Georgia prevails 30-13 over Kentucky in battle for control of SEC East

ATHENS, Ga. — It’s Saturday in Athens, and for the first time since 2008, the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs take the field between the hedges. Today’s test: the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Previewing the Game

It’s the first time that two 6-0 or better SEC East teams have met, and the inside track to a spot represent the division in Atlanta on Saturday, December 4 for the SEC Championship is up for grabs. College GameDay was in town earlier today. As was SEC Nation. CBS has their Game of the Week crew in town. Needless to say, the eyes of the College Football world are upon the Classic City.

Georgia comes in to today’s game off of a road win over Auburn. At the time, the Tigers were ranked No. 18/19. They have since fallen out of the top-25 following the 34-10 loss. Stetson Bennett started at quarterback for the second straight game in the place of the injured JT Daniels. After not being asked to do much in a top-10 win over Arkansas, Bennett threw for 231 yards and two scores on 14-of-21 passing.

Meanwhile, for the third straight game, the Georgia ground game topped the 200-yard mark, led by Zamir White’s 79 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Defensively, the Bulldogs did a good job of keeping Auburn quarterback Bo Nix contained for the most part, taking him down four times for a loss of 46 yards. On six designed runs or scrambles, the dynamic dual threat gained just 30 yards.

As for the visiting Wildcats, Kentucky is 6-0 for the first time since legendary Bear Bryant roamed the sidelines in Lexington. Mark Stoops and company beat Florida for the second time in four seasons and topped LSU for the first time since 2007 last week by a score of 42-21. Offensively, it’s a three man show of Penn State transfer quarterback Will Levis, the SEC rushing leader Chris Rodriguez and the SEC receiving leader Wan’Dale Robinson. Furthermore, Stoops is a coach with defense in his background, so you know the Wildcats will come ready to play and play physically.

That’s it for now. We’ll be back with updates from pregame warmups and throughout the game. Until then, check out some of our favorite stories from the week.

Get Prepped!

Three Key Questions

Q&A with KSR’s Adam Luckett

Dawg Walk Talk: Georgia-Kentucky Preview

Matchups and Players to Watch

Veteran Leadership Shining Through Excellence of Youth

Keys to Victory

Heisman Hype for Jordan Davis

Kearis Jackson Watches As He Recovers, Receivers Develop

Bold Predictions for Georgia vs. Kentucky

Stetson Bennett Impressing Tim Tebow, David Pollack

Dan Jackson Reflects on Georgia Journey

Pregame Notes

• George Pickens, Kenny McIntosh, Dominick Blaylock and Arian Smith all went through initial warmups with Scott Sinclair wearing t-shirts and shorts. McIntosh and Smith then went through the later warmups, Blaylock is dressed but did not participate in warmups while Pickens is on the sideline in street clothes.
• Chris Smith and Jamaree Salyer were both dressed out and going through warmups. As I noted on Twitter, Smith has a hefty brace on that shoulder. Meanwhile, Salyer has his ankle taped up more than I’ve ever seen before.
• Speaking of Salyer, he was announced as a starter on the video board. Take that with a grain of salt, because neither Dan Jackson or Chris Smith was announced as a starter at safety. Instead, Georgia named four defensive linemen (Carter, Davis, Walker and Wyatt). Also worth mentioning, Jermaine Burton was not announced as a starter.
• As for the quarterbacks, Stetson Bennett was announced as the starter, and that was clear from what he and Daniels did during warmups. However, Daniels did appear to be putting more zip on the ball than he was in previous weeks. My guess is he’d be available to go if needed. Maybe even a 2-1 series rotation with Bennett getting the 2 and Daniels with the 1.

