Dawgs thump Gators to extend winning streaks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Junior quarterback Carson Beck and dozens of teammates ran toward one end zone, jumped into the stands and frolicked with the Georgia faithful. They danced, posed for pictures and waved red pom-poms long after coach Kirby Smart passed by and pointed in appreciation.

It was another celebration for the Bulldogs in this old series between Southeastern Conference rivals, one that has become a familiar scene in the game nicknamed the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

Beck threw two touchdown passes in his hometown, Daijun Edwards ran for two scores, and the topranked Bulldogs dominated Florida 43-20 on Saturday to extend their overall winning streak to 25 games.

“It’s a great feeling, nothing like I’ve ever felt before,” said Beck, the first-year starter for the Bulldogs who led Mandarin High School to the FHSAA Class 8A state title and was named the Sunshine State’s Mr. Football in 2018. “This is a very emotional moment for me. … To go out and play the game like I can, there’s no better feeling than to come out with a win like that.”

Two-time reigning national champion Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) has won three in a row and six of the past seven meetings with Florida. The Bulldogs, who struggled to put away seemingly overmatched opponents in SEC play earlier this season, used a hot start to ensure another victory at the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Getting better, but we’re still not where we need to be,” Smart said.

Maybe so, but Georgia could have cracked open celebratory drinks at halftime. The Bulldogs scored on their first four possessions and stuffed the Gators (5-3, 3-2) early and often.

The Bulldogs sniffed out two trick plays, including a fourth-and-inches pass at the Florida 34-yard line