Successful G-Day ends in tie for Bulldogs' Red, Black squads

The University of Georgia's annual G-Day spring football scrimmage on Saturday ended with the split teams battling to a 2020 tie.

Both the Red (first-team offense, second-team defense) and the Black (firstteam defense, second-team offense) teams had bright spots in the showcase for fans to see what Georgia football has been working on during spring practice ahead of the 2024 season.

“The next time we put on those uniforms it will be for real,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said following the scrimmage. “We want to find out where we are as a team, and get a lot of guys reps. I thought the defense played much better today than in previous scrimmages in terms of energy, enthusiasm and running to the ball.”

Quarterback Carson Beck led a game-tying, two-minute touchdown drive to tie the score at 20 for the Red team. It was Dominic Lovett who hauled in the game-tying touchdown, and he was the biggest offensive player on the day for either side. Lovett caught seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. Beck finished 25 for 46 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

“Honestly, we just keep growing,” said Lovett. “We just have no limitations. I feel like every day we just keep making strides.”

Smart also had high praise for University of Florida transfer Trevor Etienne, who was featured in both the rushing and receiving game.

“He's a good back,” Smart said. “He is quick, in and out of the hole. He's different from what we've had. He has taken a lot of personal pride in working on his protection. He's learning the offense and, look, the guy has been a good SEC player for two years.”

Etienne rushed for 24 yards on six carries and brought in three catches for 33 yards.

As for the defensive side of the ball, the Black defense recorded two interceptions off Beck. The first was a tipped ball on the defensive line caught by Mykel Williams, and the second by C.J. Allen was a great diving catch over the middle.

“I have so much confidence in our group, and I feel like we're going to keep on working and getting better,” Williams said of the defensive line group.

Georgia's work will continue through the summer as it prepares for the season opener against Clemson.

“We're going to get after it and work out and try to target some guys' weights down,” Smart said. “We have to get our bottom half of our roster to the top half, and we're not going to get there watching spring tape.”