Georgia football opened their season with a dominant 63-3 win against Tennessee State University in Sanford Stadium. This deficit hasn’t been seen from the Dawgs since their extraordinary win against Florida State in 2023.
This win continues the Bulldogs home opener winning streak, which has been going since 2012.
The offense could not have started out better, scoring four touchdowns in just the first quarter. By the end of the first, Gunner Stockton had thrown for 10/11, 125 yards and two touchdowns, showing great improvement in accuracy of passes.
Stockton was then taken out, and Ryan Puglisi, Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender were given the opportunity to get some low-stake reps in.
Nate Frazier had immense success in his first start as a junior, with two rushing touchdowns, one being a 48-yard rush in the first possession of the game.
This is Frazier’s first start back in Sanford since his ankle injury during G-Day back in April, and what a great way to come back. On only four carries, Frazier accumulated 72 yards and three touchdowns before, ultimately being taken out.
Not only did Frazier show promise for this season’s offense, but other receivers such as Chauncey Bowens and Sacovie White-Helton really showed out as play makers.
Bowens totaled 56 total yards, rushing and receiving, and White-Helton proved himself to be a double-threat with his receiving and special team abilities.
Another young receiver that really impressed Dawg Nation as well as Coach Kirby Smart was Jeremy Bell, who had just lost his brother this past week.
“I didn’t want him to practice, but yet he wanted to practice. And to go out and do what Jeremy Bell did; he’s a really talented player and he’s been developing for a couple years now, and he’s starting to come into his own,” Smart said.
This game may have proved that the historic and elite Georgia defense could be coming back.
After holding TSU to zero total yards, first downs and points in the first quarter, Georgia forced five straight three-and-outs.
Many young defensive players displayed early talent such as true freshmen, PJ Dean, who had two tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Elijah Littlejohn, who also had three tackles and one sack. Overall, Tennessee State only totaled 109 yards.
Post-game, Smart did say the younger outside linebackers, such as Khamari Brooks, have got to mature in order to truly improve.
“They’ve got to grow up. They just played Tennessee State. They didn’t play an SEC opponent. They’ve got to grow up and they’ve got to get better because we need them better like, yesterday,” Smart said.
Georgia will play Western Kentucky next Saturday in between the hedges at 12:45 p.m.
