With the loss, Kentucky drops to 4-7, 1-6 in the Southeastern Conference and with the win, Georgia moves to 9-2, 7-1 in the SEC.
Georgia’s win clinches the SEC Eastern Division for the Bulldogs.
Kentucky and Georgia met for the 65th time in school annals, with Georgia leading the series 51-12-2, including a 26-4-2 mark in games played in Athens.
UK is 3-26 against Georgia when the Bulldogs are ranked.
The Wildcats are 39-121-5 all-time against teams ranked in the top 25.
Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, hosting Tennessee in the regular-season finale at Commonwealth Stadium. The game is set for a 12:21 p.m. ET kickoff in Lexington, with a live telecast on the SEC Network, with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color) and Cara Capuano (sideline) calling the action. Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jeff Piecoro (color) and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will voice the action on the UK IMG Sports Network (radio).
Team Notes
Georgia won the toss and deferred to the second half.
This is the sixth consecutive game UK has recorded at least one takeaway on defense. UK forced Georgia into four turnovers, including one interception.
The Wildcats scored on their opening possession for the third time this season, also recording opening-drive field goals against Central Michigan and Louisville.
UK’s defense held Georgia to 317 yards of total offense, the third lowest opponent total offensive yards allowed by UK in 2011.
Georgia’s 317 total yards of offense is its second-lowest total of the year, just behind the 315 the Bulldogs gained against Mississippi State.
Scoring Drives
Kentucky got on the board in its first possession, taking an early lead behind a 32-yard field goal from Craig McIntosh. Key play: Matt Roark’s hauled in a career-long 46-yard catch on a third down to put UK in striking distance on a 65-yard drive. Kentucky 3, Georgia 0 – 11:16 1st quarter
After recovering a Kentucky onside kick, Georgia evened up the game on its first possession, driving it six plays for 23 yards and completing the drive with a Blair Walsh 39-yard field goal. Key play: Aaron Murray found Malcolm Mitchell for an 11-yard completion on second down. Kentucky 3, Georgia 3 – 8:46 1st quarter
After an interception and a 53-yard return from Branden Smith, the Bulldogs took the lead with a 40-yard field goal from Walsh. Key play: three Georgia rushing attempts from inside the 25-yard line results in a third-down stop for UK, forcing the field goal attempt. Georgia 6, Kentucky 3 – 2:12 1st quarter
After recovering a Georgia fumble, the Wildcats took the lead with a six-play, 27-yard touchdown drive that finished with a two-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Tyler Robinson. Key play: on third and 10, Maxwell Smith found tight end Nick Mellilo for a first-down catch in traffic across the middle, keeping the drive alive with a 13-yard grab. Kentucky 10, Georgia 6 – 8:30 2nd quarter
After a punt return to the Kentucky 23, Georgia got on the board late in the first half after a seven-play, 16-yard drive resulted in a 25-yard field goal from Walsh. Key play: on third and 12, UGA quarterback Aaron Murray scrambled out of the pocket for 13 yards and a first down. Kentucky 10, Georgia 9 – 1:53 2nd quarter
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game late in the half after a UK fumble on a kickoff return. Key play: Walsh connects on a 39-yard field goal after the UK defense mounted a stand to force the field-goal attempt. Georgia 12, Kentucky 10 – 0:48 2nd quarter
After recovering a UK fumble inside the Wildcats 10-yard line, Georgia added to its lead. Key play: facing a third and goal from the seven-yard line, Murray connected with Marlon Brown for a touchdown pass. Georgia 19, Kentucky 10 – 14:55 4th quarter
Individual Notes
Smith made the third start of his career and his third consecutive start at quarterback.
He finished 17-for-34 with 133 yards, connecting on one touchdown.
Sophomore wide receiver and two-sport standout Brian Adams made his first start of the year and the second of his career in his return to his home state.
Senior Matt Roark’s 46-yard catch in the first quarter marked a new career-long reception.
Roark finished with three catches for a team-best 51 yards.
Tight end Anthony Kendrick hauled in his first catch of the 2011 season.
Kendrick caught a career-high three balls for 22 yards.
Freshman fullback D.J. Warren hauled in a career-long 15-yard catch to complete a first down in the second quarter.
Senior linebacker Danny Trevathan forced his team-leading fourth fumble of the year in the second quarter.
Trevathan led UK with a career-high tying 17 tackles, recording three tackles for a loss and one sack.
He now has double-digit tackles in 17 of the last 20 games and now owns 21 career games with at least 10 tackles.
With 366 tackles in his career, Trevathan moves into 10th place in UK career history, passing Richard Jaffe (76-69) and Brian Williams (82-85), who each had 350 career tackles.
Senior safety Taiedo Smith recovered his first fumble of his career in the second quarter after Trevathan forced the fumble.
Robinson, UK’s sophomore tight end, connected with Smith for his first touchdown catch of the season and the second of his career.
Senior cornerback Randall Burden hauled in his third interception of the year in the Georgia end zone in the third quarter. Burden now has interceptions in two consecutive games.
Burden owns six career interceptions.
True freshman safety Ashely Lowery made his first collegiate start, totaling five tackles.
Senior Winston Guy recovered the first fumble of his four-year career in the third period, adding four tackles.
Freshman Mike Douglas forced the first fumble of his career in the third quarter, finishing with four tackles.
Freshman Miles Simpson made his first career tackle for a loss in the fourth period.
Coshik Williams caught a career-high five balls, also rushing eight times.
Sophomore running back Raymond Sanders led UK on the ground, rushing seven times for 37 yards.
Ryan Tydlacka punted eight times for a 46.4 average, including three inside the 20-yard line and a long of 63 yards.
Sophomore Mister Cobble recorded his first career sack from his defensive line post, adding four tackles.
Cornerback Anthony Mosely charted a career-high two pass breakups.
