Last week against Florida, Georgia demonstrated how dominant it could still be when put to the test. This week it demonstrated how gritty.

The Bulldogs faced their stiffest challenge yet from an upstart Missouri team that was every bit as good as advertised. The Tigers ran the football well, they made defensive stops, they converted third downs and they connected for an impressive touchdown pass from Brady Cook to elite receiver Luther Burden III.

And yet it was arguably the best sign yet that Georgia has the mettle to chase down history. The Bulldogs won 30-21, inching 1 more SEC win closer to a division title. It was their 26th consecutive victory overall and their 36th straight in the regular season.

Georgia has had close wins this season. It came back late against Auburn. It shut down South Carolina in the second half. What it hasn’t had to do is go punch-counterpunch against a top 15-caliber football team. It did it again and again on Saturday, and owes a note of gratitude to a number of players.

The defense

No, the defense was not perfect. Missouri running back Cody Schrader cut loose for 112 yards and a score on 22 carries. The last time Georgia allowed a 100-yard rusher, the world was still in the middle of lockdown. It was Oct. 31, 2020, when Georgia defeated Kentucky 14-3 but allowed 108 yards on 20 carries to Chris Rodriguez.

So, it wasn’t perfect defense. But give the Tigers a tip of the cap and realize that this was a tough game for the Bulldogs. With their back against the wall, a handful of players stepped up.

  • Cornerback Kamari Lassiter had a couple of key pass breakups down the stretch to prevent the Tigers from mounting a late comeback. While Missouri largely targeted Daylen Everette on the opposite side to some success, Lassiter helped lead a secondary that limited Cook to 14-of-30 passing for 212 yards and 2 interceptions. Burden had his touchdown catch early but was quiet for most of the game otherwise.
  • Also in the secondary, Javon Bullard came up with the game-clinching interception late, ending any threat of a Missouri comeback.
  • Nazir Stackhouse, part of a defensive front that was bullied on the ground at times, was able to intercept an ill-advised pass from Cook in the fourth quarter and nearly took it all the way to the house. A penalty erased the return, but Georgia got a key 3 points out of it nonetheless.
  • And don’t forget about Jalon Walker, who continues to look more and more like the elite pass rusher the Bulldogs have been lacking. He registered 1.5 sacks on Saturday, giving him 3 for the year. He took the place of Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who exited with an injury, and performed superbly down the stretch. Keep an eye on him in the latter part of this season, as he could be an X-factor.

Does the defense need to be better in the final weeks of the regular season with games against Ole Miss and Tennessee? Without a doubt. But put to the test in this one, Georgia was up to the task.

The running game

I’ve said it a lot recently, and I’ll reiterate it: The Bulldogs have finally found some consistency in their running game. Daijun Edwards and a healthy Kendall Milton are beginning to form one of the more reliable 1-2 ground attacks in the conference, and the run blocking performance has ticked up significantly as the season has worn on.

On Saturday, the yards didn’t come easy. Early in the game, it was a lot of heads banging against the wall, gains of 1 or 2 yards. More pressure was put on Carson Beck and the passing game, and the Tigers were able to pin their ears back and get a couple of sacks that rattled the first-year starter.

But the Bulldogs kept with the game plan. Soon, those gains became chunks.

Edwards finished with 77 on 16 carries. Milton with 44 and a touchdown on 9. Modest numbers, but every one of them crucial.

Georgia has been successful most when it is passing the ball this season, but the added balance will only open things up for Georgia’s receivers, particularly tight end Brock Bowers whenever he returns.

Carson Beck

Beck has answered the call all year, and Saturday was perhaps the most impressed I’ve been with him thus far.

This game was nasty at times. He hadn’t felt the heat in the pocket previously like he did against Missouri, and he faltered briefly. When the Bulldogs needed some big throws, though, he delivered them.

He finished 21-of-32 for 254 yards and 2 scores. Ladd McConkey continued to be the go-to receiver in Bowers’ absence, catching 7 for 95 yards. The best play Beck made all game, though, was to Edwards. Facing intense pressure rolling to his right, Beck checked down to Edwards just in time before taking a hit. Edwards caught the ball and ran 23 yards for a key first down.

Beck is so calm, many mistake it for boredom or a lack of energy. Don’t do that. He is quietly confident, just like his team.

Things weren’t perfect. The offense continues to sputter near the end zone. Too many field goals can cost them, and they need to improve in that area fast.

Peyton Woodring

Boy, would we be remiss if we failed to acknowledge Georgia’s key freshman, who just continues to show he’s one of the best young kickers in the game.

Woodring connected on 3 more field goals Saturday, including the longest of his college career. After a penalty wiped out Stackhouse’s big interception return, the Bulldogs stalled around the 31-yard line. At the time, the game was very much in limbo. It was 27-21, and a missed field goal would give Cook and the Tigers offense solid field position for one final chance to win the game.

Calm as you please, Woodring kicked the ball dead center of the uprights, coming very close to sealing the game.

One point about this football team is that I’m not sure it’s great at any one thing. Not like the past 2 championship teams have been, at least. But it’s also very good at everything, and it’s showing that it can win in many different fashions.

It has had blowouts of good teams, eked out victories against poor teams. Now, we’ve seen it show some grit in an extremely tough game against a No. 12-ranked division rival.

The Bulldogs have 2 more conference games that won’t get any easier. Things should be fun down the stretch.