Carson Beck overcomes 3 INTs to lead No. 2 Georgia to a 34-20 win over Florida in “Cocktail Party”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Carson Beck jumped into the stands with black eye paint on his face and a big smile. His three interceptions were a distant memory. All he cared about was celebrating another win in the game he cares about most.

Beck threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns to offset three interceptions in his hometown, and No. 2 Georgia escaped the “greatest outdoor cocktail party in the world” with a 34-20 victory over Florida on Saturday.

He is now 2-0 as a starter against the Gators.

“This is my dream. For me it’s a super cool circle,” said Beck. “This is my favorite game of the year. I wouldn't say I ever put any pressure on myself. I'm going to play football. … Of course I want to throw a perfect game: 30 for 30, four touchdowns. I thought about that as I walked into the stadium. I felt like I was the man going back to my hometown of Jacksonville, let's go. That is fun.

“What should I do? We just won. I’m happy.”

But Beck knows he has to reduce — maybe even eliminate — turnover for Georgia to do something special. He has made eight interceptions in his last three games, all wins.

“Some of the throws he makes are quality throws,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “He only threw the ball over the middle a couple of times late. You can't do that. You can't turn the ball over and be a good football team; he knows that.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of decision making. I think sometimes he presses there and it's a big game for him; he is from here. We won’t win this game without Carson Beck.”

The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) won their fourth straight in the series, their longest streak since six straight wins between 1978 and 1983, taking advantage of Florida's quarterback problems and a special teams error.

Outstanding rookie DJ Lagway left the game on a cart in the second quarter with a left hamstring injury and the Gators (4-4, 2-3) led 10-3. Things were mostly ugly without him.

Walk-on Aidan Warner completed 7 of 22 passes for 66 yards, with one interception. Warner was forced onto the field because Florida was the starter Graham Mertz tore ligaments in his left knee last month in Tennessee and is canceled for the season.

“I think the game went the way we wanted it to,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “We made it ugly at times. But we had our team in position to win the game.”

The Gators kept the game close thanks to a stingy defense that forced Beck into more errors. Jack Pyburn, Aaron Gates and Devin Moore had picks that combined for 10 points for Florida.

However, the Gators had the biggest turnover. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw failed to handle Rocco Underwood's low snap on a 51-yard field goal attempt late in the third. This resulted in a loss of 31 yards and set up Beck's first touchdown pass.

The takeaway food

Georgia: If the Bulldogs make it to the College Football Playoff, they probably won't go far if Beck continues his turnover trend. He now has 11 interceptions in his last five games. It's mind-boggling for a guy who opened the season as one of the Heisman Trophy frontrunners.

Florida: The Gators have to wonder how a walk-on quarterback ended up playing meaningful snaps in a rivalry game. Napier lost eight scholarship QBs earlier than expected in three years, including Jalen Kitna, Jack Miller, Max Brown and Jaden Rashada.

Overfilled injury reports

With Jason Marshall and Ja'Keem Jackson already sidelined, the Gators lost two more cornerbacks against Georgia. Moore injured his right knee in the first half and Dijon Johnson injured his left hamstring in the second half.

Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, who transferred from Florida after last season, left the game with a rib injury. Backup Nate Frazier ran 19 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Coach Kirby Smart also received a sympathetic ear after he was accused of making a throat-slitting gesture.

Next

Georgia plays at No. 19 Ole Miss next Saturday.

Florida plays No. 6 Texas next Saturday.

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