Late field goal pushes Bulldogs past UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Georgia didn't just bounce back from a flat offensive effort against Florida. By executing in the clutch against Kentucky, the Bulldogs offered a reminder of how effectively they could move the ball.
Everything culminated in redshirt freshman Rodrigo Blankenship's 25-yard field goal as time expired that gave Georgia a 27-24 victory over Kentucky on Saturday night and ended the Bulldogs' two-game losing streak.
Bulldogs Jacob Eason completed four passes for 42 yards on the final drive before Sony Michel ran twice for 15 yards, including a 13-yarder to Kentucky's 15 with 20 seconds remaining. After a Bulldogs timeout, Michel ran another 7 yards to set up Blankenship, who put it through to help Georgia (5-4, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) avoid falling below .500 after entering with four losses in five games.
"Nobody panicked," first- year Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "Jacob managed it well. He made some good decisions with the ball. We threw and caught the ball on that drive. ... I was proud of the way our kids executed in that situation."
Georgia's win follows last week's 24-10 loss to No. 10 Florida in Jacksonville, a game in which it gained just 164 yards.
Blankenship's game-winner followed kicks of 25, 42 and 49 yards that helped set a career best along with keeping Georgia in the game against Kentucky. His final field goal followed Austin MacGinnis' 25-yard field goal with 2:47 left for Kentucky that tied the game at 24. Kentucky couldn't stop Eason, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 245 yards, or Michel, who rushed 19 times for 127 yards — including a 26-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Eason also threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie on Georgia's first drive for an early lead and hit an important 2-point conversion pass on their go-ahead touchdown.
The Wildcats (5-4, 4-3 SEC), who looked to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2010 with a win, instead had their three-game winning streak snapped.
"It sucks very badly, especially when you lose on a last-second field goal," said Kentucky running back Boom Williams, who had 77 yards rushing on 14 carries including a 13-yard touchdown. "It's probably one of the worst ways you can lose besides a Hail Mary at the end of a game."