Gunner Stockton directs 42-7 rout of Mississippi

Gunner Stockton passed for four touchdowns and added a rushing score as No. 2 Georgia defeated No. 12 Mississippi 42-7 on Saturday night in Oxford, Mississippi.

The Bulldogs controlled the opening 22 minutes of the game, converting four consecutive drives into touchdowns. Those drives covered 72, 96, 61, and 50 yards respectively. Ole Miss crossed its own 50-yard line only once during that period. The result was a 28-0 halftime lead for Georgia.

Stockton completed nine of 15 passes for 186 yards. The Bulldogs’ offense generated 482 total yards, with 298 of those coming in the first half alone. Talyn Taylor caught three touchdown passes of 3, 6, and 65 yards. Ethan Barbour added a 58-yard touchdown reception. Taylor finished with 140 yards on four catches. Craig Dandridge Jr. ran for a 4-yard score. The team rushed for 295 yards, led by Nate Frazier, who carried 16 times for 107 yards.

The victory snapped Mississippi’s 16-game home winning streak. It was the first win for Georgia coach Kirby Smart in Oxford in three attempts. Smart described the performance as a total team effort that embraced the challenge from the start. He said the team played aggressively as intended. Smart noted that the team could celebrate the result for 24 hours before working to repeat it.

Trinidad Chambliss passed for 170 yards on 18 of 34 attempts for Mississippi. She was sacked five times and threw one interception. Shekai Mills-Knight scored the Rebels’ only points on an 8-yard run. Mississippi was held to 252 total offensive yards. Chambliss called the team’s poor start embarrassing and said the group must have a short memory about the loss.

The result contrasts sharply with the two meetings between the schools last season. Georgia won 43-35 at home in the regular season. Ole Miss defeated the Bulldogs 39-34 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said he did not expect such a one-sided outcome. He admitted that the coaching staff did not have the team ready to play.

Georgia’s win strengthens its claim to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 and the CFP rankings. The team joins unbeaten Utah and No. 4 Notre Dame, which defeated No. 1 Miami, as contenders for the top position. Safety KJ Bolden said the win puts Georgia in the hunt for whatever is available. The Bulldogs improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

Linebacker Chris Cole led the Georgia defense with nine tackles. He recorded two quarterback hurries, 1.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles for loss. The win also solidifies Georgia’s position at the top of the SEC standings.

Mississippi falls to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The Rebels must hope their third loss does not eliminate them from CFP consideration. They currently sit in a group of SEC teams with similar records of two or three losses.

Georgia will host No. 19 Missouri next Saturday. Mississippi will visit Oklahoma next Saturday.