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Kirby Smart praises Gunner Stockton after gutsy SEC Championship performance
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Kirby Smart had little reason to expect Gunner Stockton would play a major role in the SEC Championship Game. Carson Beck has been Georgia’s starting quarterback all season long, and he opened the game in that spot once again.
However, things took a turn on the final play of the first half. With Beck winding up for a Hail Mary attempt, a Texas defender hit Beck’s arm as his throwing motion was starting forward.
The hit sent Beck to the turf in pain, and it was immediately announced after halftime that Stockton would finish the game. And even with an ugly 4th-quarter interception that kept Texas alive, Stockton produced a gutsy performance.
Stockton finished the game 12-for-16 throwing the ball for 71 yards and an interception. However, he helped engineer 3 scoring drives in the second half and was leading the game-winning drive in overtime before an ugly hit forced him to the sideline on the eventual game-ending touchdown.
After the game, Smart admitted he didn’t even have a special message to deliver to Stockton at halftime. Instead, he let OC Mike Bobo and the rest of the coaches pump up the QB, and Smat says Stockton believed.
“I didn’t say one word to him. Coach Bobo did, and all the coaches did. And he believed,” said Smart. “This kid’s a winner, man. This kid’s special, he’s a winner.”
Georgia takes home the SEC Championship this season after the dramatic 22-19 win and will enjoy a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff as a result. However, the status of Beck’s right arm/shoulder will be of note before we get there.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
