No. 1 Georgia rallied late to win the Cocktail 42-20 | WGN 720 Radio

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Daijun Edwards and Kenny McIntosh each threw for two touchdowns and No. 1 Georgia pulled away from Florida after a second-half scare to win 42-20 on Saturday night in a rivalry dubbed “The Greatest of “Cocktail Party” of the world in the open air.

The defending national champion Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) appeared to be in trouble when the Gators (4-4, 1-4) scored the first 17 points of the third quarter to turn a 28-point deficit into -3 in a one-score game.

But the Dawgs responded with back-to-back touchdowns to seal their 10th straight victory. Georgia beat Florida for the fifth time in six years.

Edwards finished with 106 yards. McIntosh added 90 on the ground.

Stetson Bennett completed 19 of 38 passes for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tight end Brock Bowers caught five passes for a career-high 154 yards, including a 73-yarder in which he hauled in a ball that bounced off quarterback Amari Burney.

Burney got lucky in the second half when he forced a fumble that led to a field goal and then picked off a pass that led to Anthony Richardson’s 78-yard TD pass to Xavier Henderson.

Little else went the Gators’ way. Georgia finished with 555 total yards against Florida’s beleaguered defense and was 2 for 3 converting on fourth down plays.

Richardson threw for 271 yards and a touchdown for the Gators, who have lost 12 of their last 15 SEC games. Nearly half of Richardson’s passing yards came on plays of 78 and 41 yards. Freshman Trevor Etienne ran 53 yards for a score.

Georgia will surely celebrate this day after a day of mourning. Legendary coach Vince Dooley died on Friday.

Dooley dominated the Georgia-Florida series during his coaching career, going 17-7-1 against the Gators. The most famous victory came in 1980, when Lindsay Scott caught a 93-yard pass from Buck Bellew in the final minute. The incredible 26-21 triumph propelled Georgia to a perfect season and the nation’s first consensus title.

FOR TAKE AWAY

Florida: Despite struggling against Kentucky and Tennessee earlier this season and then rallying against Georgia, the Gators were able to add to the SEC East standings. Napier knows it starts with recruiting, and Thursday’s loss of five-star cornerback Kormani McClain was a step back in Florida’s rebuild.

Georgia: The Bulldogs struggled at times against Florida, primarily due to dropped passes, costly penalties and turnovers. These are the kinds of mistakes that could doom Georgia in back-to-back matches, as the toughest part of the schedule lies ahead. The Dawgs face No. 3 Tennessee, Mississippi State and 19th-ranked Kentucky in the next three weeks.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE SURVEY

Georgia should maintain its No. 1 ranking in the next AP College Football Poll.

SCOUT PROSPECTS

Nine NFL teams were willing to pursue talent from both teams: Baltimore, Detroit, Jacksonville, Miami, Minnesota, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington. Georgia defensive end Jalen Carter is undoubtedly high on everyone’s wish list. He is back in action after missing the last two games with ankle/knee issues.

MAJOR INJURIES

Georgia State standout linebacker Nolan Smith sat out the second half with a shoulder injury. His position became even thinner when freshman Darris Smith was injured early in the second half, rocked when Florida’s Jack Pyburn tackled him to the ground. Georgia right tackle Amarius Mims was helped off the field in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury.

FURTHER

Florida is playing Texas A&M for the second time in three years. The Aggies went 41-38 in 2020.

Georgia hosts third-ranked Tennessee. The Bulldogs have won five in a row and 10 of 12 in the series.

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