First Quarter

• Georgia has won the toss and deferred. We’ll see the Wildcat offense and Bulldog defense take the field first.
• Kentucky moved the chains twice, getting their big three on offense involved early. Chris Rodriguez carried twice and caught a pass out of the backfield while Robinson caught one and was given the ball on a reverse once. However, an illegal formation penalty pushed the Wildcats back into 2nd and long where Georgia held strong, forcing a punt on the first possession of the game. The Bulldogs will take over inside their own 15 following the TV timeout.
• As expected, Stetson Bennett got the start for Georgia at quarterback, moving the chains once on the first drive. Bennett found Darnell Washington after rolling out for a catch and run gain of 21. However, that was just about it for the Bulldogs, punting soon after. Jake Camarda’s kick travels into the end zone for a touchback.
• It’s a three-and-out for Kentucky on its second drive. After an incomplete pass to Robinson and a short gain by Rodriguez, Georgia looked to have gotten off the field with an incomplete pass from Will Levis. However, the Cats got a timeout off before the play. Then, after the break, Kentucky wanted to take a shot, but Georgia had it covered. Faked the toss sweep, wanted to throw deep and Levis was forced to check down to Rodriguez. Tackled short of the line to gain. Georgia takes over at the UGA29.
• Georgia moves the chains once, but nothing more on its second drive of the game. However, the Bulldogs flipped the field and are able to pin Kentucky at the UK5 after Kamari Lassiter downs the Camarda punt there.
• It’s another three-and-out for Kentucky after being pinned deep. Jordan Davis made a nice tackle for no-gain on 3rd and 1, stopping Rodriguez short of the line to gain. Georgia takes over at midfield after the punt.
• Georgia moved the chains on each of the first two plays of this drive. Bennett found Adonai Mitchell for a gain of 10, then Ladd McConkey for a gain of 15 down to the UK25. After a penalty backed the Bulldogs up into 2nd and 13, a weird series of events resulted in a gain of nine for the Dawgs. Bennett was attempting to throw a check down pass, had the ball knocked out for a fumble that was recovered downfield by Kendall Milton.
• END 1Q: Georgia and Kentucky still scoreless as the Bulldogs have 3rd and 4 upcoming after the break.

Second Quarter

• Not scoreless for long… On 3rd and 4, Stetson Bennett found James Cook out of the backfield for the first down and more. Cook took the pass 19 yards to the house. Jack Podlesny’s PAT is good. Georgia leads 7-0 with 14:54 remaining in the second quarter.
• Kentucky started with the ball at the 35-yard line after Jake Camarda’s kickoff went out of bounds, but they went backwards from there. Devonte Wyatt was in the backfield to take down Kavosiey Smoke for a loss of four, then Quay Walker and Travon Walker tackled Wan’Dale Robinson for a short gain of two on 2nd and 14. That set up 3rd and 12 where Will Levis was left with no option other than to try and make a play with his legs. Nakobe Dean brought him down, forcing the punt which sailed for a touchback.
• Georgia took it five plays, 80 yards and 2:11 off the clock for a touchdown, its second straight scoring drive. This one was fueld by big plays. After John FitzPatrick was called for holding on 1st down, the Dawgs had 1st and 18 from the UGA12. It was off to the races from there. A 35-yard rush up the left sideline from Kendall Milton out to the UGA47. Then a quarterback keeper from Stetson Bennett for a gain of 17 to the UK 36. Next, a 12-yard run by James Cook, and finally, a score from 24 yards out by Zamir White. Podlesny’s PAT is good. Georgia leads 14-0 with 10:35 remaining in the second quarter.
• Kentucky’s on the board after a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Will Levis’ completion to Justin Rigg. The Wildcats moved the chains the first three times with third-down conversions before pulling some tricks out of the bag. A hook and ladder, a throw back and a strong play fake. Georgia appeared to have taken over possession, but the play was ultimately overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. Georgia leads 14-7 with 3:53 remaining in the second quarter.
• Georgia went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and gives Kentucky the ball back with 2:22 to play in the half at the UK31. However, Georgia forced a three-and-out of it’s own, taking Chris Rodriguez down for a loss of one on 1st and 10 and Wan’Dale Robinson down for no gain on 2nd and 11. A Jalen Carter sack on third down and timeout, Georgia’s last of the half, forces Kentucky to punt with 47 seconds left before the break.
• HALF: Georgia takes a knee and heads to the locker room leading 14-7. The Bulldogs will receive the second half kickoff.

