LIVE UPDATES: No. 1 Georgia 45, Ball State 3 - FINAL

ATHENS, Ga. — It’s that time again. Georgia Football is in action, and you don’t have to wait too long on this particular Saturday to see the Bulldogs take the field, drawing an early kick against Ball State.

Kirby Smart’s squad won their opener last weekend over UT-Martin 48-7, overcoming a little bit of a slow start on offense with an outstanding defensive performance and a much stronger second half. In his first career start, Carson Beck finished 21-of-31 for 294 yards and a touchdown to Mekhi Mews, also punching one into the end zone by himself with a rushing score.

Other touchdowns came by way of Brock Bowers, Roderick Robinson and Brock Vandagriff to Oscar Delp, plus a fourth quarter pick-six from Kyron Jones.

Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Ball State is coming off of a loss. The Cardinals went on the road to Kentucky and held a lead after the first quarter. The Wildcats were too much to handle though, eventually pulling away to hand Mike Neu’s team a 44-14 loss last Saturday.

Kirby Smart said…

“Onto Ball State for us. I think they’ve got a really good football team. I don’t know coach Mike Neu well, but going to get to meet him. Got a lot of respect for their conference. We played Kent State out of this conference last year, and the MAC has done an incredible job of creating a good football environment and some really good football teams. So we have to put last game to bed this morning, which we don’t usually get to do on Monday. With no school we were able to jump ahead. This afternoon we’ll jump straight into Ball State and get these guys going and get prepared for them.”

Pregame Reads

Emptying the Notebook: Thoughts on Georgia injuries, Ball State
Georgia vs. Ball State: Keys to a Bulldog victory
What we learned this week as Georgia prepares for Ball State

Georgia football week two injury report for Ball State
WATCH: Georgia releases week-two hype trailer ‘Our Standard’
Improvement from game one to game two key for Georgia

Insider Notes: Bulldog injury situation ahead of Ball State
Kirby Smart provides update on availability for Ladd McConkey among others
Takeaways from Georgia vs. Ball State media day

Kickoff time from Sanford Stadium in Athens is set for 12:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network this week. Below, DawgsHQ provides links for you to stream the game live, listen in, and follow along with the live stats.

How to Watch, Listen and Stream

Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour – Play by Play, Matt Stinchcomb – Color Commentator, Alyssa Lang – Sideline Reporter)
Streaming: Watch ESPN
Radio: Atlanta (750 AM/95.5 FM), Athens (960 AM/106.1 FM), Augusta (580 AM/95.1 FM), Brunswick (1440 AM, 107.7 FM), Columbus (1270 AM/102.5 FM), Macon (106.3 FM), Savannah (1400 AM/104.3 FM), Sirius XM (Channel 137 or 190 – Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network), Online at www.georgiadogs.com/watch/

STREAM | LISTEN | STATS

As always, there’s one more way to keep up with the goings on in this game. In the space below, DawgsHQ will be providing live updates, scores, highlights and news from before and during the game. Just use the refresh button on your browser to see those updates as they roll in.

Fourth Quarter

• FINAL – Georgia takes over at its own 18 and will take a knee to end this one. (UGA 45-3, 0:00 4Q)
• PUNT BALL STATE – Another three-and-out for the Georgia defense brings on the punt team. Evans the returner once again.
• PUNT UGA – Stockton takes a sack on 3rd and 4, bringing on the punt team. Ball State takes over at their own 40 after the Thorson punt.
• Gunner Stockton now in the game at quarterback.
• PUNT BALL STATE – Cardinals move the chains twice but are forced to punt. Anthony Evans calls for a fair catch at the UGA16.
• PUNT UGA – Dawgs go three-and-out with a pair of deep passes incomplete for Vandagriff. Brett Thorson with great hang time on his 51-yard punt. Ball State takes over at its own 9.
• Brock Vandagriff into the game at quarterback.
• FIELD GOAL BALL STATE – The shutout is over as Ball State makes a field goal from 27 yards out. Caps off a 15-play, 55-yard drive for the Cardinals. (UGA 45-3, 9:05 4Q)
• Ball State is in Georgia territory on a 13-play drive up to this point. The Cardinals face a 3rd and Goal from the UGA 10. They have converted on a trio of third downs so far on the drive, including a 21-yard pass to reach the red zone.

