The Bulldogs blanked No. 9 UA in the first half and led 14-0. UA finished with 70 yards of offense on 21 plays, gaining 17 rushing yards and 53 through the air. Georgia shut out UA in the second half of the regular season meeting in Athens in a 24-21 loss. Also, Georgia blanked Marshall in the first half of the season opener in an eventual 45-7 win.

Georgia’s defense has not allowed a TD in the past 11 quarters this season, dating to the 3rd quarter of the 35-10 win over No. 10 Texas on Nov. 15 in Athens.

Senior Daylen Everette notched his first interception of the season and fourth of his career off a tip by KJ Bolden to give Georgia the ball at the UA45. It was the team’s ninth and first return of the season for 34 yards. It led to a TD and a 14-0 lead with 8:43 left in the first half.

At the half, Georgia’s leading tacklers were a trio with two apiece in junior Raylen Wilson, redshirt-sophomore Xavier McLeod and senior JaCorey Thomas.

At the half, Georgia led 14-0. The Bulldogs tallied 168 yards of offense on 39 plays (88-rushing, 80-passing).

Redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton finished the first half 12-for-17 for 88 yards with 2 TDs plus a team-high 32 rushing yards on seven carries.

Georgia’s first score was a 21-yard drive after a blocked punt. The drive was capped by a 1-yard TD pass to Roderick Robinson II to make it 7-0 with 4:36 left in the first quarter. It was only the fourth career catch by Robinson and his first for a TD. The drive featured a 14-yard run by Nate Frazier.

Georgia’s next scoring drive came after an INT as it went 57 yards in 14 plays in 7:44. It featured a 4th-and-1 conversion by Stockton at the UA 26 as the Bulldogs improved to 12-for-16 on 4th down this year. The would add another 4th down conversion later in the second quarter on 4th-and-1 frrom the UGA 49 to improve to 13-for-17 on the year. Georgia came in ranked sixthth nationally with a 73% conversion rate on 4th down. Also, on 3rd-and-goal from the 5, Stockton connected with Dillon Bell for a score. It was Bell’s second TD of the year. The Bulldogs turned an INT into seven points and a 14-0 lead with 8:43 left.

Sophomore RB Nate Frazier posted 25 rushing yards on seven carries while senior Dillon Bell had two carries for 19 yards. Bell had a team-high three receptions for 32 yards and one TD.

Junior WR Zachariah Branch had two receptions for 27 yards. Branch now has 70 receptions on the season, which ranks second in school history. The record belongs to Brice Hunter who had 76 in 1993.

Junior PK Peyton Woodring tallied two points on a couple of PATs plus he handled the kickoffs.

Senior Cole Speer blocked a punt to set up Georgia at the UA 21. It led to a TD and a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. It was Georgia’s second blocked punt of the season, the first came in the season opener against Marshall by KJ Bolden. It was the third blocked punt in an SEC Championship Game by the Bulldogs, joining DeCory Bryant (2002 vs. Arkansas) and Bryan McClendon (2005 vs. LSU).

Senior Brett Thorson finished with four punts for a 42.8 average including a long of 53 with no returns and three inside the 20.

Georgia’s captains were Zachary Branch, Earnest Green III, CJ Allen and Christen Miller.

Alabama won the toss and elected to defer the football until the second half.

The longest starting streak on the team now belongs to redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton at 14 games.

Redshirt freshman Malachi Toliver got the start at center for the injured Drew Bobo. It was his second of the season and career. Freshman safety Rasean Dinkins made his first career start. Dinkins is the 18th first-time starter this season.