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A mostly lackluster Saturday in the SEC East came to a thrilling conclusion when Georgia and Missouri went down to the wire in the closing hours of the evening, Jacob Eason delivering his first signature moment to rally the Bulldogs.
The division went 4-1 in non-division play, with Vanderbilt’s loss to Georgia Tech standing as the only blemish. There weren’t many games of note heading into the weekend, but that didn’t stop some of the matchups from being closer than many expected.
Let’s break it down.
Florida Gators
Week 3 result: Defeated North Texas, 32-0
What we learned: Florida improved to 3-0, but the win came with a steep price. Quarterback Luke Del Rio took a shot to his legs in the third quarter that knocked him out of the game. He’s not expected to play Saturday at Tennessee. If that is the case, it could have a major impact on the division race moving forward. Defensively, the Gators remain a force to be reckoned with. Florida limited North Texas to only 19 yards on offense in the first half and sacked the quarterback seven times.
Georgia Bulldogs
Week 3 result: Defeated Missouri, 28-27
What we learned: Freshman quarterback Jacob Eason not only passed his first test for the Bulldogs, he aced it. With just over three minutes remaining in the game, Eason marched Georgia 80 yards for the winning score, hitting Isaiah McKenzie for a 20-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to complete the comeback win (below). McKenzie was once again Georgia’s top offensive weapon, catching 10 passes for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding another one on the ground.
The Bulldogs’ run game was shut down for the second consecutive game, which is something they will need to fix moving forward. Defensively, Georgia played much better in the second half after giving up several big plays in the passing game during the first half. The Bulldogs forced five turnovers in the win and improve to 3-0 with a trip to Ole Miss on the horizon.
Kentucky Wildcats
Week 3 result: Defeated New Mexico State, 62-42
What we learned: After losing to Florida in a blowout, Kentucky rebounded to beat New Mexico State in a shootout. Quarterback Drew Barker left the game in the first quarter with an injury, but backup Stephen Johnson was the man of the game for the Wildcats. Johnson threw for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding another 51 yards on the ground.
He wasn’t the only one getting it done offensively, however, as Kentucky had a monster day running the ball. Stanley Boom Williams totaled 181 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Benjamin Snell Jr. gained 136 yards and 4 touchdowns on 17 carries. While the offense had a nice showing, the defense continues to be among the worst in college football. New Mexico State ranked No. 83 in scoring offense entering the contest, but had no problems reaching the end zone on Saturday.
Missouri Tigers
Week 3 result: Lost to Georgia, 28-27
What we learned: This was a heartbreaking loss for the Tigers, who were minutes away from thrusting themselves into the SEC East division race. An explosive first half from Drew Lock was not enough to overcome Missouri’s second-half mistakes. After throwing for two touchdowns in the first half, Lock tossed three interceptions after halftime and helped spur the Georgia turnaround.
The Tigers did have a couple of bright spots, however. J’Mon Moore emerged as a true threat at wide receiver, catching 8 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns. Charles Harris finally had the outing he is capable of, sacking Eason three times and disrupting several other Bulldogs’ plays in the backfield. There is no question that this loss stings, but make no mistake, Missouri is a team on the rise.
The Tigers might not win the East, but the might have a say in who does.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Week 3 result: Defeated East Carolina, 20-15
What we learned: South Carolina started quickly on offense against East Carolina, which was something that couldn’t be said in the first two weeks. True freshman Brandon McIlwain (below) started for the Gamecocks at quarterback and scored a 9-yard touchdown on the team’s first offensive play. He followed that up with a 10-yard touchdown run nearly four minutes later.
South Carolina scored a season-high 17 points in the first half alone but managed to score only three more points after halftime. There are clearly still questions, but McIlwain seems to be the best quarterback option moving forward. The Gamecocks’ defense forced four turnovers in the win, but surrendered 519 yards to the Pirates. Still, South Carolina beat a decent East Carolina team and has two wins as it begins a string of SEC games.
Tennessee Volunteers
Week 3 result: Defeated Ohio, 28-19
What we learned: It was another sloppy win against an inferior opponent, but Tennessee is 3-0 for the first time since 2004 as it enters its toughest stretch of the season.
The Vols’ performance in the win is certainly concerning to the fan base, but the main concern should be injuries. Two of the team’s top defensive players, cornerback Cam Sutton and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, left the game in the first half. Sutton’s ankle injury will cause him to miss a decent chunk of time, which is concerning for Tennessee, considering the upcoming slate of games.
Joshua Dobbs was 19-of-27 passing for 203 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception; he added another 57 yards and a score on the ground. Josh Malone caught both of Dobbs’ touchdown passes and finished with 69 yards receiving.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Week 3 result: Lost to Georgia Tech, 38-7
What we learned: Vanderbilt went down 7-0 quickly, when Georgia Tech completed an 81-yard touchdown pass 20 seconds into the game, and things never got better. Going against the top triple-option offense in college football, the Commodores were hurt on the ground and in the air.
Vanderbilt’s defense surrendered 511 yards of offense, 222 passing and 289 rushing, and never mustered enough offense of its own to keep pace. Despite the offensive struggles, Kyle Shurmur continues to show flashes of good quarterback play. After Tech’s opening score, Shurmur led the offense on an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and completed 4 of his 5 passes, including a touchdown strike to Kalija Lipscomb, along the way.
