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B2 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 The Eatonton Aessenger www.msgrnews.com HOME • AME 2 2025 SEASON 1-0 SEC RECORD 0-0 WEEKLY COVERAGE OF THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS SCHEDULE MARSHALL Home Aug. 30 ✓WIN 45-7 AUSTIN PEAY AT Home Sept.6 3:30 p.m. / ESPN+ TENNESSEE Away Sept. 13 3:30 p.m./ABC KENTUCKY Home Oct. 4 ALABAMA 7:30 p.m./ ABC Home Sept. 27 LANCE McCURLEY/Staff Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) accounted for four touchdowns in the team's 45-7 win over Marshall on Saturday. 12 p.m./TBD OLE MISS Home Oct. 18 TBD Home (Jax) Nov. 1 3:30 p.m./ ABC AUBURN TBD Away Oct. 11 FLORIDA MISS. STATE 12 p.m./TBD 5TATEL Away Nov. 8 CHARLOTTE TEXAS TBD Home Nov. 15 G Home Nov. 22 12:45 p.m./ SECN GEORGIA TECH Away Friday Nov. 28 3:30 p.m./ABC Stockton leads Georgia past Marshall in opener Lance McCurley lance@msgrnews.com Georgia easily defeated Marshall in its season opener on Saturday, largely due to the performance of quarterback Gunner Stockton. In his first start at Sanford Stadium for the No. 4 Bulldogs, Stockton scored four touch- downs in the lopsided 45-7 victory. The redshirt junior threw for two scores and ran for two more against the Thun dering Herd. “It felt different,” Stockton said following the game. “Running out as a starter is a lot different from hoping you’ll get in, but I really enjoyed everything about it. Glad today went the way it did.” Stockton ignited the Georgia offense, making play after play to showcase his abilities as both a passer and runner. He completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 190 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the Bulldogs in rushing with 73 yards on 10 attempts with two scores. Stockton’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet didn’t surprise head coach Kirby Smart. “Proud of Gunner. Great leader, great competitor,” Smart said. “Just does it the right way. Got us out of some negative plays. Had too many times that we could have been sacked, and he escaped. He took care of the ball well, made good decisions, and made good reads on his pulls. Continues to distribute the ball and did a nice job.” Stockton scored his first rushing touchdown in the opening quarter when Georgia was up 7-0. He pulled the ball out of his tailback’s hands on a read option and darted 13 yards past defenders on his way to the end zone. Following the score, it looked to some like Stockton pointed a finger at a Marshall player, appearing to taunt him. However, he explained later UGA ATHLETICS Georgia sophomore running back Dwight Phillips Jr. (20) brushes off a Marshall defender on his way to the end zone. that he was actually pointing at wideout London Humphreys, who made a key block that helped him cross the goal line. “Yeah, it was fun,” Stockton said of the moment. “We were playing football; it’s supposed to be fun.” Stockton later threw a touch- down pass to Humphreys late in the third quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 38-0 lead after the PAT. He also threw a scoring pass to transfer wide receiver Zacariah Branch earlier in the third. “He is a dog. When I got here, just seeing the workouts and the way that he was carrying himself day in and day out, I knew that he could be a threat in a run game and passing as well,” Branch said ofhis quarterback. “He can move. I’m definitely happy for him to go out there and be able to show his wheels and be versatile as well.” Branch led the team in receiving with 95 yards on three receptions and a touchdown. Stockton appeared thrilled to be at Sanford Stadium on Saturday. “Being in the huddle with all the guys on the sidelines, and just enjoying the moment, and just chasing good memories,” he said of the experience. Stockton hopes to continue his success at home next Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. start against Austin Peay. GEORGIA OFFENSE (45) PASSING GUNNERSTOCKTON 14-24 190 YDS / 2 TDs RUSHING GUNNERSTOCKTON 10 CARRIES 73 YDS/ 2 TDs RECEIVING ZACHARIAH BRANCH 3 RECEPTIONS 95 YDS/1TD MARSHALL OFFENSE (7) PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING ZION TURNER J.WILLIAMS-THOMAS X.TURNER-BRADSHAW 6-7 4CARRIES 3 RECEPTIONS 100 YDS 24 YDS 58 YDS
