LEXINGTON, Ky. — Georgia soccer doesn’t typically let opposing groups attain the top zone. That proved to be the distinction on Saturday evening with the Bulldogs offense struggling to attain factors at Kentucky.
Georgia escaped with a 13-12 win, transferring the Bulldogs to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play. However this appeared removed from the No. 1 workforce within the nation.
The Bulldogs dedicated 8 penalties for 70 yards and had simply 262 yards of offense in comparison with Kentucky’s 284. Carson Beck had his worst sport as a starter, throwing for under 160 yards.
Georgia trailed 9-6 coming into the fourth quarter.
Branson Robinson scored to place Georgia forward 13-9. Kentucky countered with a area aim after which compelled a Georgia three-and-out.
Trailing 13-12, Kentucky drove the ball into Georgia territory. However because of back-to-back go breakups by Nazir Stackhouse and Jalon Walker, the Bulldogs compelled a Kentucky punt with 3:03 remaining within the sport.
On the following drive, Beck discovered Dominic Lovett for a 33-yard acquire with 2:49 remaining that helped flip the sphere place and Georgia out of the shadow of its personal finish zone. He later discovered Oscar Delp for an additional first down, however solely after Delp fumbled the ball and recovered it previous the primary down line.
It was a really becoming method for Georgia to win this sport, because it wanted each little inch to outlive its first SEC sport of the season.
Georgia coach Kirby Sensible gained’t apologize for successful an SEC highway sport. And Georgia has every week off to appropriate the litany of errors it made on Saturday earlier than happening the highway once more and going through an Alabama program that has confirmed able to beating Georgia.
Carson Beck struggles on the highway
Beck struggled Saturday evening, dropping snaps, lacking open receivers and failing to transform on third down.
The Georgia quarterback didn’t have a turnover however he threw for 160 yards, the fewest of his profession as a starter. His counterpart, Brock Vandagriff, threw for 115 yards on 14 of 26 makes an attempt. He added 68 non-sack speeding yards.
Georgia, who led the nation in third down dialog charge in 2023, was simply 5 of 13 on third down. Every week after Beck acknowledged his aim was to maintain punter Brett Thorson from taking part in, the Bulldogs punted the ball six instances on the evening. Georgia punted simply 4 instances within the first two video games.
Beck was not in Heisman Trophy contender type, oftentimes wanting just like the second-best quarterback on the sphere.
Georgia performs depressing first half
From a yardage standpoint, it was the worst first half of the Kirby Sensible period.
Georgia had simply 63 yards of offense and solely three first-downs. It was 1 of 6 on third down. It didn’t have a turnover however it tried very exhausting to present it away, with Beck making some very questionable selections.
Georgia’s protection principally did its job, apart from permitting Kentucky going 7 of 10 on third down. The Bulldogs had been damage by some iffy penalties, however they sacked Vandagriff 3.0 instances, with a kind of resulting in a compelled fumble that was recovered by Damon Wilson.
The restoration arrange Georgia’s solely factors of the primary half, which nonetheless got here after a three-and-out.
This isn’t the primary time this season Georgia has began gradual offensively, because the Bulldogs didn’t have a landing within the first half of their sport towards Clemson. However whereas Georgia led that sport 6-0, the Bulldogs trailed 6-3 at halftime this time round.
Georgia ultimately obtained issues going however with it going through a rested Alabama workforce popping out of the bye week, Georgia will probably be below an excellent little bit of stress to begin a lot quicker than it has towards FBS groups thus far within the season.
Georgia protection makes performs when it issues most
It wasn’t an ideal evening for the Georgia protection. There have been pricey penalties. Kentucky discovered constant success working the ball within the second half, leaning on a short-handed Georgia line of defense. The Wildcats ran for 170 yards on the evening.
However when the group wanted to get stops it did. The Bulldogs held Kentucky out of the top zone for the third-straight time in Lexington, with Kentucky’s final dwelling landing got here in 2018.
Georgia has now gone 4 straight video games with out giving up a landing relationship again to the top of final season.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had a robust sport for Georgia, selecting up a sack and a pair of.0 tackles for loss.
The secondary principally held Vandagriff in examine, because the Kentucky quarterback had simply passing yards on the day. Dan Jackson, Walker and Julian Humphrey all had go breakups, whereas Daylen Everette led the workforce in tackles with 8.
Georgia’s protection has nonetheless but to permit a landing by three video games this season. However for a bunch that appeared flawless in wins over Clemson and Tennessee Tech, Georgia definitely had its fingers full towards the Wildcats.
Georgia soccer information and notes
Cornerback Daniel Harris dressed out for Georgia however didn’t play within the sport. Harris was arrested on Thursday on 5 misdemeanor driving costs.
Georgia was with out Mykel Williams, Jordan Corridor, Warren Brinson and Roderick Robinson as a result of harm. Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge left the sport within the second quarter with a knee and ankle harm.
Colbie Younger, London Humphreys, Dillon Bell, Oscar Delp, Trevor Etienne, Earnest Greene, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Ratledge and Xavier Truss had been the starters on offense.
Chaz Chambliss Damon Wilson, Nazir Stackhouse, Christen Miller, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Daylen Everette, CJ Allen, Smael Mondon, Julian Humphrey, Dan Jackson and Malaki Starks obtained the beginning on the defensive aspect of the ball.
Georgia is off subsequent week earlier than going through Alabama.