ATHENS — For the second game in a row, a quick and efficient start to the game allowed the Georgia Bulldogs to rotate reserves upon reserves into the game. Georgia breezed its way to a 70-20 win against Western Kentucky en route to a 2-0 start to the season.
By the time Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton exited the game with more than seven minutes to go in the first half, he had gone 13-of-16 for 234 yards, tossing touchdown passes to five receivers.
“I think we executed pretty well, we were a bit sloppy at times,” Stockton said. “I’m looking forward to next week with Arkansas on the road. Any SEC road game is going to be tough.”
As gratifying as the fast start was, which saw Georgia lead 14-0 after just four offensive plays from scrimmage, there were plenty of things to be circled as points of improvement. With backups rotating into the field of play, the visiting Hilltoppers scored twice on their final four drives of the game and had a combined 14 plays on the other two.
That was a contrast to how the game began, when the first seven WKU drives ended on a punt or turnover.
So if anyone was seeking a semblance of self-congratulating after another win against an overmatched foe, it was not to be found after the win from Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, especially with this Saturday’s SEC opener at Arkansas coming up.
“We started fast. We have to keep improving. That was the theme of the week. We had some guys finish the game kind of sloppy that showed they were not quite ready,” Smart said. “They got an opportunity to go out and there and got an opportunity to play in the second half more than they ever have before. We’ve got to get better. It’s a different level playing in this league. In all the years I have coached, you learn that it’s a different environment. Every game is really hard, especially on the road, especially the first one.”
Saturday afternoon laid out an absolute mixture of the outdoor elements between alternating patterns of rain, sunshine, the return of rain, and sunshine. All of that played a role in both teams losing a pair of fumbles, one by Western Kentucky on the game’s opening kickoff. That made for quick work for the Georgia offense, which needed just two plays to lead 7-0 on a nine-yard pass from Stockton to Ethan Barbour, one of five Bulldogs to haul in a touchdown on Saturday. The others were Chauncey Bowens, Talyn Taylor, London Humphreys, and Sacovie White-Helton.
“You always want to score fast, execute at the end of the day, and do your job,” Stockton said.
The Bulldogs were just getting started offensively, as two plays after forcing a WKU punt saw Nate Frazier rush into the end zone for a 14-0 advantage just 3:32 into the game.
“Turnovers, they gave us one with the opening kick. We want to go out and start fast, and that’s on overwhelming way to go. But the opponents have not been SEC opponents,” Smart said. “It’s all rosy and dandy until you have to go on the road and play someone of SEC caliber, and until you have some adversity, and this team has not really had any adversity. We’ll find out.”
The Georgia offense kept on going from there, next driving 64 yards on seven plays to go up 21-0 when Stockton’s screen pass to Chauncey Bowens was taken into the end zone, but not before Bowens hurdled a WKU defender on the way there. Another sustained Bulldogs drive would end on a touchdown, with Stockton’s short pass across the middle to Humphreys was good for a 28-0 lead, ending an 80-yard drive early in the second quarter. The team added to its advantage with White-Helton taking a Stockton pass 70 yards for a 35-0 lead.
The next Georgia score came by way of a short field. After Demello Jones’ interception of Rodney Tisdale was returned to the one-yard line and Jones was assessed with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, one short pass to Isaiah Canion set up a five-yard pass to Talyn Taylor for the score and 42-0 lead with 7:44 left in the half.
With his day finished, Stockton began his time as a spectator. But the result was similar with Ryan Puglisi in the game, as Georgia needed only three plays to go up 49-0 on a nine-yard run by Landon Roldan. WKU got on the board by way of a seven-yard fourth down conversion by quarterback Brock Glenn.
Overall, the Hilltoppers managed 225 offensive yards.
“There’s always room to be better,” Georgia defensive back Ellis Robinson IV said. “We’ll look at it on film and see what we can do better.”
Puglisi, who rushed 70 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, was once again one of four quarterbacks to see time with Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender also taking snaps.
With reserves rotating in as the game went on, Georgia got one touchdown thanks to its defense when a Blake Stewart interception began a wacky sequence with the ball careening around before Tyriq Green came up with the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Green also returned a second-half kickoff for a touchdown in between Glenn’s second rushing score as well as Glenn tossing a seven-yard score to Coleseon Arends.
It’s a finish to the game that, without question, stands to give the Bulldogs lot to sharpen ahead of this Saturday on the road.
“If you don’t get off the field on third down six consecutive times, you won’t be able to play for Georgia’s defense. If you can’t possess the ball on offense, you can’t play. If you can’t crack-block a guy that is lined up inside you and hold your block during the game, you’re probably not ready,” Smart said. “If your front five offensive linemen can’t move the Western Kentucky defensive line, you’re going to really struggle on the road when you play in the SEC.
“There are guys who want playing time and think they are worthy of playing time that just proved to me they don’t deserve it.”