Saturday, October 30, 2021 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
THE QUICK SLANT
No. 1 GEORGIA 34, FLORIDA 7
WHAT HAPPENED: The top-ranked Bulldogs turned three Anthony Richardson turnovers late in the second quarter into three quick-strike touchdowns to open a fat first-half lead that eventually became a 34-7 blowout of the Gators in their rivalry renewal Saturday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Richardson looked very much like a redshirt freshman making his first collegiate start against the nation's No. 1-rated defense. He fumbled and threw a pair of interceptions over the final 2:22 of the first half, with the second pick returned by linebacker Nakobe Dean for a 50-yard touchdown with only seven seconds to go in the first half to put the Bulldogs up 24-0. UGA quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 10 of 19 passes for 161 yards, one score and a couple interceptions. The Bulldogs only had 354 yards of total offense (UF had 355), but didn't need anymore because the flurry of turnovers each set up the offense in prime field position. Richardson finished 12 of 20 for 82 yards and the two picks before giving way to Emory Jones, who started the season's first seven games. Jones went 10-for-14 for 112 yards and a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to avert the shutout. The Bulldogs got a 21-yard field goal from Jack Podlesny with just under nine minutes to go in the first half to open the scoring, then opened their arms and accepted the run of Florida miscues. The first came when Richardson, fighting for extra yards on a QB keeper, was stripped of the ball by defensive end Nolan Smith at the Florida 11. Tailback James Cook scored on an 11-yard run with 2:16 to go on the next snap. Back came the Gators, with Richardson throwing a tipped-ball interception on first down. Back back came the Bulldogs, with Bennett throwing a 36-yard touchdowns strike to Kearis Jackson on first down. UF's next series ended with Dean's pick-6 that basically ended the game, as UF was not going to come from that far down against that UGA defense.
UF defensive back Rashad Torrence II (22) celebrates the first of his two interceptions. (Photo: Leslie White/UAA Communications)
WHAT IT MEANS: The fourth loss loss to Georgia in the last five meetings doubled as another loss to a No. 1-ranked team, the second for the Gators this season, coupling with the Alabama loss on Sept. 18. Florida is now 3-13 all-time against teams ranked atop the Associated Press poll. UF is two games under .500 in SEC play for the first time since 2017, although it took two coaches (Jim McElwain, then interim Randy Shannon) and the final game of the conference season, a 28-20 loss at South Carolina, to get there that season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Florida quarterbacks, of course. And now the kickers, too. Who will get the nod next game?
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators came in ranked 113th in the nation in turnover margin at minus-7. They exited at minus-7, but those three more giveaways became 21 instant points for Georgia. Florida has now turned it over 16 times this season, leading to nine opponent touchdowns and 66 points. Where would they be if those numbers were halved? Even quartered?
UP NEXT: The Gators (4-4, 2-4) will go back on the road to face South Carolina (4-4, 1-4), which is off this week. The Gamecocks' lone conference win was a 21-20 defeat of Vanderbilt two weeks ago.