By: Drew Mullvain
The Georgia Bulldogs trounced the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 70-20 on Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Gunner Stockton threw for five touchdowns, and the Bulldogs were physically dominant from the opening kickoff.
As Sanford Stadium fills up, the waves of white roll in. The Dawgs will be coming out in their all-white uniforms (jersey, pants and helmets). The University of Georgia plays host to Western Kentucky. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers enter week two with a 0-1 record. The Hilltoppers were beaten by Nevada 49-14. The Dawgs come into this matchup 1-0 after an impressive 63-3 victory over Tennessee State.
This is the second-ever meeting between the Dawgs and the Hilltoppers. The last time these two teams met was on Sept. 2, 2006. The Dawgs beat the Hilltoppers by a final score of 48-12. 20 years later, they meet again between the hedges.
As the white pompoms fly, Western Kentucky starts the game by fumbling the opening kickoff. Georgia jumps on it at Western Kentucky’s 18-yard line. Two plays and a false start later, Gunner Stockton connected with Ethan Barbour for a seven-yard touchdown pass. This is Ethan Barbour’s first touchdown as a Georgia Bulldog.
The Dawgs didn’t take long to score again. They started the second possession on the 50-yard line, and Gunner connected with Craig Dandridge Jr. for a 43-yard gain, then Nate Frazier ran it in to put the Dawgs up 14-0. As Western Kentucky’s offense continues to struggle, the Dawgs continue to light up the scoreboard. Chauncey Bowens caught a swing pass and hurdled a man into the end zone. Georgia started the game by scoring 21 points in 11 plays.
The Dawgs started the second quarter by taking 3 minutes and 45 seconds to score. Gunner connected with London Humphreys from three yards out for Humphreys first touchdown this year. Gunner collected his fourth passing touchdown by connecting with Sacovie White-Helton on a 71-yard reception. Georgia’s corner, Demello Jones, intercepted Rodney Tisdale Jr and returned it to Western Kentucky’s one-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed the Dawgs up to the 16. Gunner added another passing touchdown (5) with eight minutes left in the second quarter.
Western Kentucky fumbled deep in its territory, its third turnover of the day. Ryan Puglisi takes over Stockton’s responsibilities at quarterback, and Landon Roldan scored with ease. Ryan Puglisi fumbled on a scramble at the 15-yard line, and the Hilltoppers answered with quarterback Brock Glenn running it into the endzone. Michael Smith missed the ensuing extra point.
At halftime, the Hilltoppers had more offensive plays (35) than Georgia (34), but Georgia had a total of 343 yards while Western Kentucky had 63.
Ryan Puglisi started the second half by running in a 70-yard touchdown, his first rushing touchdown. Georgia’s first punt happened with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Ryan Montgomery came into the game with nine minutes left in the third quarter to take over as UGA’s quarterback. Western Kentucky threw an interception to Blake Stewart, who then fumbled and got kicked around into the end zone and was recovered by the Dawgs for a touchdown.
Hezekiah Milender came into the game with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. Western Kentucky’s quarterback Brock Glenn scored late in the fourth quarter. UGA’s kick returner, Tyriq Green, took one to the house from 91 yards out. The Dawgs muffed a punt, and the Hilltoppers recovered it at Georgia’s 23-yard line. The Hilltoppers were able to capitalize by finding the end zone with just over a minute left.
The Dawgs were able to handle the Hilltoppers with ease, beating them by a final score of 70-20. Gunner Stockton threw for five touchdowns and was replaced early in the second quarter. The Dawgs seemed to play perfectly on every side of the ball, including special teams, as they had a kickoff return for a touchdown. Four different quarterbacks came into the game for the Dawgs, which is two games in a row.
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