Georgia vs. Florida score, takeaways: No. 2 Bulldogs overcome mistakes, survive scare from rival Gators

Georgia overcame three Carson Beck interceptions to pull ahead late in an ugly affair

No. 2 Georgia survived a scare from Florida on Saturday, rallying from a 7-point halftime deficit to knock off the Gators 34-20. Led by walk-on quarterback Aidan Warner, Florida tied the game at 20-20 midway through the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs hit the gas late in an unexpectedly tense rivalry showdown.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck threw three interceptions before the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown midway through the third quarter. Beck overcame his fourth multi-interception game in Georgia's last five contests to lead a go-ahead 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. 

Florida looked well-positioned to compete with the struggling Bulldogs until freshman quarterback DJ Lagway exited with a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Without their five-star phenom, the Gators were forced to insert redshirt freshman Aidan Warner at quarterback. 

The Yale transfer helped lead Florida to a field goal just before the half, which gave the Gators a 13-6 lead. But the Gators struggled to throw the football in the second half without Lagway or veteran quarterback Graham Mertz, who was lost for the season due to injury in a Week 7 loss at Tennessee.

Still, Warner did enough to give the Gators a shot. His 26-yard completion to Elijhah Badger in the fourth quarter jump-started a touchdown drive that tied the game. But from there, Georgia showed a rare glimpse of its championship mettle to close out a mostly ugly SEC showdown.

• Carson Beck has now thrown 11 interceptions in eight games this season after throwing 11 in 14 games last season.
• Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, a former Florida star, left the game due to injury in the first half and did not return.
• Georgia has won four straight games in the series, improving its all-time record in the rivalry to 55-44-2.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:57 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia has a quarterback problem

There was no excusing Carson Beck's three interceptions against Florida. Each were poor decisions and put the Bulldogs in jeopardy against a hobbled and overmatched opponent. What's most concerning for the Bulldogs is that it's now a trend. Beck was intercepted three times in UGA's loss at Alabama on Sept. 28, twice in a win over Mississippi State on Oct. 12 and three times in a win at Texas on Oct. 19. The Bulldogs have enough talent around Beck to bail him out more often than not, but if UGA is going to win the SEC title or compete for a national championship, Beck must improve. While a banged-up offensive line, wide receiver suspensions and a shaky run game have also contributed to Beck's woes, he's clearly regressed since entering the season as one of the Heisman Trophy frontrunners.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:56 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida's future

DJ Lagway had to be carted off the field with 5:06 remaining in the first half after a non-contact injury suffered on a 3-yard scramble. He was clutching at the back of his left leg, and Napier confirmed that he suffered a hamstring injury. If Lagway is unable to return this season, the Gators will be tasked with navigating a brutally difficult November from deep within their quarterback depth chart. Aidan Warner finished 7-of-22 passing for 66 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He led a couple of scoring drives, but it was clear the Gators were limited offensively without either of their top options at quarterback. Games at Texas, vs. LSU and vs. Ole Miss are up next for Florida. Reaching bowl eligibility was already going to be a challenging. But after Lagway's injury, it will be even more difficult. Lagway's injury was particularly deflating for Florida considering how much promise he showed in his six quarters as the team's starter.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:55 pm ET · David Cobb]

Special teams disaster

Florida coach Billy Napier noted in his halftime interview that the Gators might need a big play from their kicking game in the second half. They got quite the opposite. With the game tied at 13 late in the third quarter, the struggling Florida offense did its part to position kicker Trey Smack for a potential go-ahead field goal from 51 yards out. That's when disaster struck from the Gators as a low snap led to a 31-yard loss and gifted Georgia the football in Florida territory. The Bulldogs needed just three plays to take the lead as Beck found Cash Jones for a 22-yard touchdown connection with 1:20 left in the quarter. It was effectively a 10-point swing, and it proved to be devastating in Florida's effort to pull the upset.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:21 pm ET · David Cobb]

Game-clinching interception

Georgia's CJ Allen just came up with a game-clinching interception for the Bulldogs as Aidan Warner rolled out to the right looking for Elijhah Badger. That returned the football to Georgia at Florida's 7-yard line. Two plays later, Dwight Phillips Jr. scored on a 4-yard run to turn the lights out on Florida's hopes of an upset.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:17 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia responds