Third Quarter

• END 3Q – Georgia leads 45-0 as we head to the fourth
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – Roderick Robinson with a second touchdown in as many games. That followed a big catch and run from Oscar Delp, one that included him hurdling a man. (UGA 45-0 0:46 3Q)
• TURNOVER ON DOWNS – Gabe Harris with a tackle for loss to force the turnover on downs. Nice stop for the freshman.
• Raylen Wilson in the game. Misses a tackle, but good to see the freshman in there after a hyperextended knee in fall camp.
• Miller out of the tent and sitting without a helmet on. Looks as if his day is done.
• Just a matter of plays later, Miller is being attended to by trainers on the field. He walks off slowly but under his own power before going into the injury tent.
• Christen Miller with a tackle for loss. He’s been in the backfield a couple of times today.
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – Carson Beck finds Cash Jones for a long score from 27 yards out on the wheel route. Beck also completed passes to Dillon Bell, Mekhi Mews and Rara Thomas on the drive. (UGA 38-0 6:27 3Q)
• Georgia picks up a first down on third down with a completion to Rara Thomas.
• PUNT BALL STATE – Another three and out for the UGA defense. Their third of the day and second straight. Another four drives have been four or less plays including three interceptions. Dawgs take over at their own 20 after the touchback.
• INTERCEPTION – Deep shot to Dillon Bell takes a bad bounce into the hands of a Ball State defender. Returned 43 yards to the UGA 42. Could easily have been called for a defensive pass interference.
• PUNT BALL STATE – Three and out for the Georgia defense. Offense to take over at their own 42 after solid return by Mekhi Mews.
• Second half gets underway with the touchback and the Georgia defense on the field. In other news, Javon Bullard has returned to the sideline in street clothes wearing a boot on his left foot.

Second Quarter

• HALF – Ball State runs one play and take it to the half. Georgia leads 31-0 at the break.
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – Kendall Milton goes over the top for his first touchdown of the season. Score is from one yard out. (UGA 31-0 0:37 2Q)
• Georgia facing 3rd and Goal from the 1 after calling its second timeout of the half. Set up largely by a Carson Beck scramble for 14 yards.
• INTERCEPTION – Tykee Smith comes up with Georgia’s third turnover of the day on Ball State’s first play of the drive. Another tipped ball interception gives UGA possession at the BSU 20 with 1:41 to go in the first half.
• FIELD GOAL UGA – Looked as if Georgia had scored a touchdown, but the Bulldogs will settle for a field goal after a pass interference penalty on what was a 4th and Goal touchdown to Dominic Lovett. Drive (12 plays, 42 yards, 5:28) included a nice 16-yard gain by CJ Smith to pick up a first down on 3rd and 10 and an 18-yard completion to Rara Thomas. (UGA 24-0 1:49 2Q)
• PUNT BALL STATE – Three and out gives Georgia possession again quickly after its last.
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – Dillon Bell takes a handoff out of the backfield for the second time today. This time he makes a man miss and goes 21 yards to the house. (UGA 21-0 8:45 2Q)
• INTERCEPTION – With a tipped ball coming right into his hands, Chaz Chambliss comes up with second straight interception for the Georgia defense. Sets the Dawgs up at the Ball State 30.
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – On 3rd and 7, Carson Beck finds Marcus Rosmey-Jacksaint over the middle for the touchdown. Kirby Smart said Rosemy-Jacksaint’s return was going to be big and it shows there. (UGA 14-0 10:16 2Q)
• Arian Smith catches a pair of important passes, back to back, to gets Georgia down to the Ball State 10.
• INTERCEPTION – On 3rd and 2, Malaki Starks went up for an interception downfield. Made a nice read to recover on an open receiver. His first interception of the season gives Georgia possession at their 22.
• Nyland Green banged up on the kickoff. He walks off under his own power. Looked like they were stretching out the calf area. In other injury news, Javon Bullard’s announced as an ankle in the press box and “out for now.”
• TOUCHDOWN UGA – Mekhi Mews returns the punt 69 yards to the house for the score. Georgia’s first return score since 2018 when Mecole Hardman did it against Middle Tennessee. (UGA 7-0 14:32 2Q)
• David Daniel-Sisavanh with a pass breakup on the first play out of the break. Then on third down that followed the pass falls incomplete with Daylen Everette in coverage.

