Georgia Football Spring Game: Live updates, scores, highlights

ATHENS, Ga. — G-Day is here. It’s our annual taste of Georgia Football in the spring, giving a glimpse into what the team might look like come the fall. Saturday between the hedges, Kirby Smart’s squad will split into two. The red team features the first team offense and will face off against the first team defense on the black team. With the winner getting a fancy steak dinner and the loser left to eat beanie weenies, there’s more than just bragging rights on the line.

Georgia returns Carson Beck – who is listed as a co-favorite for the Heisman Trophy – at quarterback, Smael Mondon at linebacker and has added talent around each of the two team leaders. On offense, running back Trevor Etienne (Florida) and wide receivers London Humphreys (Vanderbilt), Colbie Young (Miami) and Michael Jackson III (USC) each are additions from the transfer portal while defensively the Dawgs picked up South Carolina defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod and Alabama defensive back Jake Pope. That’s on top of the expected returns of underclassmen like Dillon Bell, Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, CJ Allen and others that contributed to the success of UGA in 2023, plus guys like Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson, Tate Ratledge, Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas and Xavier Truss that passed on the NFL Draft for another season in Athens.

UGA also added to its team the nation’s top ranked recruiting recruiting class featuring five five-stars including three considered in the class’s elites by all outlets. Ellis Robinson, Justin Williams and KJ Bolden are all on campus already, as are others like Ryan Puglisi, Jaden Reddell and an impressive group of offensive linemen expected to contribute in the future. In total, 22 early enrollees participated in spring drills in some capacity and will see their first action in front of fans at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.

How to Watch

Kickoff Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network+ (Jay Alter – Play by Play, Aaron Murray – Color Commentator, Taylor Davis – Sideline Reporter)

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

*** Badger comes up short. G-Day 2024 ends in a 20-20 tie.

*** Pass falls incomplete. Liam Badger to attempt a 54 yarder for the win.

*** Gunner Stockton and the Black offense take over at the 35. He’s got them in Red territory, facing a 3rd and 10 at the 40 with 10 seconds left.

*** Carson Beck completes to Dominic Lovett in the end zone. Nice grab by Lovett as he went up and over the receiver. That’ll tie things at 20 with 27 seconds to go. (TIE 20-20 0:27 4Q)

*** Another completion, and the Red offense is in the red zone. This time, it’s to Rara Thomas, down at the 11.

*** Carson Beck completes to Dominic Lovett. Gain of 20 on the play. Run out of bounds at midfield. 43 seconds to go.

*** Liam Badger makes a field goal with 51 seconds to go. Makes it 20-13 Black, giving Carson Beck and company one last chance.

*** Gunner Stockton completes to Michael Jackson on a screen, picking up 27 yards on the catch and run.

*** Jalon Walker deflects a pass on fourth down, likely securing the win for the Black Team.

*** Joseph Jonah-Ajonye puts an end to the drive for the Black Team as he comes up with a sack on 3rd and 12. Gives it back to the Red Team with 2:18 to go. Carson Beck will look to lead a game-winning drive.

*** Red offense goes three-and-out. Gunner Stockton and the Black take over with just over 3:00 to go.

*** Another freshman receiver Sacovie White shakes a defender and gets into the end zone from 26 yards out. (BLACK 17-13 4:59 4Q)

*** Gunner Stockton gets the Black offense going with a completion to freshman Nitro Tuggle. Play picked up 32 yards and has them in in Red Territory.

*** Colbie Young can’t haul it in for a touchdown despite beating his man on the route. Brings on Peyton Woodring for a 31-yard field goal. He makes and puts the Red Team ahead. (RED 13-10 6:54 4Q)

*** Roderick Robinson picks up a first down on fourth down. Makes it first and goal Red Team.

*** Fourth quarter begins with an incompletion from Carson Beck. Dan Jackson with nice defense on Colbie Young. Red offense has it near midfield.

Third Quarter

*** Gunner Stockton getting run with both teams. Carson Beck returns to the Red offense after a three-and-out from the Black.

*** Gunner Stockton shows off nice arm strength but can’t connect on third down to Rara Thomas. Noah Jones comes on to punt.

*** Christen Miller comes off the field holding his left shoulder. He was nursing a meniscus injury coming into the spring.

*** Andrew Paul gets in on the action with the longest run of the day. He picks up 25 yards into Black Team territory.

*** Roderick Robinson picks up the first first down of the half for the Red Team. Took six plays to get one.

*** Another three-and-out. Now with the first-team offense, Gunner Stockton. He completes to Roderick Robinson out of the back field, and the second-year running back is hard to take down. Runs over at least two first-team defenders.

*** Three-and-out to start for the Red Team. Collin Drake takes over for the Black Team offense at quarterback. Remember, no Ryan Puglisi. Several other walk ons out there as well.

*** Couple of other changes: Andrew Paul now on the Red Team. Daniel Harris and Damon Wilson now running with the Black Team.

*** Black Team off the field after three more plays, and a Brett Thorson punt will bring on Carson Beck and the Red Team offense. Anthony Evans has now switched over to the first-team and is getting run early.

