No. 3 Georgia takes advantage of 4 turnovers by No. 17 Florida to beat Gators 27-8

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Cole returned a fumble recovery 66 yards for a touchdown and No. 3 Georgia took advantage of four turnovers by No. 17 Florida to beat the Gators 27-8 on Saturday.

Tramell Jones Jr., Florida's second quarterback, fumbled when sacked by Quintavius Johnson late in the first half. Cole picked up the loose ball and scored on his second long fumble return of the season. Cole also scored on an 85-yard return in Georgia's 41-13 win over Oklahoma on Sept. 26.

Georgia (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) enjoyed a strong recovery from its last-second 27-24 loss to Auburn on Oct. 17. Florida (5-3, 3-3) was unable to deliver a second-straight win over a top 10 team following its 27-24 upset of No. 7 Texas.

Georgia outrushed Florida 217-48 for its sixth consecutive win in the rivalry. Coach Kirby Smart said stopping the Gators' run game helped set up the key play by Johnson and Cole when Florida was trying to score.

“I’ll tell you, if you can’t run the ball and they struggled to run it, it makes you one-dimensional,” Smart said. “And then everybody gets to feast and rush the passer. And that was a big play in the game. It was a huge momentum play because it’s really a 14-point swing.”

Added Cole: “We knew this game coming in, both teams are physical, and both teams run the ball. So we knew coming in that we had to be able to stop the run.”

Aaron Philo struggled in his return as Florida's starting quarterback after missing the Texas game with a right shoulder injury. Philo was benched after throwing two interceptions, including one on an underhanded heave when pressured that was picked off by Ellis Robinson IV.

Philo's second interception was high but through the hands of Eric Singleton Jr. and picked off by Demello Jones.

Jones replaced Philo following the second interception.

Jones suffered his own turnover woes. After having his fumble returned for a touchdown with only 29 seconds remaining in the first half, he led a long third-quarter drive end when his pass from the Georgia 3 intended for Singleton was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Braylon Conley.

“Georgia, I think they’re really good,” said first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall. "I think they’re well-coached. Got a lot of respect for them. …. They didn’t need our help tonight, but we gave it to them, and they won the game. The Gators didn’t help the Gators enough tonight.”

Bo Walker and Nate Frazier had 1-yard scoring runs as Georgia took a 24-0 halftime lead.

Florida star running back Jadan Baugh, an Atlanta native who began the day leading the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns, was held to 38 yards on 17 carries.

Georgia committed its first turnover early in the fourth quarter when Talyn Taylor fumbled following a short catch when hit by DJ Coleman. Myles Graham returned the fumble recovery 42 yards. Jones' 23-yard pass to Luke Harpring on a fourth-down play helped set up Jones' 2-yard scoring run to end Georgia's bid for a shutout. Baugh passed to Dallas Wilson for the 2-point conversion.

Indoor Cocktail Party

With the roof closed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the rivalry known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party became an indoor event.

The usual neutral site setting of Jacksonville, Florida, was not available due to renovations at EverBank Stadium. Next year's game is scheduled for Tampa Bay before the rivalry returns to Jacksonville. There was a 50-50 split of tickets in Atlanta, but Georgia appeared to have a slight advantage in the turnout with scattered red shirts in Florida fans' seating sections.

Stockton avoids mistakes

Quarterback Gunner Stockton didn’t have big passing numbers but he was a factor as a runner and, unlike Florida’s quarterbacks, he avoided mistakes. Stockton completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards. He outrushed Florida in the first half. He ran for 40 yards while Florida was held to 39.

Stockton's ability to avoid turnovers was especially important following his two interceptions and late lost fumble in the loss to Auburn.

Stockton improved to 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Yeah, I like that. I like that,” Stockton said. “You, know, it’s good atmosphere. You always like to play in this venue.”

The takeaway

Florida: The turnovers and five penalties for 60 yards in the first half were far too many mistakes for the Gators to overcome when Baugh and the running game was ineffective. The loss leaves Florida in danger of falling out of the Top 25. The Gators were without wide receiver Vernell Brown III for the fourth consecutive game with a sprained right knee.

Georgia: Smart set an aggressive tone on the Bulldogs' opening drive by keeping the offense on the field on a fourth-and-1 play from the Georgia 34. Frazier gained 3 yards but the drive ended with a missed 43-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Running back Chauncy Bowens (foot) and wide receiver Thomas Blackshear (collarbone) did not play.

Up Next

Florida plays host to Oklahoma on Saturday.

Georgia will face another Top 25 opponent when it visits No. 12 Mississippi, which beat Auburn 45-15, on Saturday.

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