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Georgia 70, Western Kentucky 20: Stockton turns Georgia’s final tuneup into a first-half rout
By: Greg Poole
Georgia spent two weeks beating teams it was supposed to beat. The more useful development Saturday was the way Gunner Stockton made sure the second one was essentially finished before halftime.
Stockton threw five touchdown passes to five different players, Georgia scored 49 first-half points and the Bulldogs overwhelmed Western Kentucky 70-20 at Sanford Stadium in their final game before SEC play begins.
The final score was predictable. The speed and efficiency were more significant.
Stockton completed 13 of 16 passes for 234 yards, tied the Georgia record with five touchdown passes and did not throw an interception. Through two games, he has eight touchdown passes without a pick.
Georgia scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. Stockton found Ethan Barbour for seven yards, Nate Frazier finished the next drive with a 7-yard run and Chauncey Bowens caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for a 21-0 lead.
The Bulldogs kept spreading the work around.
Stockton hit London Humphreys for a 3-yard touchdown, then connected with Sacovie White-Helton on a 70-yard score. Talyn Taylor became Stockton’s fifth touchdown target before Landon Roldan added a 9-yard run that pushed the lead to 49-0.
Five touchdown passes. Five receivers.
That matters more than another oversized final score. Georgia entered the season believing it had depth among its skill players. Saturday offered evidence that Stockton can use it without forcing the offense through one target.
Western Kentucky also made things easier with four turnovers, and Georgia repeatedly turned mistakes into points.
The Bulldogs finished with 493 yards on 60 plays, averaging 8.2 yards per snap. They rushed for 234 yards and threw for 259 while holding Western Kentucky to 225 total yards.
Georgia also scored in all three phases. Tyriq Green recovered a fumble in the end zone for one touchdown and later returned a kickoff 91 yards for another.
There were still corrections available for Kirby Smart. Georgia turned the ball over twice, committed seven penalties for 66 yards and allowed Western Kentucky to score three times after the Bulldogs had built a 49-0 lead.
None of that threatened the outcome, but the margin for sloppy football gets smaller once SEC play begins.
That is the appropriate takeaway from Saturday. Georgia again dominated an opponent it was supposed to dominate, but this time the Bulldogs showed more of the pieces they will need against better competition.
Stockton was decisive. The passing game produced explosive plays. The ball went to multiple receivers. The defense created turnovers.
The first two weeks answered the easy questions.
The harder ones begin now.
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