Georgia proves itself top dog in dominant win over Mississippi State

E.Jay Zarett

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Georgia proves itself top dog in dominant win over Mississippi State image

One week after tallying 37 points in a win over LSU, No. 17 Mississippi St. failed to score a touchdown against No. 11 Georgia on Saturday night.

Mississippi St. registered just 280 total yards and turned the ball over twice in its 31-3 loss at Georgia. Mississippi St. quarterback Nick Fitzgerald completed just 14 of his 29 pass attempts for 83 yards. He also added two interceptions.

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Meanwhile, Georgia freshman quarterback Jake Fromm attempted just 12 passes in the game. But he connected on nine of them for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his touchdown passes were for 41 yards or more. Running back Nick Chubb also added two touchdowns on the ground for Georgia. 

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Saturday’s game. Here’s how Georgia came away with the home victory (All times Eastern). 

Final Score: Georgia 31, Mississippi St. 3

10:14 p.m.: It’s over in Athens. Georgia shuts down Mississippi St. and cruises to a 31-3 win. 

10:10 p.m.: Fitzgerald’s night is over for Mississippi St. Back-up Keytaon Thompson is now in at quarterback. 

10:08 p.m.: This one’s just about over. Georgia turns it over on downs and Mississippi St. takes possession near midfield with three minutes left trailing by 28.

9:58 p.m.: On that fourth down play, Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy was originally called for a targeting penalty after a hit on Fitzgerald. After review, however, the penalty was overturned and Bellamy remains in the game. 

9:57 p.m.: The Bulldogs drive to the Georgia 11-yard line. After Fitzgerald throws an incomplete pass on third down, Mississippi St. goes for it on fourth down. But Fitzgerald overthrows his intended receiver turning the ball over on downs. Georgia takes over with a 31-3 lead and 8:20 remaining.

9:47 p.m.: Mississippi St. takes over on its own 22 trailing by 28 with just over 12 minutes remaining.  

9:39 p.m.: Here’s what happens in Georgia's Sanford Stadium following the conclusion of every third quarter:

End of third quarter: Georgia 31, Mississippi St. 3 

9:34 p.m.: Georgia scored 17 points and forced two turnovers in the quarter to pull away. Fromm continues to impress. He’s totaled 201 yards, on just nine completions, and two touchdowns so far. Mississippi St. has registered just 157 yards of total offense. 

9:30 p.m.: Field goal Georgia. After Terry Godwin drops a wide open pass that would have given the Bulldogs a first down, Georgia adds a 49-yard field goal, increasing its lead to 31-3. 

9:21 p.m.: Turnover Mississippi St. Fitzgerald is picked off again. While attempting to hit Keith Mixon on an in-route, Fitzgerald’s pass is deflected and picked off by Dominick Sanders. Georgia takes over on the Mississippi 40 yard-line with a 25-point lead.

9:18 p.m.: Touchdown Georgia. Fromm completes another long pass for a score. This time, he fakes a pitch, stands in the pocket and finds a wide open Isaac Nauta for a 41-yard touchdown reception. Georgia is pulling away and now holds a 28-3 lead. 

9:14 p.m.: Turnover Mississippi St. Fitzgerald drops back and attempts to throw a pass to Deddrick Thomas. But Deandre Baker jumps the route and returns the interception 22-yards. Georgia will now take over at midfield. 

9:08 p.m.: Georgia’s Brian Herrien gets brought down for a five-yard loss on first down and Mississippi St. forces a three-and-out of its own. They’ll take over at their own 43 following a 38-yard punt.  

9:02 p.m.: Mississippi St. fails to answer Georgia’s score. The Bulldogs run for one yard and Fitzgerald completes two short passes before Mississippi St. punts it back to Georgia. 

8:56 p.m.: Touchdown Georgia . On a third-and-1, Chubb takes a direct snap and runs in for a 28-yard score to give Georgia a 21-3 lead. Chubb now has 66 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. 

8:55 p.m.: On a first-and-10, Fromm throws his first incompletion of the night. He had connected on his first eight pass attempts. 

8:50 p.m.: We’re back for the second half. Georgia will get the first possession of the period at its own 25 following a touchback. 

8:45 p.m.: Both Bulldogs are still present in Georgia:  

Halftime: Georgia 14, Mississippi St. 3 

8:29 p.m.: After 30 minutes, Georgia leads Mississippi St. by 11. Georgia jumped out to a fast start, scoring on its first two possessions. But Mississippi St. has managed to slow them down over the next quarter and a half. Jake Fromm finished the half perfect on pass attempts (8-for-8), while tallying 160 yards and a touchdown. Nick Fitzgerald registered just 64 passing yards in the period, but added 30 yards on the ground. 

