Gators Manhandled by Bulldogs, Fall 43-20
A well-designed, well-executed opening script on the Gators' inaugural offensive drive on Saturday provided Florida faithful hope for their chances to compete with the top Dawgs in college football.
The Florida offense ticked at an effective rate by using impressive true freshman pass catcher Eugene Wilson III. Reeling in four receptions for 62 yards on the opening possession — with a 25-yard touchdown score to cap it off — Wilson elevated the Gators to begin the scoring in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
But that was the extent of the Gators' meaningful success in Jacksonville against the Bulldogs as they ultimately fell 43-20 in the clash of SEC East foe.
Reeling off 36 unanswered points, No. 1 Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) dominated Florida (5-3, 3-2 SEC) in all three phases.
Offensively, Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck — a Duval County native making his first appearance in the annual neutral site matchup — distributed the football at an uber-effective clip. Notably, his 41-yard strike to Ladd McConkey over the middle of the field with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter gave Georgia their first lead of the contest, 10-7.
It effectively turned the tide for the reigning back-to-back national champions. They never looked back.
Beck's performance — 19-for-28 (68%), 315 yards and two touchdowns — proved complementary to the Bulldogs' rushing attack, led by senior Daijun Edwards.
The talented ball carrier accounted for two first-half scores in just over three minutes of game time to tip the scales heavily in Georgia's favor. He finished with 95 yards on the ground.
Defensively, the Bulldogs overpowered the Gators in the trenches, posting four sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in a season-best showing for the unit statistically. The second fumble was recovered at the UF 11-yard line, setting up Edwards' second rushing score on the afternoon.
A blocked-punt-turned-safety rounded out the Bulldogs' onslaught in the first half, giving them a 26-7 lead over the Gators at the break.
After the third quarter, two more UGA scores resulted in a 29-point deficit. Florida earned two fourth-quarter consolation scores.
The first, on the first drive of the final 15-minute period, came via a five-yard toss from Mertz to tight end Hayden Hansen in the far corner of the end zone. The unit's two-point conversion attempt would prove unsuccessful, causing the score to settle at 36-13. As time ticked under two minutes, Florida once again found pay dirt as Mertz punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out.
However, between the two Florida scores, Georgia put an exclamation point on the contest with a one-yard touchdown run by Kendall Milton with 5:57 remaining.
The Bulldogs extended their win streak over Florida to three with a convincing 43-20 victory.
The Gators will return to action in Week 10 against Arkansas at home, striving to rebound following the rough outing in Jacksonville.
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