Field Street Forum

One of Georgia’s main themes during the preseason and now into 2025 will be to play with “FPE.” Fifty-four percent of Georgia’s roster is made of players in their first or second seasons in Athens, and they have displayed youthful exuberance throughout spring, fall camp and in the opener.

After posting a 45-7 win over Marshall last Saturday, Georgia is 102-27-3 in season openers including 10-0 in the Kirby Smart era. The Bulldogs have won 12 straight openers.

In the season opener, the Bulldogs tallied 488 yards of total offense and led 45-0 until the Thundering Herd scored with 10:27 remaining in the contest.

Last Saturday marked only the second career start and first at home for quarterback Gunner Stockton, and he provided four scores, two through the air and two on the ground.

In the opener, Georgia went 3-for-3 on 4th Down conversion attempts and scored two touchdowns. On Georgia’s first posession of the season, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-2 from the Marshall 31 when Stockton kept the ball on a zone read for 14 yards. Georgia would score one play later for a 7-0 lead. Then on their second possesion, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-1 at the Marshall 13. Stockton scampered in from 13 yards out for a 14-0 advantage The third conversion came with the Bulldogs up 31-0 late in the 3rd quarter. On 4th-and-Goal, Stockton completed a two-yard TD strike to London Humphreys.

A total of 21 true freshmen Bulldogs made their debut and two drew a starting assignment (Ethan Barbour, one of two tight ends, and Juan Gaston Jr., at right guard. Under Smart, 13 true freshmen have started a season opener.

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