httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sgbg_vZRUY
ATHENS, Ga. – On a college football Saturday in which Southeastern Conference Eastern Division teams struggled against heavy underdogs, the Georgia Bulldogs played right along.
Overcoming two costly turnovers that resulted in a second-half game of catch-up, the Bulldogs finally subdued Georgia Southern 23-17 in overtime before a nervous crowd of 92,746 at Sanford Stadium.
The Eagles were stuffed by linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins on their overtime possession before sophomore tailback Sony Michel bolted 25 yards to the end zone on Georgia’s first play.
“We were aware of those games, but we were really trying to focus on Georgia Southern,” Michel said.
A 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Georgia Southern cornerback Caleb Williams early in the third quarter gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead and stunned the sold-out audience.
The Bulldogs tied the game late in the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Greyson Lambert to Terry Godwin, and the two teams exchanged field goals midway through the fourth quarter.
Georgia was driving to extend its lead late in the first quarter, but Malcolm Mitchell fumbled after a 16-yard reception from Lambert at the GSU 8-yard line.
The Eagles, couldn’t capitalize on that turnover, with Younghoe Koo missing a 31-yard field goal, but they did drive 69 yards in 11 plays and tied the game on a 1-yard run by L.A. Ramsby with 3:47 before halftime.
Georgia will conclude its regular season next weekend at Georgia Tech, which dropped to 3-8 Saturday with a 38-21 loss at Miami.