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Game Balls: Georgia offense shines in 49-3 win over Oregon

On3 imageby:Jake Rowe•09/03/22•

JakeMRowe

On3 image
(Photo by Tony Walsh)

Georgia left zero doubt as to who had the better team in Saturday’s season-opener vs. No. 11 Oregon. The Bulldogs reached the end zone on their first seven possessions and had the game in hand early in a 49-3 win.

Wins like that often require standout performances from a number of players. That was certainly the case with UGA and below, DawgsHQ singles out the best of the best by handing out game balls.

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV

If game one of Bennett’s final season at UGA is any indication, Bulldog nation has plenty to be excited about. He was in control the entire way. Bennett completed 25 of 31 passes for a career-high 368 yards and two touchdowns. At least two of those five incompletions were throwaways and one was a drop. He also scored once on the ground and did a little of everything. He threw precision passes, showed excellent timing, and extended plays when he had to. It was an all-around great effort from the former walk-on.

UGA S Malaki Starks

We told you a few days ago that Starks had come a long way since a rough spring. Starks made us look like we know what we’re talking about against Oregon. He created UGA’s first turnover of the season on a deep ball from Bo Nix. Starks made a perfect adjustment to the ball while it was in the air and came down with the interception. He then proceeded to lead the team in tackles with eight total stops.

Georgia RB Kenny McIntosh

All the senior running back did was lead the Bulldogs in receiving and reach the end zone on the ground — no big deal. McIntosh got it going right away and didn’t let up. He caught nine passes for 117 yards while adding 18 rushing yards and a score on five carries. The Georgia playmaker made guys miss, bounced off tackles and showed some impressive power.

UGA C Sedrick Van Pran

Offensive linemen often get left off of lists like this but we noticed how well Van Pran played. He was a warrior in the trenches and kept interior penetration to a minimum. Van Pran also did a nice job of helping set the protections despite having to work with a number of different personnel groupings around him.

Georgia S Christopher Smith

The fifth-year senior has a knack for big interceptions in season-opening games. Smith picked off Nix in the second quarter, thwarting an Oregon scoring opportunity. It led to a Georgia touchdown. He also delivered a couple of big hits on Duck receivers and finished the game with six total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.

UGA WR Ladd McConkey

Georgia’s first drive of the day ended with McConkey taking an end around and running it in from nine yards out. He put an Oregon defender in a blender to make that happen. McConkey did that again early in the third quarter on a reception that gained 25 yards. He touched the ball seven time and turned it into 89 yards and two scores.

Georgia RB Kendall Milton

The junior tailback had one career touchdown coming into the day. He doubled that output against the Ducks with his second career score on the ground and his first as a pass catcher. We’d heard that Milton made strides this offseason as a pass catcher and that showed. He finished the game as UGA’s leading rusher with eight carries for 50 yards and his long catch went for 18 yards.

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