In a closely contested SEC matchup at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs showed resilience as they fought back to edge the Kentucky Wildcats 13-12 on Saturday night. The game, which lacked offensive fireworks, was ultimately decided by a late fourth-quarter touchdown from sophomore running back Branson Robinson, who punched in a 3-yard run to give Georgia their first lead of the night.
Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) struggled to find rhythm on both sides of the ball, with Kentucky capitalizing on their sluggish start. The Wildcats, eager to bounce back after a humbling 31-6 loss to South Carolina, took an early lead and held Georgia in check for much of the game. Kentucky kicker Alex Raynor was the bright spot for the Wildcats (1-2, 0-2 SEC), drilling a school-record 55-yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead and adding two more kicks from 32 and 40 yards to extend Kentucky’s advantage to 9-3 early in the third quarter.
Georgia’s offense, which had been dominant in their previous games, sputtered throughout the first half. Quarterback Carson Beck finished the night completing 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards, with his longest connection being a crucial 33-yard pass to Dominic Lovett late in the game. Despite their struggles, the Bulldogs’ defense kept the Wildcats out of the end zone, allowing just field goals and giving the offense enough time to find a breakthrough.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter. Trailing 9-3 and in need of a spark, Georgia embarked on their longest drive of the game. Florida transfer Trevor Etienne played a key role in the drive, rushing for 12 yards, catching an 11-yard pass, and breaking off a 17-yard run to get Georgia deep into Kentucky territory. Robinson capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Georgia a 13-9 lead, their first of the night.
Kentucky, however, refused to fold. Raynor responded with a 51-yard field goal, bringing the Wildcats within a point at 13-12. With time winding down, Kentucky got one last chance to pull off the upset, starting a final drive from their own 20-yard line with just 9 seconds remaining. But the Bulldogs’ defense held firm, allowing just 17 yards on two plays before time ran out.
Etienne finished with 79 yards on 19 carries, while Robinson, in his return from an ACL injury that sidelined him last season, had five yards on two carries, including the go-ahead touchdown. Though the Bulldogs’ offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders, their ability to grind out a win in tough circumstances was a testament to their championship pedigree.
For Kentucky, it was a frustrating night of missed opportunities. Despite outgaining Georgia in the first half and holding the lead for more than three quarters, the Wildcats could not finish drives with touchdowns, settling for field goals that left the door open for Georgia’s late rally.
With the victory, Georgia moves to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, surviving their first real test of the year. Kentucky, now 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC, will look to regroup after another close loss. Both teams will no doubt take lessons from this hard-fought contest as they prepare for the grind of the SEC schedule ahead.
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