ATLANTA - No. 1 Georgia put on an absolute clinic in the first half against LSU.
The Bulldogs and Tigers were tied at 0-0 late in the first quarter. However, things quickly changed as LSU brought out to the field goal unit with just under three minutes left.
That is when Georgia defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse blocked the attempt, and senior Christopher Smith picked up the ball and ran it back 96 yards to the end zone for six. The veteran safety was joined by a convoy of Bulldog defenders blocking for him.
Nevertheless, the Tigers marched right down the field in just three plays and scored on the next drive. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels completed a pass over the middle to Kayshon Boutte for a 53-yard touchdown. He raced past Georgia defensive backs for six.
It was all Bulldogs from that point on as they scored on four of five drives to end the half.
UGA reached the end zone in seven plays after LSU’s only score of the half. Bulldogs’ quarterback Stetson Bennett connected with tight end Brock Bowers for a 32-yard gain, which put Georgia at the Tigers’ 17-yard line. A few plays later, the duo hooked up for six.
Daniels was picked off by Bulldogs’ linebacker Smael Mondon on the first play from scrimmage on the next drive, and it didn’t take long for Georgia to find the end zone again. Bennett hooked up with wide receiver Ladd McConkey for a 22-yard score on the next snap.
After that quick turn of events, the Bulldogs led the Tigers 21-7 with 14:43 left in the half.
Georgia forced an LSU punt on the following possession, and the Bulldogs got the ball back. They put together a long drive, although kicker Jack Podlesny missed a 43-yard field goal off the upright to end it. The Tigers then went three-and-out on the next drive.
Georgia took over at its 24-yard line and put together a long, methodical scoring possession. It was capped off by Bennett tossing his third passing touchdown to tight end Darnell Washington for six. The Bulldogs led 28-7 with 2:48 remaining in the quarter.
Another punt by LSU led to Bennett’s last touchdown pass of the half. In crunch time, Georgia drove 42 yards to score in five plays. Bennett hooked up with freshman Dillon Bell for six from three yards out, which put the Bulldogs up 35-7 with under a minute left.
However, LSU was able to put together a scoring drive with 37 seconds left in the first half. Daniels went to work, completing five passes to set up Damian Ramos for a 42-yard try. The freshman kicker stuck it through the uprights to cut Georgia’s deficit to 25 points.
HALFTIME SCORE: Georgia 35, LSU 10
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