Georgia sets up on their first touchdown drive inside the Mizzou 15. (photo/Emily Dayton)
The story of this game after the first 30 minutes is the line play of Georgia. Their defensive line is shutting down the Tiger run game and they are finding a way to pressure Maty Mauk, who by far is having his worst game of his career, numbers wise. Georgia’s offensive line has given Hutson Mason time to throw and he’s kept drives alive with key third down passes.
At the half in front of a sold out Faurot Field, Georgia leads Mizzou 20-0.
Mizzou got the ball to start the game and after a late hit on Maty Mauk out of bounds, the Tigers went three more plays before punting. Tyler Hunt, stripped the ball from Georgia’s return man, but the Bulldogs recovered at their own 26.
Eight of Georgia’s first 11 plays were run through freshman running back Nick Chubb, in place of suspended Todd Gurley. He had seven carries for 17 yards and a catch for 12. Georgia got on the board capping a drive of 11 plays, 45 yards. Marshall Morgan kicked a 47 yard field after Chubb was stopped on a 3rd and three run.
Mizzou had back to back interceptions which gave Georgia great field position and they could only turn that into three points. Mauk tried to fit a pass into Jimmie Hunt with coverage underneath and over the top. Mauk overthrew Hunt and it was picked off by Quincy Mauger at the Mizzou 47. The Bulldogs came away with no points.
Then after a 17 yard pass, Mauk tried a screen pass to Marcus Murphy, but the ball bobbled out of his hands into a Georgia defenders for the second turnover on consecutive possessions.
Georgia put together a drive of 7 plays, 14 yards and a Morgan 29 yard field go to make it 6-0 with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter.
As Mizzou struggled to find anything offensively, Georgia’s offensive line continued to dominate as Georgia rolled down the field two more times for touchdowns, putting together back to back drives of 13 and 10 plays to go up 20-0 with 5:32 left in the half.
The Tigers turned the ball over three times, finishing with 50 total yards. Mauk was stripped of the ball and fumbled near midfield. It was the Tigers first lost fumble this season.
Mizzou finished with 76 first half yards. Maty Mauk was 5 of 13 for 51 yards. The rushing duo of Murphy and Russell Hansbrough combined for nine carries and 37 yards.
Georgia’s QB Hutson Mason was 18 of 23 for 128 yards and a touchdown. Chubb had 59 yards on 21 carries.
