Jacksonville, FL – In a classic SEC slugfest that had Dawg Nation on the edge of their seats, the Georgia Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) gutted out a hard-fought 24-20 victory over the rival Florida Gators (3-5, 2-4 SEC) on Saturday night at EverBank Stadium.
The win keeps Georgia firmly in the hunt for another SEC East title and a potential playoff berth, but it was anything but easy against a gritty Gators squad that refused to fade. Watch the Georgia Bulldogs game at these top Atlanta bars.
The game, played under the lights in neutral-site fashion, showcased the best of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party – minus the hangovers. Georgia’s balanced attack and opportunistic defense proved just enough to hold off Florida’s late rally, improving the Bulldogs’ success in this matchup at the current Jacksonville venue.
For Athens faithful, it’s a reminder: in the SEC, survival is sweeter than domination.
A Passing Game That Clicked When It Counted
Quarterback Gunner Stockton continued his steady senior campaign, slicing through Florida’s secondary for 223 yards on 20-of-29 passing with two touchdowns and one costly interception. Beck spread the wealth effectively, leaning on his top target Zachariah Branch who hauled in 10 catches for 112 yards – a performance that kept the chains moving on third downs.
The big strikes came via the air: a 22-yard dart to a shifty slot receiver for six in the second quarter, and a 43-yard beauty that put the Bulldogs up 21-10 midway through the third.
Florida’s DJ Lagway, a second-year phenom, showed flashes with 166 yards on 15-of-24 passing and one score, but Georgia’s coverage limited the damage.
The Gators’ top wideout — Eugene Wilson III — was a thorn, snagging nine balls for 121 yards and Florida’s lone passing touchdown, but the Gators couldn’t sustain drives.
Ground and Pound: Running Backs Shine in the Trenches
Georgia’s rushing attack, a staple under Kirby Smart, grinded out 138 yards on 39 carries (3.5 avg.), with a workhorse back leading the charge on nine totes for 70 yards and the game’s only rushing touchdown – a gritty 4-yard plunge that capped a 75-yard drive to open the scoring.
Another tailback chipped in 45 yards on 12 carries, while a third managed 11 yards on 13 attempts, underscoring the committee approach that wore down Florida’s front seven.
The Gators countered with 138 yards on 39 carries (3.6 avg.), paced by their lead back Chauncey Bowers’ 70 yards and touchdown on 9 carries.
But Georgia’s defense, stout against the run all season, stuffed Florida on key short-yardage situations, forcing punts and preserving leads.
Defensive Stand: Turnovers and Timely Stops
Turnovers told the tale. Florida’s two interceptions – both by Georgia’s opportunistic secondary – flipped field position and stalled Gator momentum. One pick came on a tipped pass deep in Bulldog territory, while the other sealed the deal late.
Florida avoided fumble losses but couldn’t capitalize on Georgia’s early stagnation.
Defensively, the Bulldogs tallied 68 total tackles (28 solo) with two tackles for loss and one pass deflection, holding Florida to just 281 total yards.
The Gators’ unit was pesky, notching 72 tackles (32 solo), two sacks, four TFLs, and four pass deflections, but they couldn’t generate a game-changing turnover of their own.
Special teams added intrigue: Georgia’s kicker nailed a 39-yard field goal for insurance, going 1-for-1 on FGs and 3-for-3 on extras.
Florida’s boot specialist was perfect too, drilling a 54-yarder and going 2-for-2 on FGs, but a missed opportunity on a longer try earlier loomed large. Punting favored the Gators slightly (47.8 avg. vs. Georgia’s 43.0), but the Bulldogs’ coverage units flipped the field three times inside the 20.
Looking Ahead: Playoff Implications
This victory isn’t just bragging rights over the Gators – it’s a resume-builder for the College Football Playoff committee.
Georgia’s defense, ranked top-10 nationally in scoring, bent but didn’t break, while the offense showed resilience despite the interception. Up next for the Bulldogs: a home tilt against Ole Miss on November 8, where they’ll need to clean up the passing miscues to stay in the SEC race.
For now, Athens breathes easy. The Dawgs are battle-tested, and in the SEC, that’s worth more than a blowout. Go Dawgs!