The Georgia Bulldogs, ranked #1 in the preseason poll, took the field last Saturday to take on the #14 Clemson Tigers, at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This game was the traditional kickoff classic game, in which the Bulldogs are no strangers to this game.
The game started off slow with both defenses taking charge, going back and forth with neither offenses taking advantage of what the other’s defense was showing. The Bulldogs finally put two solid possessions together in the second quarter, but settled for two field goals, including a long FG of 55 yards.
The second half of games is where Head Coach Kirby Smart’s teams usually start to dominate, and this game was no different. Incoming transfer from the University of Miami, Colbie Young, made one of his two catches count as he hauled in the first touchdown as a Bulldog, as well as the first touchdown for the team in 2024. But it was another transfer portal pickup from Vanderbilt that stole many hearts this Saturday. London Humphreys, a Ladd McConkey clone, had two catches of his own, with one touchdown, and 63 total yards. On a post to the middle, QB Carson Beck hit Humphreys on a third down and nine conversion, he ran it 40 yards to the house for the score.
A third offensive weapon for the Bulldogs was actually benched and in the ‘dawg’ house by Smart for a DUI arrest in the spring, Florida transfer Trevor Etienne. This gave way to more touches for freshman Nate Frazier, and he lived up to expectations. Frazier had 83 yards on 11 carries and one score.
Leading the way in all this is QB1, Carson Beck, who went 23-33 for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Turning to the defensive side of the ball, there is not much more to say than dominant. Ever since Smart took the realm as head coach, his defensive approach has been like no other, taught by the best, Nick Saban. In this game, zero points allowed by Georgia in the first half, and only a field goal surrendered in the second half. Dating back to the Orange bowl from earlier in the year, the Georgia defense only gave up 3 points in that game, while scoring a 63 point knock out punch by the offense. Back to the Clemson game, Safety Malaki Starks made another spectacular interception that mimicked the interception in the Oregon game two years ago in this same kickoff classic.
The Bulldogs (1-0) remain the #1 team in the land after the weeks end of games. The team will now travel back to Athens between the hedges and host Tennessee Tech (0-1) this Saturday, September 7 at 2:00PM.
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