEC East division. The Gators have struggled to find consistency on offense and defense this season, as they rank ninth in the SEC in scoring offense (28.9 points per game) and eighth in scoring defense (24 points per game).
What’s Next for Both Teams
The Georgia Bulldogs will look to stay unbeaten and clinch the SEC East title next week when they host the Missouri Tigers (7-1, 3-1 SEC) at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The Tigers are coming off a bye week and have won four straight games, including a 31-28 upset over Texas A&M last week.
The Florida Gators will try to bounce back from their disappointing loss and keep their bowl hopes alive when they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-6, 1-5 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks are coming off a 31-17 loss to Texas A&M and have lost five of their last six games.
