Tight end Brock Bowers rushed for two touchdowns to fuel top-ranked Georgia to a 39-22 victory over visiting Kent State on Saturday afternoon in Athens, Ga.
Bowers scored on both his carries, including the first on a 75-yard sweep in the first quarter to lead the Bulldogs (4-0).
Georgia, which entered the game averaging 155.7 rushing yards per game, totaled a season-high 257 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Stetson Bennett and Kendall Milton each ran for a score.
Bennett completed 27 of 36 passes for 272 yards and was intercepted at the Kent State 5-yard line by Montre Miller with 8:34 left in the first quarter. Georgia’s special teams erased the mistake moments later after Jalon Walker blocked a punt that rolled through the end zone for a safety.
Georgia entered the game with the nation’s top-ranked defense after allowing just 10 points and only one touchdown in three games.
But the Bulldogs committed three turnovers which led to 10 points for the Golden Flashes (1-3) and kept the 45-point underdogs in the game until the fourth quarter.
Georgia’s miscues began early when Ladd McConkey muffed a punt on Kent State’s first possession. It led to the Golden Flashes’ first points following a 45-yard field goal by Andrew Glass.
Following a second Georgia fumble, Collin Schlee connected for a 56-yard touchdown pass to Devontez Walker to cut Georgia’s lead to 12-10 with 11:30 left in the second quarter.
Walker led the Golden Flashes with seven catches for 106 yards while Marquez Cooper had 90 yards and a rushing touchdown on 21 carries.
The Bulldogs still managed to amass 529 yards of total offense, surpassing the 500-yard mark for the third time this season.
Georgia’s backfield may have taken an injury hit when Kenny McIntosh limped off the field in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a left foot injury.
–Field Level Media