LEXINGTON, Ky. - Georgia finally got to revel in its kicking game.
A disappointing year in special teams for the Bulldogs yielded to good times Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium, as Rodrigo Blankenship's 25-yard field goal as time expired gave Georgia a 27-24 win over Kentucky. It was the fourth field goal of the night for Blankenship, a redshirt freshman who has made nine consecutive tries since misfiring on his first attempt during the fourth game at Ole Miss.
As victorious Bulldogs first-year coach Kirby Smart was being interviewed after the game by the SEC Network, he pointed at Blankenship and shouted, "We've got a (darn) good field-goal kicker right there."
Georgia entered Saturday night having lost four of five games and avoided losing five of six for the first time since the 1990 season. The Bulldogs improved to 5-4 overall and need one more win to secure their 20th consecutive bowl invitation, which is the longest active streak in the Southeastern Conference.
"They fight as hard as any group I've ever been around," Smart said.
A lively crowd of 62,507 was hoping to celebrate bowl eligibility for the home team, but the Wildcats dropped to 5-4 and will try again this week when they visit Tennessee. Kentucky, which hasn't been to a bowl since 2010, also has remaining games against Austin Peay and Louisville.
"This was a very difficult loss, and we have a lot of disappointed people in that locker room," Kentucky fourth-year coach Mark Stoops said. "I never felt like we had a certain edge about us tonight. They did to us what we've done to other people, possessing the ball and getting quality first downs."
Georgia had a 23-16 edge in first downs and a 460-308 advantage in total offense and had the ball for 34 minutes. Jacob Eason completed 17 of 31 passes for 245 yards, while Sony Michel rushed for 127 yards on 19 carries and Nick Chubb added 85 on 21.
Following an Austin MacGinnis 25-yard field goal that tied the game with 2:47 remaining, Eason calmly moved the Bulldogs into range, connecting with Javon Wims for a pair of 12-yard receptions that got them into Kentucky territory at the 46. Eason then found Terry Godwin on the left sideline for 16 yards down to the 30, and a 13-yard run by Michel got it really close for Blankenship.
The Bulldogs played for the first time all season with offensive coordinator Jim Chaney in the coaching booth.
Georgia took its first possession 64 yards in six plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Eason to Isaiah McKenzie. Chubb had a 17-yard run on the drive, but the Bulldogs had to settle for two Blankenship field goals the rest of the half despite racking up 238 yards.
The Bulldogs got a 25-yard Blankenship field goal early in the second quarter after a 51-yard pass from Eason to Wims to the Wildcats' 16, while Kentucky managed to score touchdowns on its two first-half trips to the red zone and had a 14-13 lead at intermission.
The Bulldogs this week will host Auburn, with the game set to be televised by CBS at 3:30 p.m.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.