Late 4Q: Georgia 27, Florida 20

Carson Beck hit Dominic Lovett for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:01 remaining as the Bulldogs generated a quick answer to Florida's game-tying touchdown. The Bulldogs went 75 yards on seven plays to wrestle back the lead. UGA was on the brink of going three-and-out for a third straight possession when Beck hit Arian Smith for a gain of 34 yards. Beck was great on that drive amid an otherwise unimpressive day.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:10 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tie game 

Mid 4Q: Florida 20, Georgia 20

Aidan Warner hit Elijhah Badger for a 26-yard gain to jump-start a Florida drive. Then Ja'Kobi Jackson finished it off with a 15-yard touchdown run around the right end. He was virtually untouched until inside the 5-yard line. Impressive response from the Gators and Warner, who hadn't been effective through the air in the second half until that throw to Badger.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 7:03 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia leaving the door open

Georgia's offense has returned to its sluggish ways with consecutive three-and-outs. Faced with a third-and-5, Beck fired incomplete in the direction of Dominic Lovett. Florida's defense has been phenomenal, and now the Gators will get the football yet again with a chance to tie. It's hard not wonder how different this game might be if DJ Lagway hadn't gotten hurt. Though he's just a freshman, his mobility and arm talent would make the Florida offense far more dynamic.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:53 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida's defense stands

Georgia's offensive momentum just came to a halt as Florida forced a three-and-out with Graham Myles sacking Carson Beck for a loss of 10 yards on third-and-2. Nate Frazier had just rattled off a 7-yard run to make it a manageable third down. But instead of pounding the rock, the Bulldogs decided for a pass play and it backfired. Can the Gators offense find a spark? Might be time to reach deep into the playbook.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:45 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia has the momentum

End 3Q: Georgia 20, Florida 13

Billy Napier mentioned in his halftime interview with Holly Rowe that the Gators would need some big plays from their kicking game to have a chance in the second half. They got exactly the opposite there in the third quarter with a botched snap leading to a 10-point swing in Georgia's favor. The Bulldogs have Florida facing a third-and-14 to start the fourth quarter as they've wrestled back the momentum after trailing 13-6 at halftime.

Florida's passing attack is largely nonexistent with walk-on Aidan Warner getting the first substantive of his career against a stingy Georgia defense. Florida may need some turnover help or some serious special teams redemption to have a shot in the fourth.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:40 pm ET · David Cobb]

Dawgs take the lead

Late 3Q: Georgia 20, Florida 13

The 31-yard loss on a botched field goal snap put Florida's defense in a brutal spot. It took just three plays for Georgia to take advantage with a go-ahead touchdown. Carson Beck hit Cash Jones for a 22-yard touchdown over the middle, and he bulldozed his way into the end zone to knock Florida onto its heels. Good bounc-back from Carson Beck, who has completed six straight passes.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Special teams nightmare

Florida was in position to attempt a go-ahead 51-yard field goal. But a low snap got by the holder and went shooting all the way back into Florida territory. That flips the field position and negates some hard work from the Florida offense. Aidan Warner rolled out to the right and threw a strike to Elijah Badger on a third-and-10 to get Florida to Georgia's 40-yard line. But it went to waste with the botched snap and hold a few plays later.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:19 pm ET · David Cobb]

Going gimmicky

Mid 3Q: Florida 13, Georgia 13

With absolutely nothing working for Georgia offensively, coordinator Mike Bobo went to a couple of trick plays. A 33-yard end-around to Dillon Bell got the Bulldogs in business. Bell made another big gain a few plays later as he came up down with a tip-drill reception on a slant route to set up a first-and-goal. Nate Frazier finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 6:05 pm ET · David Cobb]

Carson Beck's third interception

Carson Beck was drilled by Grayson Howard as he let the football go on a second-and-9 play from Georgia's 41-yard line. Jack Plyburn came down with the fluttering football. If you're still counting them, that's 11 interception in the last fie games for a quarterback who threw six all of last season. The Bulldogs have no answers offensively, and Beck looks completely lost.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:54 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia has issues to solve

Not only is Carson Beck struggling in the passing game, but the Bulldogs have questions to answer in the running game after Trevor Etienne limped into the locker room late in the second quarter. His status will be a big question coming out of the locker room. Beck's confidence — and Kirby Smart's confidence in Beck — will be interesting to monitor as well. The backup is redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton, who is 10 of 12 for 90 yards in mop-up duty this season.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida leads at the half

Half: Florida 13, Georgia 6

The first half of Saturday's Georgia vs. Florida rivalry game was a nightmare for quarterbacks as the Gators took a 13-6 edge on the Bulldogs into the break. Georgia's Carson Beck threw two interceptions leading directly to all 10 of Florida's points. He finished the half 13 of 25 of passing and misfired on nine of his final 14 attempts.