*** Second half gets underway with Gunner Stockton leading the Black Team offense. Chauncey Bowens rushes 10 yards to pick up a first down on the first play from scrimmage.

Second Quarter

*** Chauncey Bowens on the receiving end of a third down check down. Comes up short of the line to gain. Liam Badger attempts and makes a 38 yard field goal to tie things before the break. (TIE 10-10 HALF)

*** Gunner Stockton completes to London Humphreys and Jaden Reddell (2x). Sets his offense up at the 25.

*** CJ Allen comes up with an interception. Second pick of the day for Carson Beck. Was throwing over the middle for Lawson Luckie. Gunner Stockton and Black Team will have a chance for points.

*** Turnover on downs for the Black Team. Carson Beck and Red Team will take over with just over a minute remaining in the half at their 30.

*** Gunner Stockton completes across the middle to Anthony Evans. Play picks up 21 and gets the Black Team into Red territory right away.

*** Colbie Young on the receiving end of a jump ball, contested catch touchdown. (RED 10-7 2:22 2Q)

*** Carson Beck completes to Dominic Lovett across the middle. He’s taken down at the 2.

*** Timeout Red Team. They’ll face a 3rd and 9 with 2:43 to go in the first half. So far on the drive, eight plays, five passes and five different intended targets. Georgia showing the depth of pass catchers.

*** Gabe Harris has two tackles and a QB pressure the last three plays. No Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins at DE and he’s making the most of his opportunity.

*** Lawson Luckie picks up chunk yardage into Black Team territory.

*** Colbie Young comes up with a contested catch on 3rd and 10. Moves the chains and shows off why Georgia added him.

*** Chris Cole nearly does the same as Williams. The freshman was part of forcing a three-and-out from the black team offense.

*** Mykel Williams comes up with an interception off of a pass he tipped himself. Keeps the Red Team out of the end zone and sets up the Black with the ball at the 20.

*** Carson Beck has been a little bit off on timing with some of his receivers on longer throws. Connects with Dominic Lovett his time, showing nice touch, to pick up 34 yards. Sets up first and goal from the 6.

*** Trevor Etienne picks up 18 with a run up the middle. Red offense now in black territory, just past midfield.

*** Red picks up a freebie first down by virtue of a penalty to start the quarter.

First Quarter

*** First quarter comes to a close with the Black Team leading 7-3. Carson Beck and Red Team will have 3rd and 5 to go when play resumes after a 12-yard pickup on a completion to Dominic Lovett.

*** Trevor Etienne shows some speed to the edge on a nice gain. Will come back because of holding, but a promising sign.

*** KJ Bolden with a nice play on third and short. Stops Anthony Evans short of the line to gain on a pass out into the flats.

*** First-team defense gets a stop, forcing a three-and-out. Jalon Walker with a nice pressure on Carson Beck before a third-down incompletion to Dominic Lovett, trying to pick up some bigger yardage. Black Team will take over after the punt at their 35.

*** Andrew Paul picks up 16 yards to the 1. Next play, he punches it in for the touchdown. (BLACK 7-3 6:14 1Q)

*** Gunner Stockton completes to Anthony Evans for a gain of 54 yards on his first play from scrimmage. Black offense at the 21 already.

*** Dillon Bell comes up with a catch but he is ruled out of bounds. Looked like a catch to me, but they won’t review it today. Peyton Woodring hits from 42 yards. (RED 3-0 8:18 1Q)

*** Carson Beck with completions to Dillon Bell and Trevor Etienne, and the red offense has it at the 25.

*** Roderick Robinson getting a lot of run early. Touches the ball on three straight plays including a third-down conversion and a reception out of the backfield.

*** JaCorey Thomas and Dan Jackson the starters at safety. Keep in mind, no Malaki Starks available today. Julian Humphrey opposite of Daylen Everette at corner. Joenel Aguero rounds out the secondary for the first-team defense (black).

*** Dillon Bell the first kickoff returner. First-team offense (red) will start with the ball moving right to left on your screen.

Pregame

*** Offensive line groupings (L to R): Earnest Greene, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Tate Ratledge, Xavier Truss with the first team. Jamal Meriweather, Micah Morris, Drew Bobo, Daniel Calhoun and Monroe Freeling with the second team.

*** Georgia quarterbacks and centers came out early, as they usually do, to work on snaps. Jared Wilson, Drew Bobo, Tate Ratledge, Malachi Toliver and walk-on Gus Gammage were working as the centers.

*** Running back Branson Robinson is going through stretches with the team in full pads without a brace. Wouldn’t expect to see him participate in the game, but it’s a positive sign of his recovery from a torn patella tendon suffered during fall camp last season.

*** Bo Hughley and Kelton Smith also working with the injured players pregame while Chris Peal is not in a uniform, wearing a sling.

*** Couple of injuries of note: Ryan Puglisi arrived at Sanford Stadium on a crutch/cane. He’ll be sidelined completely alongside Smael Mondon and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, both of whom arrived with a boot on their left foot. It is worth noting however, Mondon has ditched the scooter he previously had earlier this spring.

*** Rosters have been set for the split squad scrimmage. The red team will feature the first team offense/second string defense while the black team is in the inverse (first team defense/second string offense). For a full look at the rosters, click here.