Georgia defensive back Tyson Campbell returns a Missouri fumble for a touchdown during Saturday’s SEC East matchup in Columbia, Mo. Georgia won 43-29.COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fueled by opportunistic defense and special teams early and a quick-strike passing game late, No. 2 Georgia notched another road victory against a divisional foe.
Jake Fromm threw three second-half touchdown passes and the Bulldogs returned a fumble and a blocked punt for scores to beat Missouri 43-29 Saturday in an SEC East matchup.
“We didn’t play with discipline, composure and really not much physicality when you look at the run game for us and stopping the run game defensively, but I am proud of the way we competed and I am proud of the way we were resilient,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “When they made a play, we came back and made a play.”
The Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) blanketed Missouri’s wide receivers, harassed star quarterback Drew Lock and forced three turnovers in the first half against the seventh-best offense in the country entering the game. Lock, the highly touted NFL prospect, was 23-of-48 passing for 221 yards for the Tigers (3-1, 0-1).
The Bulldogs held a 20-7 halftime lead without an offensive touchdown.
In the first quarter, cornerback Tyson Campbell stripped Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, scooped up the ball and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown while picking up an accidental downfield block from an official against Lock. In the second quarter, Eric Stokes burst off the left side of the Georgia line, blocked a punt and returned it 8 yards for another touchdown.
“When you have a punt blocked for a touchdown, you have a fumble recovery for a touchdown, it gives them and spots them 14 points, and that’s hard to overcome,” Missouri coach Barry Odom said. “There aren’t many teams in the country that I know that can be in the turnover margin on the negative side and end up winning the external scoreboard.”
Fromm threw touchdown passes of 33 yards to Riley Ridley, 61 yards to Jeremiah Holloman and 54 yards to Mecole Hardman in the second half. Fromm finished 13-of-23 for 260 yards and threw one interception. Georgia’s Elijah Holyfield rushed 14 times for 90 yards, and D’Andre Swift added 16 carries for 71 yards.
Missouri rushed for 172 yards, with Tyler Badie, Damarea Crockett, Larry Rountree III and Lock each rushing for a touchdown. Okwuegbunam had nine catches for 81 yards, but Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker held Emanuel Hall – who entered as Missouri’s leading receiver this season at 430 yards – without a catch.
“Just another day at the office for me,” Baker said. “I don’t give myself too many pats on the back.”
The Bulldogs already have cleared two divisional road hurdles as they look to return to the SEC title game in Atlanta. Georgia won at South Carolina in the second week of the season.
The Tigers had won nine straight regular-season games before falling to Georgia. The task now is avoiding a losing streak as they continue their season’s toughest stretch with games at South Carolina and No. 1 Alabama after an open date next weekend.
There isn’t much room for upward mobility where the rankings are concerned for the second-ranked Bulldogs, who host Tennessee next weekend. The question is whether voters will penalize them for not dominating Missouri.