https://theathletic.com/5031343/2023/11/04/georgia-missouri-football-recap/
ATHENS, Ga. — Nazir Stackhouse, as all expected, made the biggest catch of Georgia’s season so far. Peyton Woodring, the freshman kicker once in danger of being benched, made the biggest kick of his young career. And the Georgia offense and defense, imperfect as they were, did just enough to keep the win streak going.
No. 2 Georgia made just enough plays down the stretch to beat No. 12 Missouri 30-21 in the most tense game Sanford Stadium has seen the past three seasons.
The two-time defending national champions have still not lost at home since 2019, but things were on the brink with eight minutes left, clinging to a six-point lead, with Missouri driving to midfield. Then came the play of Stackhouse’s career.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook stepped back to pass, was rushed and threw the ball — right at the Georgia defensive lineman. He grabbed it and rumbled downfield, as the crowd roared like it had not this Saturday afternoon.
The big return, all the way near the goal-line, didn’t count, as it turned out, negated by a blind-side block penalty that pushed the ball all the way back to Georgia’s own 31. But it was still a huge play: The game’s first turnover, a chance for the offense to ice the game.
The offense got into field goal range, then Woodring came through with his third field goal, this one a career-long 48-yarder, making it a two-possession game. The crowd exhaled.
The win put Georgia in control of the SEC East. If it beats Ole Miss next week, also at Sanford Stadium, then Georgia clinches a spot in the SEC championship game, no matter what happens in the SEC regular season finale at Tennessee.
Red zone defense has also been an issue for Georgia this season, in fact ranking last in the SEC in that category: Opponents got touchdowns 13 of 17 times. Missouri, however, had to settle for field goals its first two times there. And those were a big missed four points on each of those drives. Missouri was able to punch it in the next time, as well as a two-point conversion to make it 24-21. — Seth Emerson, Georgia beat writer
Missouri did, however, became the fourth team to score a touchdown on its opening possession. This one felt different, though, given the expectation and that Missouri went from slowly moving the sticks to hitting the end zone on its first downfield pass, its best receiver beating Georgia’s best cornerback. Sure enough, it sent the message that this game was going to be very difficult. — Emerson
The Tigers ran the ball consistently and well enough to stay competitive but the game’s first turnover — a curious, panicked throw from Brady Cook that resulted in a Nazir Stackhouse interception — cost them an opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead. But the Tigers will have a chance in games ahead against Florida and Tennessee to win their way to a second-place finish in the SEC East. — David Ubben, senior writer
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ATHENS, Ga. — Nazir Stackhouse, as all expected, made the biggest catch of Georgia’s season so far. Peyton Woodring, the freshman kicker once in danger of being benched, made the biggest kick of his young career. And the Georgia offense and defense, imperfect as they were, did just enough to keep the win streak going.
No. 2 Georgia made just enough plays down the stretch to beat No. 12 Missouri 30-21 in the most tense game Sanford Stadium has seen the past three seasons.
The two-time defending national champions have still not lost at home since 2019, but things were on the brink with eight minutes left, clinging to a six-point lead, with Missouri driving to midfield. Then came the play of Stackhouse’s career.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook stepped back to pass, was rushed and threw the ball — right at the Georgia defensive lineman. He grabbed it and rumbled downfield, as the crowd roared like it had not this Saturday afternoon.
The big return, all the way near the goal-line, didn’t count, as it turned out, negated by a blind-side block penalty that pushed the ball all the way back to Georgia’s own 31. But it was still a huge play: The game’s first turnover, a chance for the offense to ice the game.
The offense got into field goal range, then Woodring came through with his third field goal, this one a career-long 48-yarder, making it a two-possession game. The crowd exhaled.
The win put Georgia in control of the SEC East. If it beats Ole Miss next week, also at Sanford Stadium, then Georgia clinches a spot in the SEC championship game, no matter what happens in the SEC regular season finale at Tennessee.
Should Georgia’s defense be concerned?
Georgia’s ability to stop the run is the pillar of its defense. So when Missouri began to puncture that in the middle of the game, not just with Cook’s scrambling but Cody Schrader’s runs, it was an ominous development for the Bulldogs. And Schrader finished with more than 100 yards, one of the best performances by a tailback against this Georgia defense in the past few years.Red zone defense has also been an issue for Georgia this season, in fact ranking last in the SEC in that category: Opponents got touchdowns 13 of 17 times. Missouri, however, had to settle for field goals its first two times there. And those were a big missed four points on each of those drives. Missouri was able to punch it in the next time, as well as a two-point conversion to make it 24-21. — Seth Emerson, Georgia beat writer
Bulldogs’ pass protection was not great early
Carson Beck was pressured more than usual, leading to some sacks and some rushed throws. But it got better in the third quarter, and the results showed: Beck led two touchdown drives to take control of the game, albeit not permanently, and the offense got in field position the next two times. — EmersonGeorgia took advantage on third down
Third downs were critical for Georgia, particularly near the goal-line: Dominic Lovett, playing against his former team, took a short screen and scored from six yards out to put Georgia up 10-7. A fortuitous pass interference call came on third down and extended the drive that put Georgia up 17-13. And Beck hit Oscar Delp on a 4-yard touchdown to go up 24-13, on a drive extended when Beck scrambled past the marker on third down. — EmersonMissouri star not the same after injury
Luther Burden, Missouri’s star receiver, hurt his ankle during the second quarter and while he came right back in the game he didn’t look the same, held without a catch until late in the game.Missouri did, however, became the fourth team to score a touchdown on its opening possession. This one felt different, though, given the expectation and that Missouri went from slowly moving the sticks to hitting the end zone on its first downfield pass, its best receiver beating Georgia’s best cornerback. Sure enough, it sent the message that this game was going to be very difficult. — Emerson
Give Missouri credit
Missouri didn’t pull off a season-making upset, but it did earn some respect in the loss. The Tigers have just one top-25 win but acquitted themselves well in a loss to Georgia that could have gone a different way if a few plays bounced differently.The Tigers ran the ball consistently and well enough to stay competitive but the game’s first turnover — a curious, panicked throw from Brady Cook that resulted in a Nazir Stackhouse interception — cost them an opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead. But the Tigers will have a chance in games ahead against Florida and Tennessee to win their way to a second-place finish in the SEC East. — David Ubben, senior writer
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