Georgia Football: Live updates, scores, highlights at G-Day
ATHENS, Ga. — We’re back at Sanford Stadium! Last time Georgia Bulldogs were between the hedges, the 2022 team was celebrating its National Championship Game victory over TCU. This time, the 2023 squad hits the field for the first time in front of fans for the annual G-Day spring game.
Kirby Smart has seen his team practice 14 times already this spring. That’s included two scrimmages so far. Today’s action counts as practice No. 15 and culminates what has been an eventful spring for the two-time defending champs.
“We’ve had several practices since I saw you guys last. They guys are pushing each other, challenging each other to get better,” Smart said in his most recent meeting with media members last Saturday. “I think we have two segments of our team. We have a segment of our team that is within its first year of being here. That includes this year’s midyears and last year’s midyears and summer enrollees. That is almost 50 percent of our team and then we have another 50 percent that has been here for two or greater years. They are in two distinctly two different spots. Our job is to try to accelerate the learning process for the first. Younger group and continue the learning process and to push, to create depth out of our older half. I’m pleased with the work we’ve done this Spring, but I’m not pleased with where we are. We need to continue to grow and get better.”
Smart’s comments on the team’s two segments provides a good picture of what fans can expect to see today. On one hand, there are veterans that you’ll recognize their names. From Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Daijun Edwards and returning captain Sedrick Van Pran on Georgia’s offense to the likes of Kamari Lassiter, Smael Mondon, Malaki Starks and National Championship Game MVP Javon Bullard on the Dawgs’ defense, there are plenty of familiar faces for fans to latch on to. However, there’s also the newcomers – three from the transfer portal and 18 already enrolled as freshmen – and players stepping into bigger spots, filling the roles of Bulldogs who are headed off to the NFL like Jalen Carter, Broderick Jones, Nolan Smith, Kenny McIntosh and many more.
Among those who won’t be with the team again in 2023 is quarterback Stetson Bennett. After Bennett led Georgia to two National Championship Game victories, the Bulldogs will have a new quarterback under center, and it’s been the biggest storyline of the spring. Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton vie for the starting spot left behind by Bennett. Folks will read into today’s action what they want to when it comes to the quarterback competition, but we’d be surprised if Smart is naming a starter based solely on stats and performance in a scrimmage.
Kickoff time for today’s Georgia spring game is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Below, DawgsHQ provides links for you to stream the game live, listen in, and follow along with the live stats.
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
- TOUCHDOWN BLACK (31-26) – Vandagriff completes to Mekhi Mews for the touchdown on what will be the last play of the game. Mews had himself a great day, leading the Black Team in receiving with four catches for 91 yards and a score.
- Vandagriff completes to Lawson Luckie on 4th and 12 for a gain of 18 yards. Then takes a deep shot to Jackson Meeks who draws a pass interference penalty. Ball at the 19 with 1:12 to go.
- Jonathan Jefferson has a sack. Forces a timeout from the Black Team with 1:36 to go.
- TOUCHDOWN RED (31-19) – Stockton’s pass goes off the hands of his receiver, and Raylen Wilson comes up with it for the interception to score. 21-yard return.
- Back to back series end in simulated punts. No points so far this half. Stockton will take over with 2:23 to go, a chance for him to get a 2:00 drill in.
- Damon Wilson with a sack. Have heard several early enrollee names on that side of the ball today. Top four tacklers on the Red Team are freshmen (AJ Harris, Raylen Wilson, CJ Allen, Damon Wilson) and Jordan Hall has had his name called a couple of times with a pair of pass breakups.
- Gunner Stockton completes to Roderick Robinson for a pickup of 14. Gets his offense out to near midfield.
- Zion Logue credited with a sack of Brock Vandagriff to get off the field on third down.
- Daylen Everette coming out strong with the first-team defense this half. He and Julian Humphrey swapped squads. Had a pass break up and a hard hit on consecutive plays.
- Carson Beck completes to Tyler Williams to move the chains once but his drive also ends in a punt. Nice play by the early enrollee receiver though to pick up 15.
Third Quarter
- Short gain by Robinson takes us to the fourth quarter.
- Vandagriff moves the chains once but his offense ultimately punts. Time to see Beck operating with the second team.
- Stockton and company can’t get much going and punt. Another first-team opportunity for Vandagriff now.
- Vandagriff is intercepted by Tykee Smith on his first drive with the ones. Completed a nice one to Dominic Lovett for a gain of 20, but also missed what appeared to be a pretty open Arian Smith. Up and down drive for him.
- Gunner Stockton takes a sack from Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins on 3rd and 10. Will bring on a Brett Thorson punt.
- Joenel Aguero and Raylen Wilson combine for a physical hit on Roderick Robinson. Bunch of talented youngsters right there.
- Announced over the press box P.A. that Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff are switching teams for the second half. Should give us a good opportunity to see Vandagriff operate with the ones after Beck did so in the first half.