First Quarter

• END 1Q – Knotted at 0 with Ball State facing 2nd and 10 at their own 27 after the break.
• Javon Bullard is headed into the locker room. Was doing a little bit of back pedaling between drives and talked to Ron Courson before they sent him in. David Daniel-Sisavanh in his place.
• PUNT UGA – Carson Beck has to throw it away on 3rd and 7 to avoid a sack. Brett Thorson punt is fair caught at the BSU13. Still scoreless with 1:00 to go in the first quarter.
• Dominic Lovett picks up the first down on 3rd and 6 with an 11 yard pickup. Looked better fighting through contract there than he did last week.
• Georgia’s first two plays of the drive, Brock Bowers and Dillon Bell have lined up in the backfield. Bell took a handoff of the second play and picked up 10 on the rush.
• PUNT BALL STATE – Kick goes into the end zone for a touchback. Georgia to take over at their 20 after the TV timeout with 5:25 to go in the first quarter.
• David Daniel-Sisavanh in there for Georgia in DIME defense. He did not play last week, battling turf toe.
• Warren Brinson gets through the line of scrimmage clean, fails to wrap up the runner but Marvin Jones Jr. takes care of business. Loss of nine back into Ball State territory.
• Ball State picks up the first down on fourth down with a two-yard rush up the middle by Marquez Cooper. Fresh set for the Cardinals.
• Timeout Ball State. Cardinals picked up a first down but now face fourth and short at their 40. Lined up to go for it originally, an aggressive decision early on from Mike Neu.
• FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT – 28 yards attempt by Peyton Woodring is no good. UGA comes away empty-handed on its opening possession.
• Beck keeps on 3rd and 8 with nobody open and fumbles. Kendall Milton saves disaster and recovers to allow Georgia to attempt a field goal.
• Georgia has moved the chains three times here already. Carson Beck has found Dillon Bell, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Dominic Lovett to put UGA in the red zone.
• Mekhi Mews returns the kickoff out to the UGA43. nice return of 42 by the walk-on receiver who continues to prove himself as a legitimate contributor on this team.
• COIN TOSS – Georgia wins the toss and will receive.
• Captains for Georgia today: Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Zion Logue, Tykee Smith and Tate Ratledge

Pregame

• World famous competitive eater Joey Chestnut in the house. Always has loved the dogs.
• Daijun Edwards looks like a go as he is an active participant in warmups. Remains to be seen what kind of workload he gets, making his way back from a sprained MCL.
• Smael Mondon announces as a starter on the video board alongside Jamon Dumas-Johnson at inside linebacker. Don’t think that was the case last week.
• Jackson Meeks is dressed out and going through warm ups. He has been dealing with a foot injury and missed the opener.
• EJ Lightsey, Josh Miller, DeNylon Morrissette – along with those previously named – also emerge with no uniform on.
• Austin Blaske typically warms up with the centers and quarterbacks. He is not doing so today after Jake Rowe listed him as doubtful with a lower body injury.
• Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins reportedly underwent surgery this week on his foot and was seen heading into Sanford Stadium on a scooter. Something to monitor as warmups continue to confirm those reports.
• Ladd McConkey was not dressed out for warmups with the rest of the Georgia receivers. His status as he attempts to make a return from a back injury has in question.
• Other Georgia players not dressed out – so far – include Chris Peal (turf toe) and Lawson Luckie (ankle)