Third Quarter

• Georgia begins the second half with possession at the 25 after a Kentucky touchback on the opening kickoff.
• The Bulldogs came out firing with Stetson Bennett finding Darnell Washington for a gain of 16 on the first play. Then, two plays later, a Bennett to Brock Bowers touchdown was called back for holding. However, after a reverse run by Ladd McConkey with a nice block from the quarterback, Bennett and Bowers connected again. This time a 27-yard strike, and it stood, all the way through review. Jack Podlesny’s PAT was good. Georgia leads 21-7 with 12:13 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Georgia defense came to play too, forcing a three-and-out on Kentucky’s first drive of the half. Will Levis completed a pass on first down for a short gain, but the Georgia defense did a good job of defending passes on both second and third down to force the punt. Kearis Jackson returns that punt for 12 yards out to the UGA28 where the Georgia offense will take over.
• Stetson Bennett and the Bulldog offense took to the air to move the ball, finding Zamir White for a gain of 15, John FitzPatrick for a gain of 20 and Adonai Mitchell for a gain of 22. The set Georgia up at UK 11 where the Dawgs couldn’t move the chains any further, settling for a field goal. Jack Podlesny’s attempt from 26 is good. Georgia leads 24-7 with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter.
• Kentucky goes three-and-out for its fifth time today, and third straight drive. Travon Walker and Adam Anderson combined on the sack on third down. However, Georgia also goes three-and-out as the Wildcats take over at their 45.
• Kentucky drove the ball nine plays, 40 yards to the a goal-to-go situation, but the Wildcats came up with nothing. On 1st and Goal, Lewis Cine broke up a pass attempt to Wan’Dale Robinson in the end zone. Nakobe Dean snuffed out a throw back on second down for a loss of five yards, then on 3rd and Goal, Levis’ pass to Robinson fell incomplete. That brought on the Kentucky field goal team, however, Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt got a hand on the kick up the middle and blocked it. Dan Jackson recovered and returned to the UGA 18.
• END 3Q: Georgia leads 24-7 with possession at the 18-yard line after the blocked field goal.

Fourth Quarter

• Georgia starts the fourth quarter by picking up a first down with a trio of Zamir White carries. Then, it was on to the end zone. Stetson Bennett completed a pass to Brock Bowers for a gain of 24. James Cook rushed for a gain of 25. Then, after Cook picked up three, Bennett and Bowers connected for their second TD of the day, and Bowers’ sixth of the season. That ties him for the school record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in a single season. However, Jack Podlesny’s PAT is no good, ending the nation’s longest streak of made PATs at 363 consecutive. Georgia leads 30-7 with 11:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Kentucky put together a long drive, totaling 22 plays and 75 yards and taking 11:23 off the clock. The Wildcats converted on fourth down twice. At the goal line, Dawgs did it’s best to keep the Cats out of the end zone, stopping them on both 1st and 2nd and Goal from the 1. It appeared that time had run out, but Kentucky called timeout. Then, the Wildcats ultimately converted on a screen pass to Wan’Dale Robinson. However, the PAT was blocked by Jordan Davis. Georgia leads 30-13 with four seconds remaining in the game.
• Kearis Jackson fields the kickoff and runs out the clock to 0:00, putting an end to a chaotic ending that had absolutely no impact on the outcome.
• FINAL: Georgia wins over Kentucky 30-13, moving to 7-0 on the season. It’s a bye week for the Bulldogs next week before taking on Florida in Jacksonville on October 30.

This story will continue to be updated throughout the game. Be sure to check back in for the latest on Georgia and Kentucky.

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