JACKSONVILLE – I needed a big play to overcome what had been a disjointed performance from the Bulldogs' linebacker CJ Allen got through with the game and secured the 34:20 victory on Saturday.

After Carson Beck Blow Dominic Lovett To break a 20-20 tie, Allen jumped in front of the first pass he saw from Florida quarterback Aiden Warner and made a huge interception inside the Gator 15.

“CJ Allen made a crazy, unbelievable play when he jumped up and grabbed the ball,” head coach said Kirby Smart said. “That was probably the biggest change in the game.”

Two games later, rookie Dwight Phillips took part in the game-deciding scoring.

However, without Allen's outstanding play, the touchdown would not have happened.

“I had my back to him when he passed the ball, but when he actually caught the ball my mouth completely dropped,” linebacker said Jalon Walker said. “This is what we needed. We needed that momentum to finish the game. It was just great to see how you come out of the linebacker room.”

For Allen, the interception was the first of his career and the first of the game for the Bulldogs, who struggled most of the game against the Gators.

Even after Florida starting quarterback DJ Lagway was carted off the field in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, Georgia couldn't beat the Gators.

A 16-yard touchdown run by Ja'Kobi Jackson tied the game with 7:29 to play before the Bulldogs rallied to take the lead.

Trevor Etienne hoped to show his former team what they were missing after moving to Georgia.

Unfortunately he didn't play a big role.

Etienne took a hard shot to the midsection in the second quarter and could be seen entering the Florida locker room.

Smart confirmed after the game that Etienne had suffered a minor rib injury.

He didn't return.

“He had a small rib injury. “He’s fine, but just in a little pain,” Smart said. “He has a lot of friends on the sidelines. “He likes and respects those guys, believe it or not. The boy is a great boy. He has many friends there. The game meant a lot to him.”

Smart was happy to see it Nate Frazier Score from 2 yards out in the third quarter to tie the game. He wasn't happy with what happened next.

After the touchdown, Frazier popped up and threw a “Gator Chomp” at the fans, followed by a throat slash that resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

The mileage was determined at the following kick-off.

Smart wasn't happy.

“I just told him, 'Don't be stupid, man,'” Smart said. “We in Georgia are not selfish people. I'm not interested in all that nonsense. We are a meat and potatoes team. We roll up our sleeves and go to work every day. I'm not interested in you chewing an alligator or cutting your throat. it's not respectful. I think the best way to attack someone is to play hard and beat them.”

On the sideline, the Georgia coach tackled his freshman running back and stalked the sideline to make his point clear.

The Bulldogs would avoid giving up points on the error as a bad snap of a 51-yard field goal attempt led to Georgia recovering at the Gator 36.

The mistake nearly cost the Bulldogs one of their key starters in the secondary.

At kickoff, cornerback Daylen Everette went down with a tackle on the return. The trainers rushed to his side, but fortunately Everette was able to run away and returned to the game shortly after.

It didn't take Tate Ratledge After undergoing rope surgery following his ankle injury at Kentucky, he is eager to get back into the swing of things.

Micah Morris started Saturday's game but suffered a lower-body injury on Georgia's first possession. Morris would leave the field under his own power, with Ratledge taking his usual starting position at right-back.

…Smart confirmed this after the game Anthony Evans III suffers from a thigh injury. … Defensive tackle Jordan Hall dressed but not playing, although his name was removed from the availability report before the game.

When Dwight Phillips II As he ran for the game-winning touchdown, the freshman was mobbed by his teammates.

“He did a great job. I mean, you're talking about how everyone on this team loves this kid, the little peanut. His parents are great people,” Smart said. “Both ran track at Kentucky. His father is an Olympic champion. And what a great story. I've never met a boy that everyone on the team likes as much as him. He just works really hard. So I was really happy that he got this game.”

Smart said throughout the week, offensive coaches tried to make sure Phillips would make the trip to Jacksonville.

“They reached out to me on Tuesday or Wednesday and said if Dwight was going to travel because he didn't travel every game and I said, yeah, he's going,” Smart said. “He has injuries at running back now. He will be an emergency running back. And they put a package in there for him.”

…without eliminating Evans, Malaki Starks took care of punt return duties Dillon Bell assumes the role of the team's kickoff returner. Before the game, Michael Jackson, Sacovie White And Dominic Lovett also warmed up as a punt returner; Trevor Etienne, Cash JonesAnd Nate Frazier Warmed up and returned kicks.

…With Dan Jackson And Joenel Aguero They missed the first half after targeting Texas, Georgia's starting defensive end, in the second half JaCorey Thomas (Star), KJ Bolden (Security), Starks (Security), Julian Humphrey (corner) and Daylen Everette (Corner).

Georgia's 2024 senior class improves to 49-3 overall and 43-1 in the regular season. Georgia leads the series with Florida 57-44-2, including 7-2 on the season Kirby Smart Epoch.

…Florida finished the game with 20 points on 228 yards of total offense. At halftime, UF led 13-6 on 150 yards of total offense in 32 plays

…Georgia's best tacklers were CJ Allen at eight, Raylen Wilson had seven, and Chaz Chambliss with six.

…In the third quarter, Walker recovered a botched snap on a field goal attempt and recovered it at the UGA 36. This led to a go-ahead touchdown.

…Georgia finished the game with 34 points and 455 yards of offense. At halftime, Georgia trailed 13-6 with 222 yards of offense.

…The Bulldogs had 146 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Frazier rushed for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown. Etienne had 31 yards, all in the first half. Phillips scored a touchdown on his first career carry, traveling four yards.

…Georgia has trailed at halftime three times in SEC games this season (6-3 at Kentucky, 30-7 at No. 4 Alabama) and today. The Bulldogs beat Kentucky 13-12, fell 41-34 to No. 4 Alabama and emerged with a 34-20 win over Florida today.

…Saturday marked the third time this season that the Bulldogs failed to score in the first half. In the season opener, Georgia led No. 14 Clemson 6-0 in Atlanta and trailed 6-3 at Kentucky. The Bulldogs won the first two games and did so tonight by a score of 34-20.

…Nine Bulldogs had a catch with senior receiver leading Dominic Lovett (7 for 52 yards, 1 touchdown) and junior Dillon Bell (4 for 50) and. In the third quarter, Bell completed a 33-yard rush to the Florida 15 on his eventual game-winning touchdown drive.

…sophomore kicker Peyton Woodring scored 10 points on 23-yard and 53-yard field goals and four PATs as well as handled kickoffs. Woodring is 14 of 15 from the field this year, including 2 of 3 from 50+ this season.

…Player Brett Thorson averaged 42.0 yards on five punts, including a 51-yarder and two inside 20 yards with no returns. Georgia has not allowed a positive yard on a return this season and the streak that begins today is at 26 plays.