8:23 p.m.: Field goal Mississippi St. Fitzgerald leads Mississippi St. to the Georgia 9-yard line. But the possession stalls out after an incomplete pass and two short runs by Aeris Williams. The Bulldogs do, however, get on the board with a 26-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14-3. 

8:19 p.m.: On a designed quarterback keeper, Fitzgerald comes up short on a third down run, setting up a fourth-and-1. Mississippi St. goes for it and Fitzgerald keeps it again. This time he picks up the first down. Mississippi St. now has a fresh set of downs at the Georgia 41. 

8:16 p.m.: Mississippi St. forces a quick Georgia three-and-out. The Bulldogs brought down Chubb for short gains on back-to-back plays and Fromm completes a short pass on third down before a Georgia punt. Fromm still has not thrown an incomplete pass and he is now eight-for-eight in the game. 

8:10 p.m.: Mississippi St. fails to convert the turnover into points. After picking up just its fourth first down of the game, Fitzgerald registers an incomplete pass and two short gains through the air as the Bulldogs punt for the fifth time of the half. 

8:01 p.m.: Georgia turns it over. After Fromm completes his seventh straight pass, Dezmond Harris forces D'Andre Swift to fumble the ball. Jamal Peters falls on it and Mississippi St. takes over on its own 38. 

7:59 p.m.: Fromm stays perfect on pass attempts. He finds Javon Wims for a 27-yard gain, moving Georgia to Mississippi St.’s 39. Fromm has now completed his first six throws of the game.

7:54 p.m.: Mississippi St.’s drive stalls again, forcing another punt. The Bulldogs have already punted four times less than two minutes into the second quarter. 

End of first quarter: Georgia 14, Mississippi St. 0

7:50 p.m.: We’ve reached the end of the first quarter with Georgia leading by two touchdowns. Fromm has shined early for Georgia completing all four of his pass attempts for 114 yards and a touchdown, while the Bulldogs have also totaled 47 rushing yards. Mississippi St. will have the ball near midfield when play resumes. 

7:48 p.m.: Both teams’ mascots are accounted for in Georgia.   

7:41 p.m.: Mississippi St. finally stops Georgia. The Bulldogs advance to the Mississippi St. 40, but get no further as Fromm is sacked on third down. Mississippi St. takes over at its own 10. 

7:38 p.m.: Mississippi St. has really had trouble moving the ball early. The Bulldogs go three-and-out again and punt the ball away to Georgia. Mississippi St. has just 27 total yards and one first down midway through the first quarter. 

7:31 p.m.: Touchdown Georgia . The Bulldogs have moved the ball with ease on Mississippi St. so far. Fromm completes another long pass to Godwin, this one for 21-yards to move Georgia to the Mississippi St. 8-yard line. Two plays later, running back Nick Chubb takes a pitch, breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage and bounces outside for a seven-yard touchdown run as Georgia’s lead grows to 14-0.

7:22 p.m.: After picking up its first first down of the game, Fitzgerald drops back to throw for Mississippi St. Georgia sends a blitz and Fitzgerald takes a huge hit from Roquan Smith as the pass falls incomplete. Fitzgerald follows with a short run as well as another incomplete pass and the Bulldogs drive ends with a punt. 

7:15 p.m.: Touchdown Georgia. That was fast. On its first offensive play of the game, the Bulldogs run a flee-flicker. Fromm hands it off to running back Nick Chubb, who pitches it back to the quarterback. Fromm then finds Terry Godwin wide open down the middle of the field for a 59-yard score, giving Georgia an early 7-0 lead. 

7:14 p.m.: As expected, Jake Fromm starts at quarterback for Georgia. 

7:13 p.m.: Not a great first drive for Mississippi St. as the Bulldogs go three-and-out. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald’s first pass goes for a loss of six-yards and Mississippi St. was also called for a false start penalty. 

7:10 p.m.: We’re underway in Georgia. Mississippi St. will get the first possession as Georgia won the toss and deferred to the second half. 

7:03 p.m.: Kick-off between Georgia and Mississippi St. has been moved to 7:10 p.m.

6:58 p.m.: Here’s a view of the crowd in Georgia about 15 minutes before kick-off. 

6:25 p.m.: Mississippi St. wide receiver Gabe Myles and defensive lineman Cory Thomas will not play tonight, according to reports. 

6:20 p.m.: Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason is dressed and going through warmups, according to reports. He was injured in the Bulldogs season opener  and hasn’t played since.  

6:00 p.m.: Here’s a look at the cleats Mississippi St. quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will wear in Saturday’s game. Fitzgerald enters the contest with 543 passing yards and seven touchdowns on the season.

E.Jay Zarett