JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Georgia Bulldogs picked up where they left off following their two week break by whipping the Florida Gators in Jacksonville, 34-7. Stetson Bennett continues to take the helm for the Bulldogs, in the absence of JT Daniels, ending the game completing 10 out of 19 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown score.

In the first quarter, the Bulldogs began on their own 36-yard line to start the opening drive. Georgia ran a few successful plays to get down to Florida’s 19-yard line, but Bennett was sacked on the next play causing a 9-yard loss, along with an intentional grounding penalty on the Bulldogs. UGA was set for the field goal attempt, but the kick was missed, granting Florida the football. Five possessions later, Georgia’s defense forced the Gators to miss their 51-yard field goal attempt and received the football on their own 33-yard line at 14:55-mark of the second quarter.

A few successful downs later, the Bulldogs were able to find the scoreboard with a successful field goal kick from Jack Podlesny to give Georgia the lead. On defense, the Bulldogs continued to send pressure on the Gators’ offense, forcing a turnover on downs with 3:39 left in the second quarter but the ball was given back to Florida after a pick from Rashad Torrence II. Two plays later, Georgia forced a turnover after edge-rusher Nolan Smith stripped the football from Florida’s quarterback Anthony Richardson, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Gators’ 11-yard line. The strip-play had set up running back James Cook to make the score 10-0 at 2:16-mark of the second quarter. On Florida’s next possession, the Gators ran three plays until the ball was picked off by Smith and was brought down on Florida’s 36-yard line. Georgia was able to score off Florida’s turnover with a TD pass from Bennett to Kearis Jackson. After the Bulldogs’ score, Florida took over on their own 28-yard line. A combination of pass completions and run plays brought the Gators to the 44-yard line, but Richardson was sacked by linebacker Adam Anderson and Warren Brinson for a loss of 1-yard and causing Florida to call a timeout. After the timeout, Florida was set to run a play on 2nd and 11 on their own 47-yard line. The football was picked off again by Georgia and credited the interception to Nakobe Dean who ran it back for a 50-yard touchdown score to give the Bulldogs a 24-0 lead at the halftime break.

At the start of the third quarter, the Gators began their drive following the touchback kickoff from UGA’s Jake Camarda. A few stops from the stout Georgia defense led to another three-and-out on the Gators, punting the ball down to Bulldogs’ 30-yard line. Georgia’s next offensive possession resulted in a fumble which was recovered by Florida at the 10:07-mark of the third quarter. Florida began their drive marching down the field on a combination of successful plays, but the Bulldogs halted the Gators, leading them to miss another field goal opportunity to remain scoreless and give the Bulldogs back the ball on their own 20-yard line. In nine plays, UGA managed to march down the field and score on a successful field goal kick from Podlesny to give the Bulldogs a 27-0 lead with 1:15 left in the third quarter. Florida’s next offensive possession resulted in another turnover on downs giving the football to Georgia. During Georgia’s possession of the football, Gators’ Torrence earned another interception and was brought down on Florida’s 11-yard line. The interception allowed Florida to escape a shutout from the Bulldogs after a 2-yard touchdown score from quarterback Emory Jones. Georgia responded with a big score of their own from running back Zamir White for 42 yards to close out the contest.

For Georgia’s offense, White ended the game as the leading rusher for the Bulldogs, ending the night with 14 carries for 105 yards and one touchdown score. James Cook was the co-leading rusher for Georgia, coming in with 10 carries for 46 yards. For Georgia’s receiving corps, receiver Jackson ended the game with three catches for 59 yards and one electrifying touchdown score. Darnell Washington was the second leading receiver with 41 yards. UGA’s offense generated 354 yards to Florida’s 355. Georgia earned a total of 18 first downs to the Gators’ 20.

On defense, Bulldogs’ linebacker Quay Walker ended the game as the leading tackler among the defense, reeling in 13 total tackles with seven being solo and was counted for a tackle for loss. Defensive back Lewis Cine was the second leading tackler for Georgia’s defense with 8 total and two credited for solos. Georgia defenders Channing Tindall, Anderson and Dean each accounted for seven tackles total. Georgia’s defense has only allowed 53 points scored in the games played this season.

Georgia’s huge performance comes in light of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee to vote on the CFB playoffs rankings with the Bulldogs now an instant leader due to their aggressive mentality week after week. CFB Playoff rankings are set to be revealed on Tuesday.

Next week the Bulldogs are back home at Sanford Stadium to take on the Mizzou Tigers with kickoff to be determined.

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