Saturday, November 24
Athens, Ga.
12:00 PM
University of Georgia
11-1
45
vs
21
Georgia Tech
7-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Georgia Tech
7
0
0
14
21
Georgia
14
24
7
0
45
Photo by: Getty Images
Governor's Cup Remains in Athens, 45-21
November 24, 2018 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. -- With a 45-21 victory against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium, the fifth-ranked University of Georgia Bulldogs football team retained the Governor's Cup in Athens for the second consecutive season.
With the win, the Bulldogs remain perfect at home with an 11-1 regular-season record in back-to-back years.
A balanced attack with 447 total yards of offense – 285 on the ground and 162 through the air – was paired with a Bulldog defense that held the nation's top rushing offense to 66 total yards (all rushing), four first downs and one touchdown in the first half.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm opened the contest with seven-straight completions, matching up with seven different receivers for a 13-for-16 final clip with 175 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Sophomore tailback D'Andre Swift registered his fourth 100-yard rushing contest of the season with 105, complete with a touchdown.
With nine tackles, the Georgia defense was paced by senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter, a member of a senior class that improved to 42-11, the third-best mark in school history.
"It's a rivalry game," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. "They have a good program and a good team, and our guys take a lot of pride in doing things the right way and competing. I thought we played really hard today…This is a credit to our seniors, to our entire team, for buying in. We're getting better each week."
After scoring seven-straight touchdowns in the first half against Massachusetts last week, the Bulldogs' first five drives resulted in a touchdown.
The first Georgia possession, a 9-play, 75-yard drive, was finalized by a 5-yard touchdown from Fromm to junior wide receiver Riley Ridley. After the first Georgia defensive stop, the Bulldogs used an 11-play, 88-yard march – featuring a 39-yard rush from junior Elijah Holyfield and receptions from tight ends senior Charlie Woerner and junior Isaac Nauta – to reach the 1-yard line, where Swift fought for the touchdown and the 14-0 margin.
After the Yellow Jackets' Juanyeh Thomas returned the first 100-yard kickoff return against the Bulldogs since 1999, Georgia's distanced itself yet again with a 6-play, 63-yard drive, highlighted by a 26-yard Jayson Stanley rush. At the 12:56 mark, the 21-7 lead was sealed by a 12-yard touchdown from Fromm to sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Holloman.
Next, Georgia took over on downs as the Bulldog defense held Georgia Tech at its own 44-yard line, highlighted by a tackle from Ledbetter for a 3-yard loss and a sack from freshman defensive lineman Jordan Davis for a 4-yard loss. On the following play, Georgia took control on offense, and Fromm found junior wide receiver Mecole Hardman feet from the end zone for the 44-yard touchdown and the 28-7 lead.
After another Bulldog stop, Georgia needed just four plays, split between freshman tailback James Cook and Swift, before Holyfield leaped into the end zone, extending the ball across the plane for the 8-yard touchdown.
With 48 seconds remaining in the half, the Bulldogs marched 40 yards between a 13-yard Swift rush and three-straight Nauta receptions to set up a Rodrigo Blankenship 25-yard field goal. Georgia headed into the half with a 38-7 advantage.
After the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out to open the second half, six plays and 53 yards later, Georgia produced a 45-7 score. Swift checked in with 39 yards on two carries, setting up a 4-yard Ridley touchdown, his career-topping second of the day, from Fromm between a pair of Georgia Tech defenders.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the final quarter, but the Bulldogs' 45 points held till the 45-21 final.
Next up, the Bulldogs head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC Championship in Atlanta against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, December 1.
"It's where this program should be," Smart said. "It feels like a game we should be going to every year. Our guys will lay it on the line and they're excited about the opportunity. It will be a great atmosphere, one of the best in college football. It will be another game week for us. We'll prepare for our opponent and treat it like every other week."
With the win, the Bulldogs remain perfect at home with an 11-1 regular-season record in back-to-back years.
A balanced attack with 447 total yards of offense – 285 on the ground and 162 through the air – was paired with a Bulldog defense that held the nation's top rushing offense to 66 total yards (all rushing), four first downs and one touchdown in the first half.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm opened the contest with seven-straight completions, matching up with seven different receivers for a 13-for-16 final clip with 175 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Sophomore tailback D'Andre Swift registered his fourth 100-yard rushing contest of the season with 105, complete with a touchdown.
