LIVE UPDATES: No. 1 Georgia 45, Mississippi State 19 - FINAL

STARKVILLE, Miss. — DawgsHQ has boots on the ground in the Magnolia State at Davis Wade Stadium for tonight’s matchup between No. 1 Georgia and Mississippi State. It’s a battle of the Bulldogs and two teams that are bound for bowl games. Mike Leach has his team at 6-3 on the year with a 3-3 record in the SEC while Kirby Smart’s crew is 9-0 and aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoffs for the second straight season. Getting to the SEC Championship Game is the first goal though, and a win in Starkville would secure the SEC East and a spot in Atlanta for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

“We opened our start of work on Mississippi State today. Took a day in the bye week to work towards these guys. Very different,” Smart said in his opening remarks to Mississippi State week on Monday. “Really different in two ways. Different defensively. Their defensive coordinator does an incredible job. Different kind of scheme than we faced before. And then offensively, obviously, they’re very different. And people would probably think they’re similar to Tennessee. But they’re really not similar to Tennessee. So it’s become a third week of facing a different kind of offense in terms of what they do offensively. And very, very few of our calls and schemes carry over from one week to the next when you play this offense. So it’s a new challenge for our guys. And I know our guys will be excited getting ready for it. It’s an extremely tough place to play. A place I’ve been many times. Their environment is electric. It’ll be at night. And their guys play really hard and they’re really physical. We saw that, you know, a couple years ago, here at home against them.”

Georgia and Mississippi State have met 25 times prior to Saturday’s matchup with Georgia holding a 19-6 overall advantage, the last coming in 2020 when JT Daniels found Jermaine Burton for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns on his way to 401 yards passing and a 31-24 win between the hedges. This is just the seventh meeting in Starkville where Georgia has won four out of the previous six.

Kickoff time for tonight’s contest is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. 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

• FINAL – Georgia wins it 45-19 over Mississippi State to clinch the SEC East and its spot in the SEC Championship Game.
• TOUCHDOWN – Kendall Milton breaks through the line of scrimmage for a 34 yard touchdown. (UGA 45-19 2:04 4Q)
• TURNOVER ON DOWNS – Mississippi State moves the chains once on a Kelee Ringo personal foul before turning it over on downs. Georgia to take over in Mississippi State territory at the MSU 47.
• PUNT – Georgia runs it three times before a Brett Thorson punt. Mississippi State takes over at their 23 after Thorson’s 62 yard kick.
• TURNOVER ON DOWNS – Kamari Lassiter with the tackle on a swing pass to Marks. No gain. Georgia takes over the the UGA 8.
• Mississippi State inside the 20 yard line. Joquavious Marks rush makes it 3rd and 1 but an incompletion brings up fourth down. State offense stays on the field. Mike Leach calls timeout to talk it over.
• Mississippi State picks up 24 on the first play back on the field for the offense. Out past midfield.
• Georgia forces a three-and-out ending with a Jalen Carter sack. However, Jackson Meeks is called for roughing the kicker which gives Mississippi State a fresh set of downs.
• TOUCHDOWN – Stetson Bennett sells the handoff and finds a wide open Darnell Washington in the end zone for the big man’s first score of the season. Just the second of his career. (UGA 38-19 14:55 4Q)

Third Quarter

• END 3Q – Georgia goes to the fourth with a 31-19 lead and the ball on the MSU 2.
• Jack Podlesny makes from 21 but Mississippi State is called for roughing the kicker. Fresh set of downs at the MSU 2 for the UGA offense.
• Georgia loses a three yards on its first two plays. Incompletion brings up a field goal attempt.
• Stetson Bennett completes down the left sideline to Ladd McConkey. Play gains 28 yards as McConkey goes down at the MSU 1.
• Georgia’s got it past midfield after a 3rd and 2 conversion Stetson Bennett to Marcus Rosmey-Jacksaint and a 16-yard pickup to a wide open Darnell Washington.
• TOUCHDOWN – Mississippi State turns the Georgia mistake into points with a touchdown two plays after the interception. Will Rogers complete to Rufus Harvey for six yards and seven points. (UGA 31-19 5:17 3Q)
• INTERCEPTION – Stetson Bennett pass is tipped at the line of scrimmage and falls into the hands of a defensive lineman. First down Mississippi State at the UGA 22.
• PUNT – Two straight incompletions and Mississippi State punts. Ladd McConkey calls for fair catch at the UGA 25.
• Georgia defensive back Javon Bullard called for pass interference. Gives Mississippi State a first down on third down. One play later, Bullard is down on the field and being attended to by trainers.
• TOUCHDOWN – Two drives, two Ladd McConkey touchdowns. On 2nd and 7 after the Mississippi State pass interference – a pass that was intended for McConkey – Stetson Bennett finds McConkey for 17 yards and the touchdown. PAT is good. (UGA 31-12 9:19 3Q)
• Mississippi State pass interference moves the chains for Georgia on 3rd and 9. UGA ball at the MSU 20.
• On 3rd and 8, Stetson Bennett finds Kearis Jackson for a gain of 30 yards to the MSU 35.
• PUNT – After picking up a first down on its first play from scrimmage in the second half, Mississippi State was forced to punt after three plays. UGA ball at its 33.
• TOUCHDOWN – Ladd McConkey took a reverse toss to him 70 yards and the score on the second play of the drive as Georgia gets off to a hot start in the second half on a cold night. (UGA 24-12 14:13 3Q)

