Georgia 24–20 Florida: late Bowens burst and fourth-down stand decide a classic in Jacksonville

Georgia survived a furious Florida push to win 24–20 in the rivalry’s neutral-site showcase on Saturday, sealing the result with a late touchdown run and a final defensive stand that kept the Bulldogs firmly in the SEC title chase. The game delivered everything the series promises: momentum swings, big-play stars on both sidelines, and a tense finish under playoff-level pressure.

How Georgia flipped it late

Trailing 20–17 in the fourth quarter, Georgia found the drive it had to have. A balanced march set up Chauncey Bowens, who burst 36 yards off right tackle for the go-ahead score inside the final minutes. From there, the Bulldogs’ defense closed the door with a fourth-down stop near midfield and clock management that bled the final seconds.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton was steady all afternoon, throwing two touchdowns and navigating third downs with poise. His efficiency on early downs kept Georgia ahead of the chains after a choppy first half, and his red-zone decision-making was the hinge between field goals and touchdowns in a one-score game.

Florida’s response under interim leadership

The Gators, playing their first game with an interim head coach, punched first and kept swinging. DJ Lagway ripped a 40-yard first-quarter touchdown to Eugene Wilson III, and Florida’s defense repeatedly forced Georgia into long fields. The Gators reclaimed the lead 20–17 late in the third and had two fourth-quarter possessions to win it back, but Georgia’s rush and coverage finally synced when it mattered most.

Even in defeat, Florida’s young core looked dangerous: Lagway’s pocket calm was evident, and Wilson III worked free underneath and over the top for chain-moving gains and yards after the catch.

Stat lines that told the story

• Georgia

  • Gunner Stockton: 20/29, 223 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

  • Chauncey Bowens: 9 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD (including the clinching 36-yarder)

  • Jadan Baugh: 15 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD — the tone-setter between the tackles

  • Zachariah Branch: 10 receptions, 112 yards — relentless as the underneath outlet and on quick hitters

• Florida

  • DJ Lagway: 15/24, 166 yards, 1 TD

  • Eugene Wilson III: 9 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD — matchup problem all day on option routes and posts

Turning points and timeline

• 1Q 10:53 — Georgia opens with an 8-yard Stockton TD to Dillon Bell (7–0).

• 1Q 6:32 — Florida answers instantly: Lagway → Wilson III for 40 yards (7–7).

• 1Q 3:02 — Florida edges ahead with a short field goal (10–7).

• 2Q 0:12 — Georgia levels it before halftime with a late kick (10–10).

• 3Q 10:46 — Stockton → Ny Carr/No. 11 on a 22-yard strike (17–10).

• 3Q late — Florida surges back to 20–17 entering the fourth.

• 4Q — Bowens 36-yard TD puts Georgia ahead 24–20; defense finishes the job.

(Drive times approximate; official book lists the scoring plays above.)

What it means for both teams

Georgia (7–1): The Bulldogs leave Jacksonville with their fifth straight win in the series and, more importantly, control of their path toward December. The offense’s balance—Stockton’s timing, a two-back punch with Baugh and Bowens, and Branch’s volume—travels. The next step is cleaner early-down execution to avoid the lulls that kept Florida in striking distance.

Florida (3–5): The Gators looked organized and dangerous under the interim staff, and Lagway’s composure against a top-five opponent is a building block. The defense created just enough hesitation to force Georgia into field-goal decisions; turning those late-game stops into takeaways is the leap that flips this kind of matchup.

Tactical snapshot

• Georgia’s answers vs. pressure: Quick game to Branch and boundary outs to stay ahead of schedule, then shot selection off play-action once safeties widened.

• Florida’s plan for Stockton: Rotate late underneath to bait throws into traffic and heat the pocket with simulated pressure; it produced one interception and several drive-stallers.

• Red-zone math: Georgia went touchdown-then-field goal on key trips; that four-point edge proved decisive.

In a rivalry that magnifies every detail, Georgia found the last explosive play and the last defensive stand. Florida showed enough resolve to suggest the final month will be anything but routine in Gainesville. In Jacksonville, though, the cocktail belonged to the Bulldogs—poured by a power run, stirred by timely throws, and finished with a defense that refused the final first down.