ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia entered Saturday night’s football game against Kentucky as the Southeastern Conference’s stingiest defense in terms of points allowed.
The Bulldogs didn’t hurt themselves in that regard, blanking the Wildcats 21-0 and holding them to 177 total yards. Kentucky had only two first downs in the first half, when the game was still scoreless, and receiver-turned-quarterback Lynn Bowden completed just two of 15 passes for 17 yards.
“He’s a better passer than his numbers indicate,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said afterward. “His numbers were better last week (in a 24-20 victory over Arkansas) because the conditions were better. It was tough for everybody to deal with those conditions.”
Kentucky managed only 52 first-half yards but used consecutive Bowden carries of 9, 11 and 11 yards on its opening possession of the third quarter to move to Georgia’s 27-yard line. A third-and-6 run by Bowden gained 7 yards to the 20, but the Wildcats were flagged for holding.
With the ball back at the 37, Bowden threw incomplete, and Kentucky had to punt. Bowden rushed 17 times for 99 yards in the game, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.