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Published Nov 7, 2020
GAME RECAP: Florida 44, Georgia 28
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Zach Abolverdi  •  1standTenFlorida
Staff
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@ZachAbolverdi

The losing streak is over.

No. 8 Florida defeated fifth-ranked UGA on Saturday, 44-28, behind a record-setting day from quarterback Kyle Trask.

He finished with a career-high 474 yards on 30 of 43 passing and became the first QB in SEC history to throw four-plus touchdowns in five straight games, leading the Gators to their first win over Georgia since 2016.

Trask overcame an early 14-0 deficit and a pick-six in the second quarter to set the TD record before the half. After a 75-yard touchdown run by Zamir White on the opening play, Florida's defense held the Bulldogs to 202 yards and two touchdowns the rest of the game.

UGA converted just two of 13 third-down attempts and quarterback Stetson Bennett was benched for D'Wan Mathis in the second half. Bennett finished with 78 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 5 of 16 passing, while Mathis threw two picks and a score on 4 of 13 passing for 34 yards.

UF's running backs made a total of 10 receptions for 212 yards, including five catches for 100 yards, while Justin Shorter, Kyle Pitts, Kemore Gamble and Trevon Grimes all caught a touchdown from Trask. Pitts, who left the game after taking a hit, set the single-season school record for touchdown receptions by a tight end (8).

SCORE: Florida 44, Georgia 28 (1:19, 4Q)

McPherson bounced back from his 44-yard miss with a 34-yard field goal, his third of the game, to seal the win for the Gators. Following Shawn Davis' interception and 37-yard return, UF took over at the UGA 16 and ran the ball three times to kill the clock.

SCORE: Florida 41, Georgia 28 (0:41, 3Q)

After Bennett was picked off by Kaiir Elam, who made the first interception by UF's secondary this season, D'Wan Mathis took over at quarterback and led Georgia on its first scoring drive in six series. He converted a fourth-and-1 with a three-yard run and threw a 25-yard touchdown to Kearis Jackson on third-and-13.

SCORE: Florida 41, Georgia 21 (11:48, 3Q)

The Gators opened the second half with their fifth straight scoring drive. Trask opened with three straight completions to Gamble (14 yards), Grimes (13 yards) and Toney (13 yards). He couldn't connect with Jacob Copeland on third-and-8 and McPherson made his fourth 50-yard field of the season, this time from 51.

SCORE: Florida 38, Georgia 21 (0:11, 2Q)

Trask closed out the first half by making SEC history, becoming the first quarterback to throw four-plus touchdowns in five straight games. After an 11-yard sideline completion to Trent Whittemore and a holding penalty on Georgia's Monty Rice, Trask threw up a jump ball to Trevon Grimes on third-and-2 and he made an incredible 14-yard TD reception. Trask finished the half with 341 yards on 20 of 26 passing.

SCORE: Florida 31, Georgia 21 (1:44, 2Q)

Following the third three-and-out forced by Florida's defense, Trask & Co. extended the lead to two scores with a 10-play, 63-yard drive. The first snap was a 14-yard reception by Shorter, and Pierce caught a 35-yard pass two plays later. The series stalled inside UGA territory and Evan McPherson knocked home a 50-yard field goal.

SCORE: Florida 28, Georgia 21 (7:44, 2Q)

The Gators have their first lead of the game following their fourth TD drive in five possessions. Trask set it off with another wheel route to Davis for 37 yards. Backup tight end Kemore Gamble stepped in for Pitts — who left the game after taking a targeting hit from Georgia safety Lewis Cine — and hauled in a 24-yard touchdown to put Florida in front.

SCORE: Georgia 21, Florida 21 (11:38, 2Q)

Less than a minute after falling behind, UF tied it up again with Pitts' eighth touchdown of the season. And that 25-yard score gave him the single-season school record for TD receptions by a tight end. Pitts was set up by a 50-yard catch-and-run by Nay'Quan Wright on a wheel route. Trask is up to 196 yards and two touchdowns on 12 of 17 passing.

SCORE: Georgia 21, Florida 14 (12:17, 2Q)

The Gators had a chance to take the lead after their defense forced a second straight three-and-out, but Trask threw his second pick-six in as many games. On third-and-10, Eric Stokes stepped in front of a pass intended for Kadarius Toney and returned it for a 37-yard touchdown to give UGA the lead back.

SCORE: Georgia 14, Florida 14 (1:43, 1Q)

The Gators erased a two-touchdown deficit before the first quarter ended, milking five minutes off the clock with an 80-yard drive. Trask completed a pair of passes to Malik Davis — including a 22-yarder on a wheel route — and a marvelous pitch-and-catch to Pitts for 34 yards. On third-and-goal, Pierce ran right up the middle for a two-yard touchdown.

SCORE: Georgia 14, Florida 7 (8:20, 1Q)

After going three-and-out on their opening drive and trailing 14-0, the Gators responded with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Dameon Pierce had three carries for 21 yards, and Kyle Trask hit tight end Keon Zipperer for a 39-yard catch-and-run. On third-and-4, Trask hung in the pocket and threw a 14-yard touchdown to Justin Shorter, who had his first career score last week.

SCORE: Georgia 14, Florida 0 (11:44, 1Q)

Stetson Bennett started off UGA's second series with a 12-yard run, then completed a screen pass to James Cook for 13 yards two plays later. Following a timeout by UF before third-and-7, Bennett found a wide open Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for a 32-yard touchdown. The freshman receiver was injured on the play and had to carted off the field.

SCORE: Georgia 7, Florida 0 (14:48, 1Q)

The Gators won the toss and deferred, a decision immediately regretted. On Georgia's first play from scrimmage, their defense failed to set the edge and Zamir White took it to the house for a 75-yard touchdown. Florida's offense didn't fare any better on the ensuing drive, going three-and-out.

Stay tuned to Gators Territory.