ATHENS, Ga. — Despite a sluggish offensive performance and a lengthy weather delay, No. 4 Georgia held off Austin Peay 28-6 on Saturday in their final non-conference tune-up before SEC play begins.
Running backs Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier each found the end zone twice, carrying the load for a Bulldogs offense that never quite found its rhythm. Georgia (2-0) was held in check for much of the game and committed two costly fumbles — one by Frazier and another by receiver London Humphreys — but leaned on its defense and ground game to secure the win.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton, who shined with four total touchdowns in the opener against Marshall, had a quieter outing this week. He threw for 227 yards with no turnovers but relied heavily on the running backs to move the chains.
The second half was delayed nearly two hours due to lightning in the area, after the game’s kickoff had already been moved up to avoid forecasted storms.
One bright spot for Georgia came late in the fourth quarter when the defense made a crucial stand at the goal line on fourth down, which sparked a 99-yard touchdown drive to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs suffered a setback just before halftime as backup tight end Ethan Barbour had to be carted off with what appeared to be a lower left leg injury.
Key Takeaways:
Austin Peay (1-1): Defensive standout Myles Wiley forced and recovered a fumble, helping keep the game within reach during the first half.
Georgia: Despite the win, Georgia may slip in next week’s AP Top 25 due to the uneven performance, particularly a missed opportunity late in the first half when they failed to score from the 1-yard line after a series of miscues.
What’s Next:
Austin Peay returns home to host Morehead State next Saturday night.
Georgia heads to Knoxville to kick off its SEC schedule against Tennessee, where a sharper offensive showing will be essential.