Second Quarter
- FIELD GOAL BLACK (24-19) – Stockton’s pass knocked down by Jordan Hall on 3rd and 12. Forces a Zirkel kick, good from 30 yards out and ends the half.
- Stockton’s offense takes a delay of game, and he is sacked. Tough to call that considering he’s an athletic guy that might have been able to get out of it, but also a situation you want to avoid in a two-minute drill.
- Stockton completes to Mews for 54 yards down to the 2. That came after Roderick Robinson moved the chains on 3rd and 1.
- FIELD GOAL RED (24-16) – Liam Badger with a nice kick from 51 yards to get points on the board in the two-minute drill. Now we’ll see how Gunner Stockton operates it with 1:20 to go.
- TOUCHDOWN BLACK (21-16) – Stockton keeps and scores on the ground from 4 yards out. PAT is no good from Jared Zirkel.
- Yazeed Haynes makes a nice play coming back on a back-shoulder throw from Gunner Stockton. 28-yard pickup on 3rd and 5.
- After three straight touchdown drives, Beck and the Red go three-and-out. Mekhi Mews with an impressive return after he had a touchdown on a kickoff return earlier (it was brought back to get reps in for the offense/defense). Special teams being blown dead early, but Mews is still making his case.
- TOUCHDOWN BLACK (21-10) – Vandagriff finds Meeks once again, this time for a 29-yard score. Nice push from the offensive line to get him over the goal line. Drive took all of 3 plays and 1:33 to cover 70 yards.
- Brock Vandagriff in the game again at quarterback and he completes two to get the drive going. Found Jackson Meeks for a gain of 19 before a 22-yard pickup to Lawson Luckie.
- TOUCHDOWN RED (21-3) – Carson Beck finds an open Arian Smith in the end zone for the score from 6 yards out. He’s 10-for-11 for 182 yards and the score a tad bit over a quarter in.
- Beck’s completion to Cash Jones, his ninth so far, was the first repeat receiver of the day for him.
- 2022 team receives their National Championship rings between quarters with the likes of Stetson Bennett, Kelee Ringo, Darnell Washington, Nolan Smith and Christopher Smith – among others – in attendance. You can get a look at them here.
First Quarter
- Nice catch from Dillon Bell as he goes up and over Nyland Green, ending the first quarter. Gain of 30, a third play of 30+ for Beck.
- Damon Wilson with a strong rush to pressure Stockton on third down. Forces a punt. Dominic Lovett with the first punt return of the day.
- Gunner Stockton now in for the Black Team. His receivers out there right now are all early enrollees (Anthony Evans, Yazeed Haynes and Tyler Williams).
- TOUCHDOWN RED (UGAR 14-3) – Sevaughn Clark gets into the endzone from 9 yards out. Make it a two-score lead for the Red squad.
- Another long completion from Beck. A second play of 30+ yards from him, completing to Ladd McConkey. It came just after a 17-yard pickup by Oscar Delp. He is now 6-for-6 for 124 yards.
- Julian Humphrey getting some run with the first team.
- FIELD GOAL BLACK (UGAR 7-3) – Jared Zirkel hits from 43 yards out.
- Christen Miller going to be credited with a sack on Vandagriff. After a stop from CJ Allen, the Black Team is going to be forced to settle for a field goal.
- Brock Vandagriff takes off and scrambles for a 23 yard pickup.
- TOUCHDOWN RED (UGAR 7-0) – Arian Smith takes a handoff on the end-around two yards for the score. PAT is good from Liam Badger.
- Beck completes his first three passes. Cash Jones, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Brock Bowers on the receiving end. Bowers reception picks up 39 yards down inside the 5.
- Classy gesture by Georgia. A delay of tame on the first play to honor the late Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy.
- Red Team (first team offense) gets the ball first. That means we’ll see Carson Beck and company going up against the first-team defense.
Pregame
- Javon Bullard running as the first team safety next to Malaki Starks with Tykee Smith at STAR. Take it with a grain of salt because Smael Mondon is out, but Xavian Sorey is running with the first team at inside linebacker. Nyland Green working as the cornerback opposite of Kamari Lassiter.
- Looking at the wide receivers, the first group had Arian Smith, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Ladd McConkey (slot). Dominic Lovett in the second team slot spot.
- Earnest Greene the first team left tackle. Rest of that group was what you would expect: Xavier Truss, Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Ratledge and Amarius Mims. Second team had (from left to right) Austin Blaske, Micah Morris, Jared Wilson, Dylan Fairchild and Chad Lindberg.
- Teams have taken the field, and a couple of the expected non-participants are dressed out still. That list includes Kendall Milton, Jalon Walker, Andrew Paul, Marvin Jones Jr. and Dan Jackson. Mykel Williams is on the sideline on a scooter with a boot on his left foot. Branson Robinson and Smael Mondon not dressed out, each also having a boot on. Left for Mondon and right for Robinson. Pearce Spurlin also not dressed out in a sling.
- Rosters have been set for today’s action. You can check those out here.
