Bennett, Georgia D lead No. 3 Dawgs to 49-3 rout of Oregon

ATLANTA (AP) — Stetson Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for 3 touchdowns, a revamped protection didn’t miss a beat, and No. 3 Georgia seemed very very similar to a workforce intent of defending its nationwide championship with a 49-3 rout of No. 11 Oregon on Saturday.

Bennett accomplished 25-of-31 passes with two touchdowns and ran for one more rating earlier than calling it a day within the third quarter of the season opener, the Bulldogs main 42-3 and having totally ruined the debut of Oregon coach Dan Lanning.

After spending the final three years as Georgia’s co-defensive coordinator, Lanning obtained a have a look at his former workforce from the opposing sideline in a recreation performed earlier than a predominantly red-clad crowd on the dwelling of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

One terrible efficiency into his head teaching profession, Lanning noticed simply how far the Geese must go.

Bennett, the previous walk-on who led a storybook run to Georgia’s first nationwide title since 1980, returned for a sixth faculty season with a agency grip on the beginning job after battling for taking part in time most of his profession.

Bennett picked up the place he left off in final 12 months’s Faculty Soccer Playoff, when he was offensive MVP of each the semifinals and the title recreation victory over Alabama.

Bennett guided the Bulldogs to the top zone on all six possessions he performed. He ran for a 1-yard rating and tossed TD passes of 4 yards to Ladd McConkey and 18 yards to Adonai Mitchell.

Carson Beck took over at QB and rapidly made it 7 of seven, tossing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Milton for the ultimate margin.

There have been some questions concerning the Georgia protection, which had 5 gamers off the 2021 unit chosen within the first spherical of the NFL draft.

Any doubts had been rapidly put to relaxation by a swarming group that seemed very very similar to final 12 months’s protection for the ages, making life depressing for brand spanking new Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix transferred to Eugene after beginning at Auburn the final three seasons. He instantly discovered himself dealing with a workforce he misplaced to 3 occasions whereas taking part in within the SEC.

Make it 0-4.

Nix was picked off twice and the one offense he may muster led to Camden Lewis’ 35-yard subject purpose late within the second quarter.

Nix’s frustration was evident when he buried his helmet in his arms after a false-start penalty.

Georgia’s day was epitomized by a brief move to Darnell Washington that become an enormous achieve when the 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight finish shrugged off one defender hitting him excessive and hurdled one other who tried to carry him down low.

THE TAKEAWAY

Oregon: Lanning clearly has a variety of work to do to carry the Geese as much as a really elite stage. Whereas there’s no disgrace in dropping to a workforce comparable to Georgia, Oregon anticipated to be rather more aggressive of their new coach’s first recreation. Nix’s first recreation in inexperienced was particularly disappointing. He accomplished 21 of 37 for 173 yards.

Georgia: The Bulldogs are off and rolling in protection of their nationwide championship. They weren’t threatened in any respect by maybe the hardest workforce on their schedule till a Nov. 19 recreation at Kentucky. Bennett added one other chapter to his outstanding story, and the Georgia protection nonetheless appears stifling even with all these guys within the NFL.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Bulldogs are greater than worthy of their No. 3 rating. Coach Kirby Good has constructed a program that reloads somewhat than rebuilds.

Oregon is certain to tumble in The Related Press ballot. However a minimum of each recreation from right here on out appears a lot simpler than dealing with the Bulldogs.

UP NEXT

Oregon: Dwelling opener subsequent Saturday in opposition to FCS college Japanese Washington.

Georgia: Whereas this appeared like a house recreation for Georgia, its precise dwelling opener is subsequent Saturday in opposition to FCS opponent Sanford.

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Comply with Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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