No. 5 Georgia Dominates with Defense Against No. 1 Texas

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In one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year, No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) went into Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 19 and knocked off No. 1 Texas 30-15.

The Bulldogs' defense wreaked havoc on the Longhorns' offense, and Georgia withstood a second-half charge after shutting Texas (6-1, 2-1) out in the first half—effectively announcing its presence in the SEC title race.

Texas-Georgia Game Summary

Both defenses were great from the start. Texas intercepted Georgia quarterback Carson Beck twice in the first quarter, and Georgia forced 3 turnovers while holding Texas to 38 yards in the first half. However, it was the Bulldogs who were able to capitalize on the opportunities.

Late in the first quarter, Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and forced a fumble. Georgia recovered the ball on the Texas 13-yard line. Running back Trevor Etienne scored a few plays later to put the Bulldogs up 7-0. Everette also had an interception that set up another Etienne touchdown run, and kicker Peyton Woodring added three field goals to give Georgia a 23-0 advantage at the break.

The Texas offense struggled so badly in the first half that the Longhorns temporarily benched Ewers for redshirt freshman Arch Manning. The change was short-lived, and Ewers returned in the second half to lead a more sound and in-sync unit. Texas scored 2 touchdowns in the third quarter to make it a one-score game but never made it over the hump.

Etienne scored 3 touchdowns for Georgia, and its defense came away with 7 sacks and 4 takeaways. Jalon Walker was the main culprit.

Ewers threw for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns—one to wide receiver Isaiah Bond and one to running back Jaydon Blue—with one interception.

Turning Point

Where to begin with this one? The back-and-forth turns in the second half were ridiculous. As Ewers returned to the lineup, Texas rattled off 15 straight points to get back in the game. The Longhorns took the first drive of the second half 55 yards for a score as Ewers found Bond for a touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion.

Late in the third quarter, Texas became the beneficiary of a controversial, yet ultimately correctly called, play that further shifted momentum toward the Longhorns. Defensive back Jahdae Barron appeared to come up with his second interception of the night and set up the Longhorns with excellent field position. However, the play was initially called back on a defensive pass interference penalty, which many disagreed with. As fans bombarded the field with debris, the officiating crew continued to discuss the play and ultimately overturned the penalty.

Ewers found Blue for another TD just two plays later, but Georgia answered with an 89-yard TD drive to go up two scores again and put away the game.

What it Means

Both teams remain in the hunt for the SEC title and spots in the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Texas and Georgia could meet again down the road.

For now, Georgia continues to assert itself as a premier team in the SEC and climbs ahead of Texas in the conference standings. The Bulldogs' offense was not incredible by any means, but its defense absolutely dominated the Longhorns in the win. It's hard to see many teams beating Georgia if it continues that way, especially if its offense puts together a complete game.

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Meanwhile, Texas did not look ready from the start. Unlike previous opponents, Georgia punched the Longhorns in the throat and had the personnel to back it up and keep throwing punches for four quarters. While Texas did find some rhythm on offense eventually and has plenty of opportunities ahead, the slow start in such a big game was concerning, especially with how much the offensive line struggled against Georgia's defensive front.