The Georgia Bulldogs showed why they are the top-ranked team in the country, easily handling the visiting, No. 11-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 30-13 on Saturday in Athens, Ga.
With the win, the Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0 SEC) remained in the driver’s seat to earn the top spot in the SEC East, while Kentucky (6-1, 4-1) lost for the first time this season.
The Bulldogs entered Saturday’s contest leading the nation in total defense and scoring defense, allowing just 5.5 points allowed per contest. And Georgia’s stout defense did not disappoint, holding a Kentucky offense averaging 411.8 total yards per game to just 249 yards on offense.
Georgia has now won the last 12 meetings over Kentucky.
The Bulldogs finished with 166 rushing yards, led by James Cook’s 51 rushing yards on six carries. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 14 of 20 passes for 250 yards and three scores.
Brock Bowers topped Georgia with five catches for 101 receiving yards and two scores.
For Kentucky, quarterback Will Levis completed 32 of 42 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Rodriguez Jr. entered Saturday’s contest leading the SEC in rushing but finished with just seven yards on the ground. Wan’Dale Robinson topped Kentucky with 12 receptions for 44 receiving yards and a score.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first on the first play of the second quarter when Bennett hit Cook over the middle on a 19-yard catch and run for the first score of the game and a 7-0 advantage.
Georgia upped its lead to 14-0 on a five-play, 80-yard drive capped by a Zamir White 24-yard run with 10:35 left in the second quarter.
Kentucky responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Levis finding tight end Justin Rigg out in the flat on a play-action pass for a 1-yard score, cutting Georgia’s advantage to 14-7 with just under four minutes left in the first half.
It was the first time Georgia’s defense allowed a touchdown in the first half this season.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead back to 14 points on the opening drive of the second half, with Bennett connecting with Bowers for a 27-yard score.
The Bulldogs added a Jack Podlesny 26-yard field goal and a Bowers 20-yard touchdown, while Kentucky’s Robinson scored a 1-yard touchdown in the game’s final seconds for the final tally.
–Field Level Media
