Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton tied the school record by delivering five touchdown passes in the Bulldogs’ 70‑20 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday. Completing 13 of 16 attempts for 234 yards, Stockton joined a select group of Georgia players who have achieved five TD throws in a single half.
Dominant first half propels Bulldogs
Wearing all‑white alternate uniforms for the first time in program history, Georgia surged to a 49‑0 lead by halftime, matching the most productive half ever recorded for the school. The scoring barrage included a 7‑yard TD pass to tight end Ethan Barbour just a minute into the game, followed by scores to running back Chauncey Bowens and receivers London Humphreys, Sacovie White‑Helton and Talyn Taylor.
Tyriq Green added a 91‑yard kickoff return for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in the end zone, further extending the lead. Backup quarterback Brock Glenn contributed two scoring runs for Western Kentucky, but the Hilltoppers could not recover from the early onslaught.
Coach Smart emphasizes road test
Head coach Kirby Smart praised the offensive execution while warning that SEC road games will present a tougher test. “It’s fun when you score on every possession, but is it real? We have to see how we perform on the road against SEC caliber opponents,” Smart said.
Georgia’s defense limited Western Kentucky to just 20 points despite a rainy afternoon that turned the field slick and produced four combined fumbles. The Bulldogs’ depth was evident, with twelve players recording receptions and twelve registering rushing attempts.
Historical context
The 70‑point total was the first since a 70‑6 win over Northeast Louisiana in 1994, and marks the first time in more than a century that Georgia has scored 60 or more points in consecutive games. The last such stretch occurred in 1915 when the Bulldogs posted 79‑0 and 64‑0 victories.
Stockton’s performance places him alongside former Georgia quarterbacks Stetson Bennett (2021) and Aaron Murray (2011) as the third player to throw five TD passes in a first half. His five touchdowns tied the school record most recently matched by Carson Beck in 2024.
Looking ahead
Georgia heads into its SEC schedule with confidence, opening against Arkansas next Saturday. Western Kentucky will travel to face No. 5 Indiana later this week.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
