‘Elite Clutch Playmaker,’ ‘Send Him to New York’ — CFB Fans, Analysts Tout Gunner Stockton After Georgia Beats Alabama 20-17 in Tuscaloosa

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Georgia had not won in Tuscaloosa since 2007. That changed Saturday night, when Gunner Stockton went 18 of 22 for 249 yards and a touchdown, and the No. 2 Bulldogs beat No. 6 Alabama 20-17. The fifth-year quarterback also ran for a 14-yard touchdown, and his late third-down completion helped Georgia (6-0, 4-0 SEC) run out the clock.

Is the Heisman Trophy beckoning for the Georgia quarterback?

Gunner Stockton Shines as Georgia Plays Without Key Backs

Stockton completed 9 of 11 passes for 143 yards in the first half. His 53-yard throw to tight end Jaden Reddell, a career-long for Reddell, set up a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver London Humphreys on the next play. His lone interception came on a tipped pass that Alabama linebacker Bray Hubbard caught.

Max Chadwick, a college football analyst and host of Preferred Walk-On, stopped short of calling Stockton the Heisman favorite but still made a case for him. “Won’t say this was a performance that’ll win Gunner Stockton the Heisman, especially with what #4 is doing in Columbus. But it’s one that can send him to New York.”

The No. 4 in Columbus is Ohio State junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. In Pro Football Network’s grading, Smith’s PFN Impact grade of 96.6 through Week 5 ranks second among 718 graded and qualified FBS wide receivers.

EVERY QB, GRADED:PFN’s CFB QB Impact Rankings

Stockton’s PFN Impact grade of 89.8 through Week 5 ranks sixth of 165 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks, and he entered Saturday with 13 touchdown passes and one interception.

One fan saw no reason to hedge, posting Stockton’s stat line and calling for him to win the Heisman. “Half of his offensive teammates were hurt.”

The Bulldogs were shorthanded on offense. They played without running back Chauncey Bowens, who had started the previous two games, and receivers Isiah Canion and Thomas Blackshear, while leading rusher Nate Frazier did not play in the first half.

That put the running game in the hands of sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., who ran 17 times for 120 yards in his first career start, and Bo Walker, who added 69 yards on 10 carries.

Stockton Leads Georgia Comeback Past Alabama

Alabama cut into Georgia’s 10-0 lead with running back Trae’shawn Brown’s 58-yard run and quarterback Keelon Russell’s 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marshall Pritchett on back-to-back plays. EJ Crowell’s 1-yard run on the final play of the half then gave the Crimson Tide a 14-10 lead, the first time Georgia had trailed all season.

“We gave them a (58-yard) run on a missed (run) fit, then we busted a coverage,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in his ABC halftime interview. “That’s really the two plays they hit back to back, then they did a good job in the two-minute (offense).”

Stockton responded on the opening drive of the second half. After hitting receivers Talyn Taylor for 15 yards and Craig Dandridge Jr. for 30 on third-and-7, he kept the ball and ran 14 yards for the touchdown that put Georgia back in front 17-14.

Alabama tied it on Conor Talty’s 39-yard field goal, and kicker Peyton Woodring’s 23-yarder put Georgia up 20-17 with just over five minutes left.

Georgia’s defense then sacked Russell on third-and-10 at the Georgia 34, forcing a punt. Facing third-and-7 at his own 10 with less than three minutes left, Stockton hit tight end Elyiss Williams for 17 yards. Two plays later, a personal foul on Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. let the Bulldogs run out the clock.

The win was Smart’s third in 10 games against Alabama, where he was defensive coordinator under Nick Saban before returning to his alma mater.

BUILD THE CFP FIELD:PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor

Sports columnist Skip Bayless tied Stockton’s play to Georgia’s title hopes. “Gunner Stockton is an extremely good college quarterback – an elite clutch playmaker with arm and legs. It will be tough to keep Georgia from winning it all.”

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives Georgia a 96.1% chance to make the playoff, a 48.6% chance to win the SEC, and a 17.8% chance to win the national title.

Georgia returns to Sanford Stadium to host Auburn on Saturday in Week 7. The Bulldogs have won nine straight in the series, and PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives them an 85.4% chance to beat the Tigers.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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