LEXINGTON, Ky. — Branson Robinson rushed for a 3-yard, go-ahead touchdown early within the fourth quarter, and top-ranked Georgia overcame a lethargic performance to rally past after which hold off Kentucky, 13-12, Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC) struggled to search out continuity on either side of the ball and trailed 9-3 early within the third quarter to a Wildcats squad intent on rebounding from their very own flat effort in a 31-6 home loss to conference-rival South Carolina.
Peyton Woodring’s 30-yard field goal late within the third quarter got Georgia inside three before the ‘Dawgs followed with their longest drive of the night at just the proper time.
Trevor Etienne’s 12-yard run, 11-yard reception and 8-yard rush got the Bulldogs to the Kentucky 29.
The Florida transfer then broke right for a 17-yard run to the 11, stepping out of bounds as he tip-toed down the sideline trying to achieve the top zone.
Robinson took it in from there three plays later for Georgia’s first lead at 13-9.
The Wildcats weren’t done, answering with Alex Raynor’s 51-yard field goal to get inside some extent.
His school-record 55-yard kick gave Kentucky the initial lead, and he added two more from 32 and 40 yards for a bonus that held for greater than three quarters — though not enough to place Georgia away.
Kentucky (1-2, 0-2) got the ball one final time at its 20 with 9 seconds left,
Etienne rushed 19 times for 79 yards while Robinson, a sophomore who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, had five yards on two carries.
Quarterback Carson Beck accomplished 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards, including along with his longest completion of 33 yards to Dominic Lovett with 2:45 left.
That put the Bulldogs at midfield and provided respiration room in a game where nothing got here easy.
Kentucky was the aggressor for the primary 30—plus minutes, constructing a 6-3 halftime lead off Raynor’s first two field goals.
The Wildcats also outgained the Bulldogs 130-63 by the break, nothing great, but an enormous improvement from last week’s lackluster 183-yard outing.
Most notably, their defense forced the Bulldogs into 4 punts before Woodring’s 34-yard field goal late within the second quarter to tie the sport at 3.
