Georgia overcomes shaky start, spoils Mizzou’s SEC debut

Columbia, MO, United States (4E Sports) – Aaron Murray hooked with Marlon Brown for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, as the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs shrugged off a shaky start and spoiled the Missouri Tigers’ Southeastern Conference debut with a 41-20 win Saturday night at Faurot Field.

UGA tallied 24 unanswered points in the second half to improve to 2-0 on the season, 1-0 in the SEC.

Murray completed 22-of-35 passes for 242 yards and three TDs for the Bulldogs, coming off a 45-23 rout of Buffalo last week.

Leading 10-9 at halftime, the Tigers extended it to 17-9 on a 69-yard TD pass from James Franklin to L’Damian Washington early in the third quarter. Georgia countered with Murray leading a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that culminated in a seven-yard pass to Tavarres King for the TD that tied it at 17-all.

Missouri, which opened this season with a 62-10 shellacking of Southeastern Louisiana, reclaimed the lead 20-17 following a 25-yard field goal, before the Bulldogs finally grabbed the lead for good on the ensuing drive.

Murray, who connected with Brown three times for 55 yards, hit Brown with an 11-yard TD pass, making it 24-20 with 51 seconds left in the third period.

Brown led the Bulldogs receiving corps by hauling in eight passes for 106 yards and two TDs. Michael Bennett added 79 yards, while King caught two passes for 41 yards and a score.

Todd Gurley was the Dogs leading rusher, finishing with 65 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Ken Malcome carried the ball seven times for 33 yards and a TD.

Franklin completed 25-of-41 passes for 269 yards, two TDs and an interception in Missouri’s (1-1, 0-1) first taste of SEC football action.

Marcus Lucas and Washington each caught a TD pass for the Tigers.

It was the first clash between the two teams since the 1960 Orange Bowl, which was won by Georgia 14-0.

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