Fromm’s 3 TDs help Georgia win
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jake Fromm threw three touchdown passes, ending speculation about freshman Justin Fields supplanting him in the starting lineup, and No. 7 Georgia beat ninth-ranked Florida 36-17 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs took advantage of Florida’s three turnovers and an injury to cornerback C.J. Henderson to win the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” for the second consecutive year.
Fromm completed 17 of 24 passes for 240 yards, none bigger than the three for scores — all on third down. The first two went to Jeremiah Holloman, who beat C.J. McWilliams both times. The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) clearly were picking on McWilliams after he replaced Henderson (back) on the first series.
There had been talk that Georgia coach Kirby Smart would get highly touted freshman Fields more work following a 20-point loss to LSU. Fromm smashed those rumors.
Florida (6-2, 4-2) took a one-point lead early in the third quarter — Feleipe Franks threw a perfect, 36yard touchdown pass to Freddie Swain — but Georgia answered with another Fromm-to-Holloman connection and then pulled away late.
Franks fumbled trying to get the ball out of the shadow of his goal line and gave the Bulldogs the ball at the 1. Georgia came up short on six attempts from inside the 2 and had to settle for a field goal and a 23-14 lead.
Despite the impressive goal-line stand, Florida couldn’t get another stop. Fromm found Terry Godwin on another third down for a 36-yard score and a 29-17 advantage.
The Gators were in big trouble at that point because they’re not built to play from behind. D’Andre Swift delivered the knockout punch
with a 33-yard TD run with 4:29 remaining, sending Florida fans to the exits.
The turnovers were the Gators’ real undoing.
Jordan Scarlett fumbled on the team’s opening possession, and Fromm found Holloman three plays later. Franks threw an interception on the next series. But the dagger was his fumble near the goal line.
Despite another lopsided loss to Georgia, the Gators still have a chance to win 10 games this season. It’s been a significant turnaround from Jim McElwain’s final season, but Franks has to make significant progress for the team to become a legitimate SEC contender.
The Bulldogs can clinch the SEC East next week at Kentucky. After stewing the last two weeks over the loss at LSU, they responded in a big way Saturday.
NO. 12 KENTUCKY 15, MISSOURI 14
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Terry Wilson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Conrad on the final play to give No. 12 Kentucky a victory over Missouri.
Kentucky took over on its own 19 with 1:24 left. With 4 seconds left, Wilson threw toward Ahmad Wagner in the back left corner of the end zone. Wagner caught the ball out of bounds, but Missouri cornerback DeMarkus Acy was called for pass interference, giving Kentucky an untimed down that it turned into the winning score.
Lynn Bowden Jr. returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown with 5:18 left to pull the Wildcats (7-1, 5-1 SEC) to 14-9.
Kentucky held Missouri (4-4, 1-4) without a first down on eight second-half possessions.
Wilson, who was replaced by backup Gunnar Hoak for part of the second half, completed 22 of 31 passes for 267 yards. Bowden had 13 catches for 166 yards. Benny Snell, who entered the game as the nation’s fourth-leading rusher, gained just 67 yards on 19 carries.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 28, NO. 16 TEXAS A&M 13
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Nick Fitzgerald threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores to lead Mississippi State over No. 16 Texas A&M.
Mississippi State (5-3, 2-3 SEC) won thanks to an unexpected boost from its passing game, which was among the least productive in the SEC coming into the night. Fitzgerald completed 14 of 22 passes, including several big gains that swung the game in favor of the Bulldogs.
The biggest might have been a 84yard strike to Stephen Guidry on thirdand-21 that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Fitzgerald and gave the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2) had its threegame winning streak snapped.
SOUTH CAROLINA 27, TENNESSEE 24
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jake Bentley threw for 152 yards and a touchdown and South Carolina’s defense stopped Tennessee on downs twice in the final quarter as the Gamecocks rallied from 12 points down.
Parker White’s 25-yard field goal with 5:52 remaining proved the difference. South Carolina (4-3, 3-3 SEC) defensive end D.J. Wonnum, back after missing five games with an ankle injury, sacked Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano on fourth down with 1:08 to go to seal the win.
The Vols (3-5, 1-4) looked like they had gained control when they went up 21-9 on Carlin Fils-aime’s 14-yard TD run early in the third quarter.