The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party delivered the city of Jacksonville a gritty rivalry battle, with the Georgia Bulldogs escaping Duval County with a 34-20 win over the Florida Gators.
The Mean Machine has now won four straight in the rivalry, and seven out of the last eight. We talked about this being a close game, at least for a while, and it certainly was with it being a time ball game with 7:29 to go.
During our pregame breakdown, I highlighted that Florida would have to continue its defensive trend of being efficient in havoc-creating stats - turnovers, third-down efficiency, and sacks.
The Gators showed up ready: forcing three turnovers from Georgia's QB Carson Beck, sacking him twice, and holding the Bulldogs' offense to 4/11 on third down.
In the first half, Florida's Devin Moore and Aaron Gates fooled Beck twice with underneath coverage. The third interception landed in the hands of Jack Pyburn on a pass that caused Beck to be hit as he threw.
It was a great first half for Florida, which entered the locker room at halftime leading 13-6; unfortunately for Napier and company, true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway was carted off the field with 5:01 to go in the second quarter due to a hamstring injury he suffered.
Lagway flashed his arm talent early in the afternoon, connecting with Aidan Mizell on a 43-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter over All-American Malaki Starks.
This was one of the only two completions he had in the game before exiting the contest with an injury.
This game was where the Gators already came in with a laundry list of an injury report.
- QB Graham Mertz - OUT
- RB Montrell Johnson - OUT
- RB Treyaunn Webb - OUT
- WR Eugene Wilson - OUT
- WR Kahleil Jackson - OUT
- OL Damien George - OUT
- OL Devon Manuel - OUT
- OL Roderick Kearney - OUT
- DL Jamari Lyons - OUT
- DB Jason Marshall Jr - OUT
- DB Asa Turner - OUT
- DB Ja'Keem Jackson - OUT
Billy Napier's team came in shorthanded and lost several key players, including their quarterback, in the first half, but it was still tied with the Georgia Bulldogs with 7:29 to go.
Florida fans have to come away impressed with the resolve, character, and relentlessness of these young Gators.
With Montrell Johnson out, freshman Jaden Baugh and RS junior Jakobi Jackson carried the load for the offense.
Baugh recorded 64 yards on 17 carries at 3.8 yards per carry with a long run of 11 yards.
Jackson recorded 74 yards on 12 carries at 6.2 yards per carry with a touchdown.
With the team's top two quarterbacks now injured, Napier turned to Yale transfer Aidan Warner.
Warner looked like what you would expect from a guy transitioning to the speed and physicality of the SEC. Shaky, rattled, pick a term.
While he struggled in relief of Lagway, completing 7/22 passes for 66 yards and an interception, Warner did lead a game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter with 7:29 to go.
Georgia responded with a touchdown drive to make it 27-20, and Warner got another shot. With 3:50 to go in the fourth quarter, the Yale transfer rolled out to his right and threw the ball right to CJ Allen for the interception.
The Dawgs scored the dagger on a Dwight Phillips Jr. four-yard touchdown run with just minutes remaining.
Onto the Georgia side.
Beck continues to struggle mightily. The turnover issues aren't new; he's now thrown 2+ interceptions in four of his last five starts and 3+ in three of those starts.
The preseason Heisman hopeful had a pair of bounce-back drives en route to putting the Dawgs back up 27-20 with touchdown passes to Cash Jones and Dominic Lovett.
Carson Beck finished the afternoon 25/40 for 309 yards with 2 TDs and 3 INTs. The passing game struggled overall but flashed its explosiveness with five completions of 20+ yards.
The Dawgs' run game saw a boost in production this week with All-American guard Tate Ratledge and starting center Jared Wilson returning to the gridiron from injury.
Unfortunately for Athens-faithful, they did not see a Trevor Etienne "revenge game," as the Florida transfer took a shot to the ribs in the first half and did not see the field much throughout the rest of the game.
Before being sidelined, Etienne recorded 31 yards on seven carries and 4.4 yards per carry with a long rush of eleven in the first quarter.
True freshman Nate Frazier stepped up big time in his place, much like he did in the season opener vs Clemson.
Frazier ended the afternoon with 82 yards on 19 carries at 4.3 yards per carry with a touchdown. He only had one rush go for over ten yards, but the continuous body blows he dealt to the Florida defense paid dividends.
He may only be a true freshman now, but given our small sample size, we could be looking at the next great Georgia running back.
The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party delivered the city of Jacksonville an excellent ball game. The Georgia Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1) travel to Oxford next week for a matchup with the Ole Miss Rebels. The Florida Gators (4-4, 2-3) are back in the Swamp for a matchup with the LSU Tigers.