Grading Georgia football after Bulldogs pull away from Texas for victory, our report card

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Georgia football closed out the SEC portion of its season by beating No. 10 Texas 35-10 in Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The No. 5 Bulldogs finished conference play with a 7-1 record, the seventh time coach Kirby Smart has won at least seven games in an eight-game league schedule with the Bulldogs.

Here’s how we graded the Bulldogs, who moved to 9-1 overall on the season.

Offense B

Noah Thomas’s two touchdown catches gave him four in the last three games. Georgia’s offense didn’t get much going on the ground, but Gunner Stockton threw four TDs and ran for another. Stockton’s 20-yard run was the only of more than 9 yards. Georgia had four straight punts at one point before a Stockton interception, but Stockton’s last three drives ended in TDs.

Defense A-

Georgia’s defense held Texas to 2-of-12 on third downs and forced a three-and-out in the first quarter after forceful tackles from Demello Jones and CJ Allen. KJ Bolden had a drive-killing interception deep in Georgia territory and the Bulldogs had three sacks. Texas was held to 274 yards. Chris Cole had seven tackles in a game where CJ Allen was lost to a leg injury.

Special Teams B

Georgia executed an onside kick to steal more momentum from Texas in the fourth quarter. Cash Jones recovered the Peyton Woodring kick. Zachariah Branch’s 44-yard kick return to open the second half was his longest of the season. Kirby Smart got on Brett Thorson after a 28-yard third-quarter punt. He averaged 34.6 yards on five punts.

Coaching A-

Texas’ two weeks to prepare was negated by a Georgia team that looked ready to battle another ranked opponent. Credit Smart with not being afraid to twice go for it on fourth down on a key scoring drive in the second half. Georgia is taking advantage of Thomas in the passing game after he wasn’t much of a factor before Colbie Young’s injury.

Overall A-

After Georgia’s most complete performance of the season at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs controlled the clock and won on a game where its defense held Texas to 10 points. It did it with its best player, linebacker Allen, missing the entire second half. Georgia again won the fourth quarter.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Grading Georgia football after it blew past Texas for victory

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