Trevor Etienne ran for three touchdowns as No. 5 Georgia blew a 23-point lead en route to a 30-15 victory over No. 1 Texas in Southeastern Conference play on Saturday in Austin.
Carson Beck completed 23 of 41 passes for 175 yards and threw three interceptions for the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC), who won their third straight.
Georgia’s defense was dominant throughout, recording seven sacks and limiting Texas to only 29 rushing yards on 27 carries. Jevon Walker was the star, recording a game-high three sacks and a team-high eight tackles for the Bulldogs.
Quinn Ewers completed 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Texas (6-1, 2-1). Arch Manning entered briefly in the second quarter and completed three of six passes for 19 yards.
Trailing 23–0, Texas broke the scoreboard on the opening drive of the second half, as Evers found Isaiah Bonds for a 2-yard score with 10:57 left in the third quarter. Ewers then found Bonds over the middle for the successful two-point conversion.
After Georgia punted and Texas turned the ball over on downs, Beck was intercepted by Jahde Barron (two interceptions), who returned the ball to the Georgia 9-yard line. After initially being canceled due to pass interference, there was a significant delay due to Texas fans throwing debris onto the field.
Due to the delay the officials got time to take down the flag. Two plays later, Evers found Jaden Blue (game-high seven catches) for a 17-yard touchdown, cutting Texas’ deficit to 23–15 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.
Georgia responded with an 11-play, 89-yard drive – highlighted by Beck’s 43-yard pass to Oscar Delp – resulting in Etienne’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with 12:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Were. The Bulldog defense suffocated Texas the entire way, forcing an Ewers fumble on a strip-sack and two turnovers on downs on the final three Longhorn drives.
For the game, Texas gained only 29 yards on 27 carries.
After each team punted on their opening possessions, Beck was intercepted by Andrew Mukuba. Texas punted again, before Beck threw his second interception, this time to Barron at the Longhorns’ 5-yard line.
On the ensuing drive, Ewers was stripped by Dellen Everett, who recovered the fumble at the Texas 13-yard line.
Etienne, who rushed 19 times for a game-high 87 yards, then ran in a 2-yard score to give Georgia a 7–0 lead with six seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
After another Texas punt, Peyton Woodring’s 33-yard field goal increased Georgia’s lead to 10–0 at 10:46 of the second quarter. On the next drive, Evers was intercepted by Everett, leading to Etienne’s 15-yard touchdown run with 8:30 left in the second quarter.
Woodring kicked a 48-yard field goal at the 4:43 mark. On Texas’ final drive of the half, Manning fumbled, leading to Woodring’s 44-yard field goal as time expired.
–Field Level Media
