UGA Football: No. 1 Georgia vs. Missouri – Postgame Notes

Another Dominating Effort By The Defense: Top-ranked Georgia, the national leader in Scoring Defense (6.6 ppg), held Missouri to just two field goals in a 43-6 win to improve to 9-0 (7-0 SEC). Also, there was a goal-line stand that ended with three seconds left in the game when the Tigers turned it over on downs. UM came in averaging 34.8 points a game.

Georgia now has held eight of its nine opponents to their lowest scoring tally of year (USC is the exception). The 59 points allowed through nine games is the lowest in a season at this point since 1971 (53 points).

Georgia trailed for only the second time this year (@Auburn 3-0 in 1st quarter for a total of 5:29) when Missouri made a 35-yard FG with 5:50 left in the opening quarter. It was a seven play, 33-yard drive. Today, Georgia trailed for 5:08 before responding on its next drive for a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Tiger RB Tyler Badie came in averaging a league-leading 123.6 ypg, and he finished with just 41 yards.

Bennett Leads Bulldogs: Georgia senior QB Stetson Bennett (13-for-19, 255 yards, 1 TD) got the start for the fifth straight week and sixth time overall this year. He improved to 9-2 as a starter and 6-0 this year. After punting on its opening possession, Georgia had four straight scoring drives to build a 26-3 advantage. Down 3-0 in the first, the Bulldogs responded with a touchdown drive of 11 plays, covering 75 yards in 5:08 that culminated with a 35-yard TD pass from Bennett to Arian Smith on 4th-and-6. It was Smith’s second TD this year and third for his career. The second half began with Bennett directing a five play, 60-yard TD drive and a 33-3 lead.

With 11:04 left in the third quarter, junior QB JT Daniels returned to action for the first time since the first quarter versus Vanderbilt on Sept. 25 due to a lat injury. He finished 7-for-11 and 82 yards, one TD and one INT. He converted a 4th-and-3 from the UM19 on a drive that ultimately ended with a 7-yard TD pass to Ladd McConkey (7 plays, 41 yards, 3:38) for a 40-3 edge.

Ton of Targets: Nine different Bulldogs caught a pass today with four covering more than 20 yards. Sophomore Arian Smith had a 35-yarder for a TD. The longest of the first half came by sophomore Jermaine Burton for 47 yards. Junior RB Kenny McIntosh had one for 31 yards.  The leading receiver were Burton (3-for-76 yards) and AD Mitchell (3-for-38). Burton added a 12-yard TD, his third score of the year and sixth for his career to make it 33-3.

Rushing Highlights: Georgia tallied 168 rushing yards on 32 attempts and two TDs. Senior James Cook had 41 yards on nine carries including his fourth rushing TD, this one a direct snap out of the “Wild Dawg” formation. Cook now has 11 career rushing TDs. Senior Zamir White had seven rushes for 14 yards and one TD. White now has a team-leading nine TDs this year and 23 overall. Junior Kearis Jackson had a career-long 37-yarder in the 2nd half.

Special Teams Summary: Georgia blocked its second punt of the year, and this one resulted in a safety as the football went through the endzone. Junior Nolan Smith blocked it. This was the team’s second safety this year as the first one came by the defense versus South Carolina when Smith and Jordan Davis combined on a sack. Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs now have 24 defensive or special teams scores since 2016. Georgia improved to 21-1 when they register a non-offensive score in the Smart era. Senior punter Jake Camarda had one punt 44 yards. Junior Jack Podlesny went 2-for-2 on field goals (20 & 25 yards). He is 14-for-18 on field goals. He made four PATs and is now 41-for-42 in PATs this year.

Game Captains/Starters/Coin Toss: The captains were senior Justin Shaffer (LG) and juniors Kearis Jackson (WR) and Travon Walker (DE). RS-freshman Broderick Jones made his first career start (LT), ending a streak of 19 straight by senior Jamaree Salyer who was sidelined due to an injury. Missouri won the toss and took the football.

Series History/Up Next: With the 43-6 win, top-ranked Georgia has a 10-1 edge in the series history with the Tigers including 6-0 under Kirby Smart. During halftime, Georgia honored former football coach Mark Richt who spent 15 seasons with the Bulldogs (2001-15) and went 145-51 with a pair of SEC title and nine bowl wins.
Up next, Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC) heads to Tennessee on Nov. 13. Kickoff will be at 3:30 pm (CBS). The Volunteers (4-4, 2-3 SEC) face No. 18 Kentucky in Lexington tonight at 7. The Bulldogs are 9-0 for the second time in the Smart era, the other time coming in 2017.