Georgia 35, Texas 10

 

After scoring on their first two possessions but punting on their next four, and then throwing an interception on their fifth, the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs, leading No. 10 Texas by only four points, needed to score. They started a drive late in the third period with the ball on their own 27 but didn't get a first down on the next three plays. On fourth and one on their own 36, it looked like it was going to be another three-and-out possession, but although deep in their own territory, they gambled and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed a 10-yard pass to Chauncey Bowens.  

Four plays later, they were facing a fourth-and-five on the Texas 49, and the Dawgs lined up to go for it again, but the Longhorns committed an offsides penalty and Georgia got five yards and another first down. Three plays later, Stockton connected with London Humphreys for a 30-yard TD and Georgia took a 21-10 lead.

Then, instead of kicking off, Georgia shocked the Longhorns and the whole world with an on-side kick, with Nate Frazier recovering the ball on the Georgia 47. Eight plays later, Stockton passed to Lawson Luckie for a 6-yard TD. Georgia 28, Texas 10. 

The Longhorns never recovered after that. They punted and turned the ball over on downs on their next two possessions, while Georgia went on to score yet another TD on a 4-yard Stockton rush. The Bulldogs won in dominating fashion, 35-10, and the whole game turned on that third quarter fourth-and-one and the surprising on-side kick.

In short, the Georgia defense dominated the first half of the game and the offense dominated the second. In all, Stockton finished the game with 229 yards on 24 of 29 attempts and four passing TDs and one rushing TD. The Dawgs had 357 total yards to the Longhorns' 274, and despite all those first-half punts, were 36.4% on third-down conversions to the Longhorns' 16.7%.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 9-1 overall and 7-1 and second place (for now) in the SEC beneath undefeated Texas A&M. Georgia completed its conference season with this win, but Alabama lost to underdog Oklahoma yesterday and fell to 6-1 and fourth place in the conference. Their remaining conference game is against unranked Auburn and they will almost assuredly win, and then, both 'Bama and the Dawgs will be 7-1 in the SEC.

On the other hand (and here's where it gets confusing), A&M has yet to play Texas. If the Longhorns pull themselves back together and beat the Aggies, then Georgia, Alabama, and A&M could all finish 7-1 in the SEC. Since the first tie-breaker is head-to head competition, Alabama will have the edge over Georgia, but since 'Bama hasn't played A&M, the second tie-breaker is record against common conference opponents. If A&M loses to Texas, the Bulldogs will have the edge over the Aggies since Georgia beat Texas yesterday. But A&M beat Oklahoma earlier this season while Alabama lost to the Sooners, so the Aggies will have the edge over the Tide. In other words, Georgia > A&M > Alabama > Georgia. 

To make it even more confusing, Old Miss could wind up in the mix at 7-1, too, and they lost to Georgia (advantage Bulldogs) but, like A&M, beat Oklahoma  and have an advantage over Alabama. The mind reels contemplating the implications!    

But first, though, Georgia still has two non-conference games left on the schedule.   Next week is a home laugher against unranked Charlotte (1-9) - time for backup QB Ryan Puglisi to get in some minutes. Then, we end the regular season with the annual rivalry game against a surprisingly good, No. 16 Georgia Tech team (9-1) on the Yellow Jackets home field.