But the Gators' momentum hit a wall in the second quarter when quarterback DJ Lagway was carted off the field with a non-contact leg injury. The injury came after the freshman signal caller threw a 47-yard touchdown to Aidan Mizell early in the second quarter. 

In addition to Lagway's injury, quarterback Graham Mertz is also out for the season due to injury. Without either of their top options at the position, embattled coach Billy Napier had no choice but to turn to walk-on Aidan Warner at quarterback. Warner, a walk-on transfer from Yale, had attempted three career passes entering Saturday's game.

The Gators got a boost from running backs Jadan Baugh and Ja'Kobi Jackson. With feature back Montrell Johnson Jr. out due to a knee injury, the Gators will need even more from them in the second half as Florida navigates life without its top two quarterbacks. 

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Impressive work by Aidan Warner

Aidan Warner just led a great 1-minute drill drive to get Florida in position for a 53-yard field goal from Trey Smack with three seconds left in the first half. The Gators covered 40 yards, and Warner threw a strike to Chimere Dike on fourth-and-4 to get the Gators within Smack's range. Ja'Kobi Jackson was great on that drive as well with a couple of bruising runs to get the Gators in business.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:23 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia's defense does its job

Late 2Q: Florida 10, Georgia 6

Pinned deep in its own territory with under two minutes left in the half and a walk-on QB in the game, Florida played it safe. Georgia burned its final three timeouts to keep the clock from running out, and the Bulldogs take over near midfield with 1:13 remaining and a chance to cut into a 10-3 deficit. Georgia picked up a single first down -- Carson Beck was lucky to avoid a third interception -- and Peyton Woodring hit a 53-yard field goal to get the Bulldogs within 10-6.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:14 pm ET · David Cobb]

Trevor Etienne to the locker room

Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, a Florida transfer, was spotted heading to the locker room late in the second half with an apparent injury. He appeared to be limping as he exited the field with 31 yards rushing on seven carries. In his absence, Nate Frazier appears to the primary back as the Bulldogs try and get their offense going following two disastrous Carson Beck interceptions.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:02 pm ET · David Cobb]

DJ Lagway is injured

Florida star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway was grabbing at the back of his left leg after going to the ground on a first-down scramble in the second quarter. Ultimately, the Gators brought out a cart to get Lagway off the field. With Graham Mertz already lost for the season due to injury, the Gators' backup quarterback is Yale transfer Aidan Warner. The Florida native is a redshirt freshman in his first season with the program. He's a walk-on. Fans chanted "DJ Lagway" as he was carted off. Lagway's teammates came over to wish him well before he left the field. Warner was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023 but did not attempt a pass in his lone season at Yale. Warner was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023 but did not attempt a pass in his lone season at Yale. He's completed 2 of 3 passes for 30 yards in two mop-up duty appearances so far this season with the Gators.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia's offense is reeling

Following two consecutive interceptions from Carson Beck that led directly to 10 Florida points, Georgia got the football back and promptly went three-and-out. Beck was sacked for a loss of six on third-and-5 as Derek Wingo brought him down. Beck looked pretty hesitant to throw on that play, as all of the sudden offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has some major problems to solve.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida gets more points

Mid 2Q: Florida 10, Georgia 3

Florida pays off the Carson Beck interception with a 32-yard field goal from Trey Smack. Jadan Baugh is earning some tough yards on the ground for Florida with Montrell Johnson Jr. yet to get a carry as he continues to deal with a knee injury suffered against Tennessee. Baugh tallied 106 yards and five touchdowns two weeks ago against Kentucky and has followed up that performance well so far. Johnson did dress and was warming up, but he's yet to make an appearance.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:42 pm ET · David Cobb]