With nine tackles, the Georgia defense was paced by senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter, a member of a senior class that improved to 42-11, the third-best mark in school history.
| Video Files |
Game Highlights Post Game Press Conference Player Interviews |
| Audio Files |
Holyfield 8yd TD run Fromm-Holloman 12yd TD pass Swift fights to put UGA up 14-0 Fromm-Ridley 5yd TD pass |
After scoring seven-straight touchdowns in the first half against Massachusetts last week, the Bulldogs' first five drives resulted in a touchdown.
The first Georgia possession, a 9-play, 75-yard drive, was finalized by a 5-yard touchdown from Fromm to junior wide receiver Riley Ridley. After the first Georgia defensive stop, the Bulldogs used an 11-play, 88-yard march – featuring a 39-yard rush from junior Elijah Holyfield and receptions from tight ends senior Charlie Woerner and junior Isaac Nauta – to reach the 1-yard line, where Swift fought for the touchdown and the 14-0 margin.
After the Yellow Jackets' Juanyeh Thomas returned the first 100-yard kickoff return against the Bulldogs since 1999, Georgia's distanced itself yet again with a 6-play, 63-yard drive, highlighted by a 26-yard Jayson Stanley rush. At the 12:56 mark, the 21-7 lead was sealed by a 12-yard touchdown from Fromm to sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Holloman.
Next, Georgia took over on downs as the Bulldog defense held Georgia Tech at its own 44-yard line, highlighted by a tackle from Ledbetter for a 3-yard loss and a sack from freshman defensive lineman Jordan Davis for a 4-yard loss. On the following play, Georgia took control on offense, and Fromm found junior wide receiver Mecole Hardman feet from the end zone for the 44-yard touchdown and the 28-7 lead.
After another Bulldog stop, Georgia needed just four plays, split between freshman tailback James Cook and Swift, before Holyfield leaped into the end zone, extending the ball across the plane for the 8-yard touchdown.
With 48 seconds remaining in the half, the Bulldogs marched 40 yards between a 13-yard Swift rush and three-straight Nauta receptions to set up a Rodrigo Blankenship 25-yard field goal. Georgia headed into the half with a 38-7 advantage.
After the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out to open the second half, six plays and 53 yards later, Georgia produced a 45-7 score. Swift checked in with 39 yards on two carries, setting up a 4-yard Ridley touchdown, his career-topping second of the day, from Fromm between a pair of Georgia Tech defenders.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the final quarter, but the Bulldogs' 45 points held till the 45-21 final.
Next up, the Bulldogs head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC Championship in Atlanta against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, December 1.
"It's where this program should be," Smart said. "It feels like a game we should be going to every year. Our guys will lay it on the line and they're excited about the opportunity. It will be a great atmosphere, one of the best in college football. It will be another game week for us. We'll prepare for our opponent and treat it like every other week."
Team Stats
GT
UGA
Total Yards
219
447
Pass Yards
91
162
Rushing Yards
128
285
Penalty Yards
20
10
1st Downs
12
25
3rd Downs
3
2
4th Downs
3
2
TOP
29:27
30:33
1st Quarter
GT 0, UGA 7
UGA - Riley Ridley 5 yd pass from Jake Fromm (R. Blankenship kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:37
GT 0, UGA 14
UGA - D'Andre Swift 1 yd run (R. Blankenship kick), 11 plays, 88 yards, TOP 6:07
GT 7, UGA 14
GT - Thomas, J. 100 yd kickoff return (Wells, W. kick)
2nd Quarter
GT 7, UGA 21
UGA - J. Holloman 12 yd pass from Jake Fromm (R. Blankenship kick) 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:29
GT 7, UGA 28
UGA - Mecole Hardman 44 yd pass from Jake Fromm (R. Blankenship kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 0:08
GT 7, UGA 35
UGA - E. Holyfield 8 yd run (R. Blankenship kick), 5 plays, 33 yards, TOP 2:11
GT 7, UGA 38
UGA - R. Blankenship 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 40 yards, TOP 0:48
3rd Quarter
GT 7, UGA 45
UGA - Riley Ridley 4 yd pass from Jake Fromm (R. Blankenship kick) 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:05
4th Quarter
GT 14, UGA 45
GT - Searcy, Q. 3 yd run (Wells, W. kick), 6 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:57
GT 21, UGA 45
GT - Stewart, B. 28 yd pass from Marshall, T. (Wells, W. kick) 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:59
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
13
TD
4
YDS
175
INT
0
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
-13
INT
0
Players Mentioned
PK
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
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