Gators Bitten in Atlanta: Four Turnovers Sink Florida in 27-8 Loss to No. 3 Georgia
Photo: GatorBait Media
ATLANTA - No. 3 Georgia beat Florida 27-8 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, turning four Gators turnovers into a 24-0 halftime lead. Georgia's 66-yard sack-fumble return touchdown before the break and a 217-yard rushing night were more than a Florida offense could overcome. Florida, ranked No. 17, entered the game 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. Georgia entered 6-1 and 4-1.
Georgia took control before halftime
Georgia scored first on Nate Frazier's 1-yard run with 1:50 left in the opening quarter. P. Woodring added a 28-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the second quarter, and Bo Walker scored from 1 yard out with 1:55 left before the half.
The play that broke the game came with 29 seconds left in the half. Tramell Jones Jr. was sacked by Q. Johnson for a 3-yard loss, the ball came loose and Georgia returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs led 24-0 at the break.
Florida answers late
Florida did not score until the fourth quarter. Jones ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 6:59 left, and Jadan Baugh threw to D. Wilson for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 24-8. Woodring answered with a 21-yard field goal with 3:34 left to close the scoring.
The numbers that decided it
Florida's four turnovers were three interceptions and one lost fumble. Georgia turned the ball over once, on a lost fumble. Jones finished 18-of-25 for 172 yards with one interception, and Aaron Philo went 5-of-7 for 26 yards with two interceptions. Bailey Stockton caught eight passes for 76 yards.
Georgia ran 42 times for 217 yards, 5.2 per carry, with Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr. each gaining 67 yards. Florida managed 48 rushing yards on 28 carries, 1.7 per attempt. Baugh carried 17 times for 38 yards.
Georgia finished with 318 total yards to Florida's 246. Gunner Stockton completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards for the Bulldogs. Georgia converted 6 of 15 third downs and Florida 4 of 12, and Florida was penalized eight times for 78 yards to Georgia's four for 32.
Next up: Oklahoma
Florida returns home to face Oklahoma at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
More to come: full postgame analysis from Franz Beard and Buddy Martin.
After that silly high school-looking interception Philo threw, probably should not see the field again. Saying that was a poor choice is being extremely kind.