Kentucky’s Bonner completes 33 of 52 passes for 421 yards against Georgia.
By ED SHEARER AP Sports Writer
ATHENS, Ga. – The way Kentucky coach Hal Mumme saw it, 14th-ranked Georgia finally woke up.
“We knew coming into the game that Georgia was a sleeping giant,” Mumme said after Georgia struck for an early 14-0 lead set up by a blocked punt and a fourth-down gamble that failed, getting the Bulldogs started toward a 49-34 victory on Saturday.
Quincy Carter passed for 304 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 87 as the Bulldogs used big plays offensively and defensively to overpower Kentucky.
“They struggled early in games against Central Florida and LSU, but today, they came out with fire,” Mumme said. “Our line couldn’t compete with their line early in the game, and as the game went on, they were getting sacks due to bad snaps and coverage.”
Carter connected with Terrence Edwards on a 20-yard scoring play in the second quarter and opened the third period with an 80-yarder to Brett Millican, who made the catch alone in the right flat and sped untouched down the sideline for the score.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) took the quick 14-0 lead on the Wildcats (5-3, 3-2) in the first six minutes.
Kendrell Bell broke through to block Andy Smith’s punt after the game’s first series, giving Georgia a first down at the Kentucky 8. Three plays later, Charles Grant, a defensive end used as a running back in short-yardage situations, hammered the final yard for a touchdown.
When the Wildcats failed on a fourth-and-12 gamble at their 18, Georgia immediately scored when Jasper Sanks ripped off runs of 11 and 7 yards.
“I was glad to see us put it all together,” Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. “I was happy how we created and got some loss-yardage plays. A game like this will be good for our confidence.”
Despite falling behind 21-0, Kentucky rallied behind Dusty Bonner, cutting the lead to 21-13 on Bonner’s 1-yard scoring pass to James Whalen and Anthony White’s 1-yard run.
Bonner threw three more touchdown passes to Whalen in the second half covering 5, 2 and 32 yards, the last with 35 seconds remaining. Bonner completed 33 of 52 passes for 421 yards and Whalen had 10 catches for 151.
Georgia had 11 sacks of Bonner, who had minus-64 yards on 15 carries. The Bulldogs defense had only 12 sacks in their first six games. The sacks enabled Georgia to hold Kentucky to minus 50 yards rushing.
“We worked hard on the pass rush all week,” Grant said. “Coach stressed the pass rush because they throw the ball a lot.”
Carter, who had quarterback draws covering 56 and 25 yards, got his 87 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Georgia’s other scoring came on a 29-yard run by Patrick Pass, another 7-yard run by Sanks and a 42-yard sprint by Grant.
“This is the type of momentum we needed,” Sanks said. “We knew coming in that they would take chances, and so we knew we’d have a chance for big plays.”
Kentucky’s first touchdown was set up by Jeff Snedegar’s 40-yard interception return to the Georgia 1. The Wildcats wasted a 53-yard punt return by Kendrick Shanklin to the Georgia 16 late in the second quarter.