Second Quarter

• END 2Q – Mississippi State squib kick is fielded and time runs off the clock.
• PUNT / TD – Georgia goes three-and-out after getting the ball with 44 seconds left in the half. Zavion Thomas returns the punt 63 yards for a touchdown. Mike Leach goes for two. The try is unsuccessful. (UGA 17-12 0:03 2Q)
• FIELD GOAL – Mississippi State stalls in the red zone and is forced to kick a field goal. Georgia will get the ball back with less than a minute to go in the half and all three of its timeouts. UGA receives the opening kickoff of the second half so can double up here potentially. (UGA 17-6 0:51 2Q)
• Nice return out to the Mississippi State 33 by Lideatrick Griffin followed by a 47-yard completion Will Rogers to Jaden Wallen. State ball at the UGA 20.
• TOUCHDOWN – Stetson Bennett takes it himself for the 4-yard score. Facing a 3rd and 5 at its 43, Bennett completed to Daijun Edwards for a gain of 15. Two straight completions to Kearis Jackson got UGA inside the MSU 5 and the Bulldogs punched it in on the next play. (UGA 17-3 2:29 2Q)
• FIELD GOAL – Jo’quavious Marks rush for gain of 2 down to the UGA 3. Mississippi State decides to kick it and is called for a delay of game. Leach sat on that decision for a little while. Ultimately, kick is good from 25. (UGA 10-3 5:01 2Q)
• Mike Leach gets in his second TO of the half to avoid a delay of game. Still 6:07 to go in the second quarter. 2nd and Goal from the 5.
• Going to be 1st and Goal from the UGA 5 for Mississippi State after a controversial pass interference called on Kamari Lassiter
• Fresh set of downs for the Bulldogs after an 8 yard completion. Drive has gone 10 plays 52 yards so far.
• Mississippi State moving the ball, now at the UGA 25 facing 3rd and short.
• FIELD GOAL – Stetson Bennett misses his man in the end zone and the Bulldogs are forced to settle for three. (UGA 10-0 11:57 2Q)
• Georgia converts on 4th and 1 with a double motion selling the the jet sweep, first to the running back and then to the tight end. Stetson Bennett sneaks it.

First Quarter

• END 1Q – Bennett to Brock Bowers for a pickup of 11. Add on another 15 for a facemask. Georgia has 2nd and 10 at the MSU 25 after the break in action.
• Nice completion from Stetson Bennett to Ladd McConkey on 3rd and 9 to move the chains and avoid a three-and-out after the interception.
• PUNT – Georgia gets hands on two straight passes before rushing Will Rogers and forcing him to throw it away. Punt goes out of bounds at the UGA 39.
• INTERCEPTION – Stetson Bennett throws a pass that wobbles down and into the hands of Mississippi State defender Collin Duncan. Return to the MSU 34.
• TURNOVER ON DOWNS – Georgia stopped Mississippi State on three straight plays before the Bulldogs decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from the UGA 48. Smael Mondon got in the backfield and batted Will Rogers’ pass before it could pass the line of scrimmage.
• PUNT – UGA goes three-and-out. Mississippi State return to its 43. Malaki Starks on the tackle.
• PUNT – Jalen Carter with a great play on 3rd and 6. Mississippi State found some success early with Jo’quavious Marks rushing for a gain of 14 but is forced to punt. Punt downed at the UGA 11.
• TOUCHDOWN – Stetson Bennett sells the handoff hard and finds a wide open Brock Bowers for the score. Jack Podlesny PAT is good. (UGA 7-0 9:50 1Q)
• Fumbled snap with Georgia in jumbo formation. McIntosh stuffed on second down bringing up 3rd and Goal from the 2.
• Lot of tempo out of Georgia on the first possession. Bennett completes to Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington and hands off to Kenny McIntosh to get down to the 1 yard line.
• Stetson Bennett gets Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint involved early. First two passes complete to the junior wide receiver to move the chains.
• Xavier Truss starting at left guard for Georgia.
• PUNT – Mississippi State goes three-and-out on its first possession. Punt is downed at the UGA 27 when Georgia will begin.
• KICKOFF – Mississippi State has won the toss and elected to receive

Pregame

• Freshman linebacker Jalon Walker is working with the outside linebackers in warmups while freshman EJ Lightsey, who made the trip, is with the inside group.
• Georgia is going to be without AD Mitchell tonight after the sophomore wide receiver did not make the trip. Here’s our count on the 70-man travel roster.