Another Beck interception

Carson Beck just threw his second interception and 10th in the last five games. He was throwing off his back foot looking for Dillon Bell, but Bell was blanketed in coverage, and Aaron Gates came down with it. Beck may have won the first quarter, but DJ Lagway is winning the second as the Gators take over near midfield leading 7-0. Kirby Smart may need to think about going to the bullpen.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:33 pm ET · David Cobb]

Game-changing sequence

Just when it appeared that Carson Beck was getting into a groove, he threw a head-scratching interception as the Bulldogs were driving into Florida territory. Forced to scramble, he threw into double-coverage and was picked off. Then, on Florida's first play of the subsequent drive, DJ Lagway hit Aidan Mizell for a 43-yard touchdown over the top of Georgia's defense. What a disastrous sequence for the Bulldogs, who looked to be in command until Beck's ninth interception of the past five games.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:29 pm ET · David Cobb]

Lagway starts slow

End 1Q: Georgia 3, Florida 0

Florida went three-and-out on its second possession of the game even after Jadan Baugh ran for eight yards on the first play of the drive. A false start penalty turned a third-and-1 into a third-and-6, and then Lagway missed Arlis Boardingham on a short throw over the middle. Lagway is 1 of 3 passing for four yards.

Georgia dominated the time of possession in the first quarter, though it had just three points to show for it. Florida's defense came up with a critical red-zone stand on the Bulldogs' second possession, forcing Kirby Smart to settle for a field goal. Still, the Bulldogs appeared to find a rhythm in their passing game on the drive as they marched 83 yards. Carson Beck finished the first quarter 8 of 13 passing for 91 yards.

Running back Trevor Etienne, a former Florida star, has 25 yards on five carries for the Bulldogs, who closed the first quarter with a 127-26 edge in total yards.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:19 pm ET · David Cobb]

Georgia stalls in the red zone

Carson Beck was dialed in on Georgia's second drive of the game. That is, until Georgia got to the red zone. Faced with a third-and-goal from the 5, Beck was targeting a slot receiver on an out route. But Jordan Castell broke up the throw at the line of scrimmage. Kirby Smart opted to take the points as Peyton Woodring hit from 23 yards out to cap an 83-yard drive that lasted 13 plays.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:07 pm ET · David Cobb]

Jeremy Crashaw does his part

Florida picked up one first down before it was forced to punt. Jeremy Crawshaw launched a 59-yarder, and Aaron Gates made a nice special teams tackle to pin the Gators at their own 12-yard line. DJ Layaway converted a third-and-4 by finding Aidan Mizell for a quick hitter. But he was stopped short of the sticks on a third-and-8 scramble just a few plays later.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida's defense gets off the field

Faced with a fourth-and-4 from Florida's 43-yard line on the game's opening possession, Georgia lined up to go for it. Carson Beck tried to draw Florida offsides before taking the delay of game to allow punter Brett Thorson a little more room to punt. Florida will take over at its own 13-yard line. Nice start there from the UF defense to gets a stop after the Bulldogs picked up a couple first downs.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 3:44 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kickoff at 3:50 p.m.

Due to the Miami vs. Duke game running late, Florida vs. Georgia will kick at 3:50 p.m. Star Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. is listed as a game-time decision, but he was dressed out and warming up.

[Nov 2, 2024 at 3:30 pm ET · David Cobb]

Must-win for Georgia

Georgia has won the last three games in this series, all in convincing fashion. How the Dawgs get it done Saturday is irrelevant. But with even bigger tests against Ole Miss and Tennessee looming in November, a victory is essential for UGA as it seeks to maintain the championship-caliber play it showed against Texas. At +340, the Bulldogs are currently the betting favorite to win the national title, according to Caesars Sportsbook.  

[Nov 2, 2024 at 3:10 pm ET · David Cobb]

DJ Lagway's emergence

The Gators are also coming off a bye after a 48-20 beatdown of Kentucky in which freshman quarterback DJ Lagway impressed with both his arm and legs. It was the most complete performance of the season for the Gators, who have been markedly better after a sluggish 1-2 start. Since starting quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury in an overtime loss at Tennessee on Oct. 12, Lagway has taken over the full-time job. The early returns were magnificent against the Wildcats as he needed just seven completions to amass 259 yards passing. However, playing Georgia marks a significant uptick in competition after the Bulldogs were ruthless defensively in their convincing win over the Longhorns.