Georgia rolls to win over Samford with dominant day from defense
No. 2 Georgia moved to 2-0 on the 2022 season with a 33-0 win over FCS opponent Samford on Saturday in Athens. The Bulldogs’ defense held Samford to just three first downs in the game while the Georgia offense scored on its first six drives of the game.
First Half
After forcing a three-and-out out of the gate, Georgia’s offense with 12 plays down the field but was forced to settle for a field goal. Then, on the second drive, it was the defense coming up with a turnover as Xavian Sorey recovered a fumble forced by Dan Jackson. Still, the Dawgs settled for another Jack Podlesny field goal to make it 6-0 just over mid-way through the first quarter.
The big story of the first quarter actually came on the first play for Georgia’s offense when wide receiver AD Mitchell left the game with a lower left leg injury. He was attended to by trainers on the sideline before going to locker room and never re-emerged.
Georgia finally got things rolling on offense with touchdowns on two straight drives. The defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs that led to a pair of 71-yard touchdown drives. Stetson Bennett capped off the first with a rushing score before finding Dillon Bell on the second, the freshman’s first career score. Both scores were from 3 yards out.
Podlesny added another field goal to give him three on the day (27 yards, 25 yards and 26 yards) before Kenny McIntosh made it 30-0 with 0:55 left in the half.
Bennett, who played some in the second half as well, finished the day with 300 yards on 24-of-34 passing for one touchdown, his second straight game with 300 or more yards passing.
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Second Half
After Georgia’s first two offensive possessions of the second half resulted in a missed field goal attempt and a punt, Carson Beck entered the game at quarterback for Georgia. After getting into scoring position with completions of 16, 14 and 14, the Bulldogs settled for their fourth field goal of the day to make it 33-0 early in the fourth quarter, one that both coaches agreed to shorten from the usual 15 minutes to just 12:00. Beck also played a second drive that ended in a punt. Brock Vandagriff led the last offensive drive at quarterback, also ending in a punt.
This is the second straight game that Georgia’s defense has not allowed a touchdown and the Bulldogs’ ninth shutout under Kirby Smart. Georgia held Samford to just 128 yards of total offense including 19 yards of rushing.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the football, Kenny McIntosh finishes as the leading receiver for the second game in a row with five catches for 61 yards. Kendall Milton was the leading rusher with 10 carries for 85 yards.
Georgia (2-0, 0-0 SEC) opens SEC play next week at South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) as the Bulldogs travel to take on the Gamecocks in Columbia. Kickoff time is set for 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
