Bulldogs rout Samford 33-0 in home opener
Bulldogs rout Samford 33-0 in home opener
ATHENS — Georgia (2-0) defeated FCS opponent Samford (1-1) with ease on Saturday at Sanford Stadium. The No. 2 Bulldogs routed their opponent 33-0 in their home opener.
Samford’s defense stalled out Georgia’s first two drives, forcing the Bulldogs to kick consecutive field goals. However, UGA’s offense finally got in the end zone on its third possession.
Georgia senior quarterback Stetson Bennett connected with wide receiver Ladd McConkey on the second play from scrimmage for a 37-yard gain. That play put the Bulldogs deep inside Samford territory. Sophomore running back Kendall Milton then picked up 16 yards on two rush attempts, which set up Bennett for a three-yard touchdown scramble a few plays later. They would lead 13-0 at the end of the opening quarter.
Georgia would force the opposing Bulldogs to a three-and-out on their next drive. The Bulldogs didn’t take long to score again as Bennett found wide receiver Dillion Bell for a three-yard passing touchdown. The freshman pass catcher’s first reception at the collegiate level was a score, which put UGA up 20-0 with 8:48 left in the second quarter.
Samford’s offense continued to struggle against the vaunted Bulldogs’ defense, going three-and-out on its next possession. Georgia kept the pressure on quarterback Michael Hiers throughout the first two quarters. The Bulldogs went right back to work on offense, although they would be held to a field goal for the third time in five first-half drives.
Georgia senior running back Kenny McIntosh capped off the first half by scoring a one-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs were in control, leading 30-0 at halftime. Georgia dominated in all facets of the game in the opening half.
The Bulldogs racked up 329 yards of total offense through the first two quarters. They also averaged seven yards per play against Samford while controlling the tempo of the game. Georgia’s defense limited the Bulldogs of Samford to 59 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs forced Samford to punt five times, and only average 2.6 yards per play in the first half.
Bennett completed passes to 11 different Georgia pass catchers in the opening two quarters. He completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 252 yards and a score. Bennett also had a rushing touchdown in the first half.
The second half was non-eventful for Georgia, which continued to dominate on defense. The Bulldogs posted their first shutout of the season against Samford on Saturday.
Hiers was constantly pressured as he could never ignite a spark for Samford’s fast-paced offense. He rushed for 11 yards on four carries. Hiers also completed 13-of-21 passes for 62 yards. Hiers’ leading wide receiver was Ty King, who hauled in four passes for 52 yards.
Georgia’s defense held Samford to a season-low 128 yards of total offense. The opposing Bulldogs had a combined 17 rush attempts for a total of 19 yards in the contest.
On the other hand, the home Bulldogs racked up 479 yards of total offense, averaging 6.4 yards per play in the game. They totaled 352 yards through the air and 127 yards on the ground.
Bennett finished the game by completing 24-of-34 pass attempts for 300 yards and a touchdown. He also had a score via the ground. Milton led all Georgia rushers with 85 yards on 10 attempts. Daijun Edwards totaled 23 yards on six rushes, while Milton was limited to 15 yards on seven attempts. Freshman Branson Robinson gained 12 yards on three rushes.
The Bulldogs had 15 total players catch passes from Bennett and backup quarterback Carson Beck. McIntosh hauled in a team-high five receptions for 61 yards. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers caught three passes for 57 yards. Sophomore wideout Jackson Meeks also impressed in the win over Samford. He hauled in three pass completions for 31 yards.
Smael Mondon led Georgia with four total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Bulldog defensive backs Daylen Everette and Tykee Smith also had three tackles each. The only sack came from freshman defensive lineman Mykel Williams in the fourth quarter.
Georgia will face South Carolina in Williams-Brice Stadium next Saturday at noon EST.
Here is the video from Kirby Smart’s post-game press conference: