UGA Football: Georgia vs Ole Miss Game Review

ATHENS, Ga. — The undefeated Georgia football team wrapped up its home schedule in emphatic fashion in front of a sellout crowd of 92,746 Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs piled up more than 600 yards of offense in a dominating 52-17 win over Ole Miss in a matchup of top-10 teams. It was the Bulldogs’ 27th consecutive victory and their 25th win in a row on Dooley Field.

Before the game even began, Georgia (10-0, 7-0 SEC), which remains ranked No. 1 in the polls and No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, clinched the SEC East Division championship after Missouri knocked off Tennessee, 36-7. The Bulldogs will face Alabama in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 2. The Bulldogs wrap up SEC play next Saturday at Tennessee.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck completed 18 of 25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, while Kendall Milton, on Senior Day, ran for a career-high 127 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. The Bulldog offense didn’t face a third down until late in the second quarter, rushed for 311 yards, and out-gained No. 10 Ole Miss 610-352.

Ole Miss (8-2, 5-2)  took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive when Quinshon Judkins ran the ball in from the Georgia 15-yard line. The Bulldogs answered quickly, going 75 yards in six plays and tying the game on Daijun Edwards’ 1-yard run with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

Georgia’s defense forced a turnover on downs on Ole Miss’ next drive, stopping the Rebels on fourth-and-3 at the Bulldog 40. On first down of the Bulldogs’ drive, Edwards bounced outside to the right for nine yards. On the next play, he ran up the middle before bouncing out to the right for 22 yards, to the Ole Miss 29. On the next play, Beck hit wideout Ladd McConkey for a 29-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 3:09 left in the quarter.

Early in the second, Ole Miss capped a 75-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Judkins, tying the game at 14. Georgia, again, answered quickly, capping its 75-yard drive with a one-yard Edwards run that put the Bulldogs up 21-14 with 9:58 to play in the half. The drive was highlighted by a seven-yard reception by tight end Brock Bowers, his first catch after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, and a 41-yard reception by McConkey down to the 2.

Georgia’s defense forced an Ole Miss three-and-out, getting a 10-yard sack and stuffing two runs for no gain, and the offense took over at its 38 after a Rebel punt. On first down, Beck found Bowers for a 19-yard gain. Later, Beck connected with Edwards for 14, and Kendall Milton capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 28-14 with 2:27 to play in the half. At that point, the Bulldogs were averaging 10.7 yards per play.

Safety Javon Bullard picked off a Dart pass on the Rebels’ next drive, his second interception of the season, and returned it to the Ole Miss 45 with 1:00 on the clock. The Rebels picked off a Beck pass at the Ole Miss 7 with seven seconds left in the half. At the break, Georgia led 28-14 and had a 304-194 advantage in total offense.

After being forced to punt for the first time in the game on its opening drive of the second half, Georgia’s offense found the end zone again on its second, pushing its lead to 35-14 with 9:15 left in the third. The four-play drive included an 11-yard McConkey run, a 22-yard reception by Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, a nine-yard Beck scramble, and a 33-yard touchdown run by Milton.

Kicker Peyton Woodring added to the Bulldog lead with 3:50 to go in the third, booting a 27-yard field goal to make it 38-14. It was the freshman’s 14th straight made field goal. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Beck found Bowers down the middle for an eight-yard touchdown and a 45-14 lead. It was Bowers’ 25th career touchdown reception

Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis made it 45-17 with a 29-yard field goal with 8:50 remaining in the game. Georgia running back Andrew Paul scored a four-yard touchdown with 4:12 remaining to give the Bulldogs a 52-17 lead. It was the first touchdown of Paul’s career.

Before the game, Georgia recognized 30 seniors that were, or could be, playing their final game on Dooley Field. Some of them have eligibility remaining and may return next season. The 2023 senior class has a record of 47-3, including the 27 consecutive wins and back-to-back national championships.

In addition, former coach Mark Richt was recognized between the first and second quarter for his 2023 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 15 seasons at Georgia (2001-15), Richt amassed a record of 145-51, with seven Top-10 finishes and two SEC titles (2002 and ’05).