Recap: Georgia 24, Florida 20
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 29, 2011
Georgia turned in a stifling defensive effort in the second half and rallied from a 14-point deficit, as the No. 21 Bulldogs kept pace in the SEC East title race with a 24-20 victory over Florida on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., snapping a three-game losing streak in the rivalry.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 5-1 SEC) entered the day tied atop the division with South Carolina, which played at Tennessee on Saturday night. Georgia has won six straight for the first time since winning 11 straight at the end of the 2007 season and the beginning of 2008.
The Gators (4-4, 2-4 SEC) have lost four straight for the first time since 1988. All four losses have come against ranked opponents.
The Gators got quarterback John Brantley back after he missed two games with an ankle injury, but the senior clearly was not 100 percent. Brantley passed for 226 yards in the first half -- just 22 yards shy of his single-game high -- but he was ineffective in the second half, going 2 for 13 for 19 yards after halftime.
Brantley was sacked six times -- four by Jarvis Jenkins -- which resulted in the Gators finishing with minus-19 rushing yards.
Georgia's Aaron Murray also struggled in the second half, at one point throwing nine consecutive incompletions, but he converted an 18-yard pass to Chris Conley for a first down that helped the Bulldogs run out the clock and seal the win.
Georgia kicker Blair Walsh continued to struggle, missing two field goals. Walsh missed only five field goals in his sophomore and junior seasons but is 13 for 23 this season.
Florida scored first on Brantley's 31-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Reed, becoming the first team to strike first against the Bulldogs this season. Georgia was the only remaining team in the SEC that had scored first in every game.
Oct 29, 2011
Georgia turned in a stifling defensive effort in the second half and rallied from a 14-point deficit, as the No. 21 Bulldogs kept pace in the SEC East title race with a 24-20 victory over Florida on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., snapping a three-game losing streak in the rivalry.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 5-1 SEC) entered the day tied atop the division with South Carolina, which played at Tennessee on Saturday night. Georgia has won six straight for the first time since winning 11 straight at the end of the 2007 season and the beginning of 2008.
The Gators (4-4, 2-4 SEC) have lost four straight for the first time since 1988. All four losses have come against ranked opponents.
The Gators got quarterback John Brantley back after he missed two games with an ankle injury, but the senior clearly was not 100 percent. Brantley passed for 226 yards in the first half -- just 22 yards shy of his single-game high -- but he was ineffective in the second half, going 2 for 13 for 19 yards after halftime.
Brantley was sacked six times -- four by Jarvis Jenkins -- which resulted in the Gators finishing with minus-19 rushing yards.
Georgia's Aaron Murray also struggled in the second half, at one point throwing nine consecutive incompletions, but he converted an 18-yard pass to Chris Conley for a first down that helped the Bulldogs run out the clock and seal the win.
Georgia kicker Blair Walsh continued to struggle, missing two field goals. Walsh missed only five field goals in his sophomore and junior seasons but is 13 for 23 this season.
Florida scored first on Brantley's 31-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Reed, becoming the first team to strike first against the Bulldogs this season. Georgia was the only remaining team in the SEC that had scored first in every game.
