UGA Football: Bulldogs Take Down No. 1 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — The fifth-ranked Georgia football team went on the road Saturday night and knocked off top-ranked Texas, 30-15, in front of a crowd of 105,215 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Georgia’s defense produced seven sacks and four turnovers and running back Trevor Etienne ran for three scores to lead the offense.

The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) overcame three interceptions by Carson Beck thanks in large part to a defensive effort that held one of college football’s top offenses — 43.2 points per game coming into Saturday — in check for most of the game. Georgia finished with 10 tackles for loss, with linebacker Jalon Walker getting three sacks and a fumble recovery.

Georgia was held to 283 yards of offense and converted just 6 of 17 third-down attempts, but it made enough plays when it had to. And kicker Peyton Woodring connected on field goals from 33, 48 and 44 yards. Texas, which was held to 38 yards in the first half, finished with 259.

The win was No. 100 for Kirby Smart, who improved to 100-17 in his nine seasons as Georgia’s head coach.

	Fastest SEC Coaches to 100 Wins
	Kirby Smart	117
	Nick Saban	118
	Steve Spurrier	120

“This was a team victory — offense, defense and special teams — in a very tough place to play,” Smart said afterward.

Texas (6-1, 2-1) made the first big play of the game, on Georgia’s second drive, when defensive back Andrew Mukuba intercepted a Beck pass at the Bulldog 42-yard line. However, the Georgia defense held firm and forced the Longhorns to punt.

Later in the quarter, with Georgia facing a third-and-8 at the UT 18, Beck’s pass was tipped by tight end Lawson Luckie and intercepted by defensive back Jahdae Barron at the 5. A few plays later, Georgia’s defense got the ball back when cornerback Daylen Everette blitzed, sacked quarterback Quinn Ewers, forced a fumble, and recovered it at the Texas 13.

Georgia made the most of the turnover, eventually scoring a two-yard run to the right side by Etienne to take a 7-0 lead with six seconds left in the quarter. Etienne had 33 yards rushing and 23 receiving on seven touches in the opening quarter.

A Texas penalty on the ensuing kickoff negated a long return and forced the Longhorns to start their drive on their 8. A sack by Walker on third down led to a punt from the back of Texas’ end zone, and Anthony Evans III returned it 19 yards to the 28. Georgia eventually had to settle for a 33-yard Woodring field goal, pushing the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-0 with 10:46 left in the half.

Everette produced another turnover on Texas’ next drive, jumping in front of the intended receiver for an interception at the Longhorn 34. Three plays later, after a 17-yard completion to wideout Dominic Lovett, Etienne ran the ball in for a 15-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead with 8:30 to play in the quarter.

Walker got another third-down sack on Texas’ ensuing possession, forcing another punt, and the Georgia offense took over at its 45. The Bulldogs drove down to the Texas 30 and Woodring booted a 48-yard field goal to push the lead to 20-0 with 4:43 to play until halftime.

Walker and the Georgia defense weren’t done making plays in the first half. One play after Walker sacked Arch Manning, who had taken over for Ewers earlier in the quarter, for a loss of 11, Damon Wilson II sacked Manning and forced a fumble that Walker recovered at the Texas 30 with 25 seconds left.

Georgia then closed out the half with a 44-yard Woodring field goal to take a 23-0 lead. At the break, Georgia had 170 yards of offense to just 38 for Texas. The Bulldogs held UT to just 1.1 yards per play in the half and got stops for loss on seven of the Longhorns’ 34 offensive plays, with five sacks.

After Texas recovered a Georgia onside kick to start the third quarter, Ewers led the Longhorns on a 55-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond, followed by a successful two-point attempt, cutting the Georgia lead to 23-8 with 10:57 to go in the third.

Late in the third, Georgia appeared to avoid a third interception when Texas’ Barron, who picked off Beck’s pass, was called for pass interference on the play. Play was then halted for several minutes after fans threw dozens of items onto the field, during which the officials waived off the flag and Texas took over at the Georgia 9.

After Georgia’s Mykel Williams sacked Ewers for a loss of nine on first down, the Bulldogs’ sixth sack of the game, Ewers hit Jaydon Blue for a 17-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 23-15 with 2:12 left in the third.

Georgia started its next drive at its 11, and on third-and-10, Beck hit Arian Smith for a 21-yard gain. On the next play, a flea flicker, Beck found tight end Oscar Delp for a 43-yard gain to the Texas 25. Later, after a face mask penalty on Texas on a completion to Dillon Bell, Georgia had a first and goal at the 6. Beck ran the ball down to the 1, On fourth down at the 1, with offensive lineman Micah Morris lined up at fullback, Etienne scored to make it 30-15 with 12:04 remaining.

The Bulldogs’ seventh sack of the game came at a most opportune time, when the Longhorns went for it on fourth-and-6 at the Georgia 37. Williams sacked and stripped Ewers and Wilson recovered at the UGA 44 with 10:23 to play. The Georgia defense later turned the Longhorns over on downs at the Bulldog 19 with 5:26 left in the game.

After stopping a Georgia fourth-and-one rush at the Bulldog 40, Texas took over with 2:13 remaining. The defense got one more stop, turning the Longhorns over on downs at the 11 with 1:10 remaining. Georgia then knelt down twice to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs return to action on Nov. 2, when they face Florida at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.