UGA Football: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech Postgame Notes

Bulldogs Complete Another Perfect Regular Season:

Top-ranked Georgia is now 12-0 (8-0 SEC) after a 37-14 victory over Tech to claim the Governor’s Cup Trophy and post a perfect regular season for the second year in a row under Kirby Smart, and that’s the first time in school history to do it in back-to-back seasons. The others came in 1896 (4-0); 1946 (11-0); 1980 (11-0) and 1982 (11-0).

*The 2022 senior class has established a school record for wins now with a 46-5 mark. The 2021 class posted a 45-8 mark.

*The Bulldogs now have won 27 straight regular season games which is a school record.

*Georgia has tied the school record for consecutive sellouts with No. 64 today, matching the mark set from 9/1/01 through 9/10/11. The current streak began versus Fla. Atlantic on 9/15/12.

*Georgia has now gone undefeated at home for the fifth time under Smart and is 37-4 overall in Athens (34-1 since 2017).

*Georgia has won five straight over Tech and now leads the series 70-39-5. Smart is 5-1 against Tech and 78-15 overall.

*With today’s win, Georgia improves to 8-2 all-time as the No. 1 ranked CFP team including 3-0 in 2022.

 

A Review Of The Defense: 

Georgia came in ranked 2nd nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11.1 points a game. Tech managed 14 points, however they were limited to just 68 yards on 26 plays in the second half. They finished with 255 yards on 64 plays.

*Trailing 7-3 after the first, the Bulldogs blanked Tech in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Georgia has posted 26 scoreless quarters this year.

*Georgia surrendered its first touchdown in the first quarter this season as Tech went 75 yards in 4:17 for a 7-0 lead on its opening drive. The key play for Tech was a 34-yard completion on a 4th-and-9 from the UGA 41. Coming in, Georgia had allowed just nine points in the 1st quarter this season. In their remaining four drives of the first half, Tech was shut out and gained 112 yards.

*In the 2nd half, Tech’s lone TD came on another 4th down pass, a 24-yarder on 4th-and-1 to make it 37-14.

*The leading tackler today was sophomore Smael Mondon with six while a host of Bulldogs had five apiece. Georgia had four sacks.

 

Offense Answers Early Deficit: 

Georgia tallied 37 points, gaining 394 yards on 60 plays. Georgia’s offense took the field down 7-0.

*With a 10-7 lead, Georgia took the 2nd half kickoff and extended its lead to 13-7 on a 50-yard field goal. Following a bad snap on a Tech punt attempt, Georgia started its next possession on the Tech 17 and punched it in for a TD on a 4th-and goal on a Brock Bowers ( 5 rec., 20 yards), caught a 1-yard TD.It was the fifth TD catch for Bowers and 18th of his career.

*Georgia had a 99-yard TD drive, the longest in the Kirby Smart era. Georgia needed only four plays in 2:23. The previous long was 98 yards on six plays in 2019 against Arkansas State. Today’s TD drive made it 30-7.

*Senior Kenny McIntosh had 86 yards on 12 carries with a season-long 45-yard scamper. Also, he had a career-long 83-yard catch.

*Senior QB Stetson Bennett finished 10-for-18 for 140 yards and 2 TDs. In the first half, he was 5-for-10 for 28 yards and 1 TD. The TD pass came on 3rd-and-goal and covered five yards to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint to give Georgia its first lead at 10-7.

*Today marked only the third time the Bulldogs trailed all year (@Missouri until 4:03 left in the game; vs. #1 Tennessee 3-0 in the 1st).

*Junior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint notched his second TD reception of the year and third of his career. It capped an 80-yard drive in six plays over 3:36 and put the Bulldogs in front 10-7 with 7:59 left in the 1st half. It was his only catch plus he recovered an onside kick.

*Junior Kendall Milton (4 rushes, 56 yards) raced a career-long 44 yards for a TD with 11:13 left to extend the lead to 37-7.

 

Red Zone Review:

Georgia went 5-for-5 in the Red Zone with 3 TDs and 2 FGs. Georgia is now 64-for-66 in the Red Zone including 43 TDs, 21 FGs and twice coming up empty, Tech finished the day 1-for-1 in the Red Zone with a rushing TD.

            

Special Teams Summary: 

Senior PK Jack Podlesny tallied 13 points, going 3-for-3 in FG (30, 36 and season-long 50-yarder) with four PATs. In his career, Podlesny is now 4-for-5 from 50-59 yards.

*Podlesny is now 23-for-25 in field goals this year and 58-for-68 in his career. This year, he has a team-high 124 points.

*Freshman P Brett Thorson finished the first half with two punts, a 51-yarder and then a 36-yarder that was downed at the 2..

*RS-sophomore Ladd McConkey had 53 yards in punt returns including a career-long 39-yarder plus he downed a punt at the 2.

                                    

Points Off Turnovers:

Georgia is minus two in Turnover Margin on the year. Georgia has scored 47 points off 13 turnovers.

*Georgia forrced a fumble (caused by Jamon Dumas-Johnson) and recovered by senior Robert Beal, Jr. at the Tech 25. It led to a 36-yard field goal.With 5:51 left in the contest, Carson Beck fumbled and Tech recovered it at the Tech 35. It led to a TD. Opponents have 43 points off 15 turnovers.

 

Captains, Coin Toss and For Starters:

Seniors Stetson Bennett, Chris Smith, Kenny McIntosh and Warren McClendon served as the captains. Georgia won the toss and elected to defer the ball untl the 2nd half. Along with 22 seniors recognized today, Georgia paid tribute to all current military personnel and veterans during the game. Former Bulldog great Richard Seymour was honored for his NFL Hall of Fame induction. Junior RB Kendall Milton had his first start of the year and just second of his career (1st came in 2020).                  

Up Next: No.1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) faces No. 5 LSU in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3rd at 4 pm (CBS) in Atlanta. The TIgers (9-2, 6-1 SEC) face Texas A&M (4-7, 1-6 SEC) in College Station at 7 p.m. (ESPN).