SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 27, 2012
No. 11 Georgia 17, No. 3 Florida 9: Aaron Murray overcame an ugly first half to clinch it with a touchdown pass and the Bulldogs relied on their defense to upset the Gators.
Todd Gurley rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown and Malcolm Mitchell made five catches for 74 yards and a score for Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC), which forced six turnovers and held Florida to 81 yards rushing.
Mitchell had a catch upheld upon review, giving the Bulldogs a manageable 3rd-and-5 in the fourth quarter. Murray went right back to Mitchell with a short pass and the converted cornerback ran around a defensive back and cut to the inside for a 45-yard touchdown with 7:11 left.
The Gators marched up the field on the ensuing drive but defensive end Jarvis Jones knocked the ball loose from wide receiver Jordan Reed on the 2-yard line. Georgia recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback and held on for the win.
Murray was intercepted three times in the first half and finished 12-of-24 for 150 yards. But the defense bailed him out, holding Florida to a pair of field goals to take a 7-6 lead into the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel went 14-for-26 and was intercepted twice. He was picked off in the end zone to end the first half. … Florida would have clinched a spot in the SEC championship game with a victory. … Georgia controls its own destiny in the SEC East and will return to the championship game if it can get through Ole Miss and Auburn.