UGA Football: Postgame Notes – Georgia vs Tennessee State
With today’s 63-3 win, third-ranked Georgia (1-0) improved to 103-27-3 in season openers including having won 13 straight. Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs are 11-0 in season openers and improve to 57-5 at home. The 63 points and 60-point margin of victory are the biggest in a season opener in the Smart era. The previous best in an opener under Smart came in a 49-3 win over #11 Oregon in 2022.
Georgia compiled 63 points on the day, tallying 660 yards of offense (272-rushing, 388-passing) on 60 plays.
The Bulldogs opened the first half with 358 yards of total offense (156-rushing, 202-passing) on 32 plays and led 35-3.
Georgia built a 28-0 edge in the 1st quarter, scoring TDs on its first four possessions with the drives covering 59, 54, 63 and 52 yards. It was the most points in a quarter by the Bulldogs since scoring 35 in the 2nd quarter of the 2023 Orange Bowl win over #5 FSU 63-3. To start the 2nd quarter, Georgia’s fifth possession ended with another TD, going 82 yards in seven plays for a 35-0 lead.
In just one quarter and a half of playing time, fifth-year QB Gunner Stockton finished 15-for-16 for 202 yards and 3 TDs (261.7 QB Rating), directing TD drives on the first five possessions of the contest. He had a 17-yard TD pass to sophomore TE Elyiss Williams, an 11-yard TD pass to sophomore Talyn Taylor and a 14-yarder to junior Jaden Reddell.
Junior QB Ryan Puglisi (7-for-13, 109 yards, 1 TD) entered the game with 9:10 left in the 2nd quarter and Georgia up 35-0. Also, he started the 2nd half. He directed a pair of TD drives including capping one with a 16-yard TD pass to freshman TE Kaiden Prothro.
Sophomore QB Ryan Montgomery saw action later in the 2nd half and led a five-play, 79-yard TD drive in 2:12 that culminated in a 54-yard TD pass to Jeremy Bell.
Sophomore QB Hezekiah Millender entered the game with 12:44 left in the contest and led a 59-yard TD drive.
Georgia compiled 272 rushing yards on 27 attempts for a 10.1 average.
Junior Nate Frazier led the group with 72 yards on just four carries with three resulting in TDs.
Frazier scampered 48 yards for a TD on his first carry of the season. It capped a three-play, 59-yard drive in 1:20 for a 7-0 lead.
Frazier’s second carry was a 14-yard TD, capping a five-play, 54-yard drive in 2:07 for a 14-0 edge.
Frazier’s fourth carry was a 3-yard TD to finish a six-play, 65-yard drive in 2:45 for a 42-3 edge in the 3rd quarter. This third TD today matched his career high after having three against UMASS in 2024. Freshman Jae Lamar had his first career TD, an 11-yarder.
Georgia had 15 players combine for 25 catches and five TDs. Junior Sacovie White-Helton had three catches for 34 yards.
Sophomore Talyn Taylor notched his first career TD, an 11-yard reception in the 1st quarter and finished the game with three catches for 28 yards plus one rush for 31 yards.
Junior TE Jaden Redell enjoyed a career day with 2 catches for 38 yards including his first TD plus a career-long 29-yard rush.
Tight end Elyiss Williams and freshman WR Craig Dandridge Jr. each had two catches for 36 yards with Williams having a TD.
Freshman TE Kaiden Prothro and junior Jeremy Bell each had one catch, and it went for a TD.
TSU scored three points and finished with 109 yards of offense (10-rush, 99-pass) on 58 plays.
In the 1st half, TSU was held to three points, tallying 40 yards of total offense (-16 rush, 56-pass) on 28 plays.
In the first quarter, TSU had a net zero yards of offense after gaining 21 passing and minus 21 rushing. TSU’s final offensive play of the first quarter resulted in a sack of minus 13 yards by Chris Cole and freshman PJ Dean.
TSU managed a 37-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter as it went 55 yards in 14 plays over a span of 5:29 to make it 35-3.
Seven Bulldogs had three tackles apiece to lead the team. Freshman OLB PJ Dean notched 1.5 sacks while junior Chris Cole was credited with 0.5 sacks and was among the group with three tackles.
Senior PK Peyton Woodring tallied eight points (8 PATs) plus took care of most of the kickoffs.
Junior Drew Miller handled the punting with just one for 65 yards. Freshman Harran Zureikat handled the final two kickoffs, both touchbacks plus made the final PAT.
In the return game, junior Sacove White-Helton had four punt returns for 59 yards including a career-long 35-yarder. He had one kickoff return for 18 yards while freshman Tyriq Green had 1 KOR for 25 yards. Freshman Craig Dandridge Jr., had one punt return for 30 yards.
Georgia’s captains were Drew Bobo, Chris Cole, Jordan Hall and Peyton Woodring.
TSU won the toss and elected to defer the football until the 2nd half.
Temperature at kickoff was 101 with a heat index of 110 which are Sanford Stadium records.
Zykie Helton (RG) became the latest true freshman to start a season opener. During the Kirby Smart era that began in 2016, there now have been 14 true freshmen to start an opener, and in this span, the other OL were Andrew Thomas, ’17 at RT, Juan Gaston ’25 at RG. Sophomores Talyn Taylor (WR), Elijah Griffin (DL) and junior Demello Jones (CB) made their first career starts.
An array of Georgia national championships teams from 2000-2001 were recognized pregame including then national coach of the year honorees Jack Bauerle (swimming & diving), Chris Haack (men’s golf) and Jeff Wallace (women’s tennis), all who were in attendance. Also, UGA football lettermen from six different decades were honored at halftime.
No. 3 Georgia (1-0) plays host to Western Kentucky Saturday, Sept. 12 at 12:45 p.m. (SECN). WKU plays at Nevada tonight.