Fromm and Georgia keep the party going
He throws for two scores as Bulldogs win third straight in ‘Cocktail’ rivalry.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jake Fromm was a little late to the after-party.
He was in the third and final wave of Georgia players leaping into the stands at the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
It was a fitting spot for Fromm considering how effective he’s been on third down against Florida.
Fromm threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yarder to an uncovered Lawrence Cager in the fourth quarter, and the No. 8 Bulldogs beat the sixth-ranked Gators 24-17 on Saturday.
It was Georgia’s third consecutive victory in the Southeastern Conference rivalry and sixth in the last nine years.
Fromm was the main reason for the last two. He has five touchdown passes in two years against Florida, with four of them coming on third down.
“When Jake has time, he’s really efficient,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I was so proud of him this game.”
Fromm’s most important throw came on a thirdand-seven play with a little more than two minutes remaining. The Gators (7-2, 4-2) rallied twice to make it a one-score game in the final quarter, and Fromm needed one more completion to end any chance of a comeback.
He found tight end Eli
Wolf for a 22-yard gain. Game over.
“We had the belief the whole game that we just needed the one stop, and we didn’t get that unfortunately,” Florida linebacker David Reese said.
Fromm completed 20 of 30 passes, including one to Dominick Blaylock for a three-yard score. He struggled in his last two games, but played considerably better against Florida for the second straight season.
Florida coach Dan Mullen walked off the field with SEC officials at halftime, still miffed by a number of questionable calls, including Cager’s catch that was upheld after it appeared the ball hit the ground.
“I saw what you saw,” Mullen said. “I asked the official, but they said that decision’s made in Birmingham. So they couldn’t even give me an explanation.”