Georgia vs. Missouri score, takeaways: No. 2 Dawgs survive toughest test yet behind efficient Carson Beck

Georgia's largely walked through an easy schedule this season, but Mizzou was no slouch

No. 2 Georgia and No. 12 Missouri engaged in a tight SEC East battle Saturday afternoon, though it was the Bulldogs who pulled away and put themselves in the driver's seat for the SEC East title with a 30-21 victory. The Dawgs have now won 26 straight games as the two-time reigning national champions continue their quest for a three-peat.

Mizzou had a chance late when it took possession down 27-21 with 7:46 remaining. However, quarterback Brady Cook made an ill-advised pass under pressure with the ball falling directly into the waiting arms of defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse. That led to a seven-play, 40-yard drive that took up 3:49; it ended with a career-long 48-yard field goal by Georgia freshman kicker Peyton Woodring to make it a two-score game and essentially put the contest out of reach. 

The two teams were tied at halftime, but Georgia's offense came out of the locker room on fire. Running back Kendall Milton capped off a six-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown run to break the tie. That was immediately followed by a 10-play drive that ended when QB Carson Beck found Oscar Delp for a 5-yard touchdown strike. Beck finished 21 of 32 for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Cook and the Tigers quieted the crowd at Sanford Stadium early when they took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter on a 39-yard touchdown reception from Luther Burden III. Cook finished the afternoon 14 of 30 for 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

• Javon Bullard's interception with 1:36 to play iced the game. It was the his first pick of the season -- one in which many teams have actively avoided throwing to his side of the field.
• Mizzou RB Cody Schrader, who entered the game as the SEC's second-leading rusher, churned out 112 yards on 21 carries and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to keep the Tigers in the game.
• Georgia was 6 of 13 on third down and converted their only fourth down opportunity in a game in which time of possession was of great importance.
• Dawgs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson injured his shoulder in the third quarter and went into the locker room. He exited without pads and with a sling. There is no word on his status moving forward. 

Keep on reading for takeaways from Georgia-Missouri.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 7:10 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia passes toughest test of season

The Bulldogs got punched in the mouth by the Tigers' multi-dimensional offense on the first drive as Mizzou went straight down the field on nine plays. They took that punch in the mouth, stood tall and stayed in the fight before taking over in the second half. Make no mistake, this was a heavyweight fight. 

Can you say that about any other Georgia game? Nope. Sure, the Dawgs needed a late touchdown from Brock Bowers to beat Auburn, but that was more a case of those Tigers playing over their heads than it was two top-15 teams getting after it. 

This is a real good Mizzou team. Cook entered the game as one of the best quarterbacks in the country ... especially when he's clean in the pocket. Burden is a monster, too, but Georgia did a great job shutting him down in the second half. Cody Schrader is a load to bring down, but the Dawgs defense didn't let him break off many big plays. 

Georgia needed this. It needed the big-game atmosphere. It needed the pressure of the SEC East driver's seat being on the line. It needed the punch in the face in the first quarter. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 7:25 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Carson Beck has come of age

Georgia's starting QB has emerged as a star. No, not in the sense of video game stats or anything like that, but he has transformed himself into exactly what the Dawgs need: Stetson Bennett 2.0. For those who may read that as an insult, it's not. Bennett was tough as nails, and he led by example during Georgia's two-year national title run.

Beck looks, plays and carries himself the exact same way. He makes smart decisions through the air, continues to be a willing runner and doesn't get rattled when the eyes of the college football world fall on him. He could have panicked and pressed when Bowers suffered his ankle injury against Vanderbilt. Instead, he has handled the added responsibility with a stoic demeanor fitting of a veteran. 

This performance only solidifies that he has what it takes -- something that he has shown throughout the year. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 7:15 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia's defensive adjustment at halftime

Cook isn't exactly Johnny Manziel, but he is mobile enough in the backfield to do some damage with his legs on scrambles and a few designed runs per game. There were more than just a "few" designed runs in this one. Cook entered halftime with 57 yards rushing (including sack yardage) -- the most on either squad. That included designed runs of 18 and 19 yards in the second quarter. 

Things changed in the second half, though. Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann inserted a spy on Cook for (virtually) the entire final 30 minutes and shut Cook down. He finished the day with only 39 yards on the ground, which includes lost yardage on the three times that he was sacked. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:40 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

That might do it

Georgia freshman kicker Peyton Woodring hit a career-high 48-yard field goal to make it 30-21 in favor of the Bulldogs with under four minutes to play. Mizzou does have a quick strike offense -- especially if wide receiver Luther Burden III gets back into the game plan. However, quarterback Brady Cook has to be smart and efficient on this one.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:34 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Nazir Stackhouse with the interception for the Dawgs

Yes, you read that right. Nazir Stackhouse ... the massive defensive tackle for Georgia ... might have had the biggest play of Georgia's season. Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook short-armed a pass under pressure that went straight into the chest of big No. 78, who returned it all of the way inside the 5-yard line. However, an illegal blindside block moved the ball all the way back to the Georgia 30-yard line. That penalty could be massive if Georgia sin't able to cash this drive in for six. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:29 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia extends its lead

Peyton Woodring nailed a 30-yard field goal to extend Georgia's lead to 27-21, but feels like a win for the Mizzou defense. The Bulldogs cruised into the red zone on five plays, but two incomplete passes by Carson Beck followed by a short gain on third-and-long forced the Dawgs into the field goal. It's a six-point game and Mizzou is getting the ball back with just under 10 minutes to play. Interested to see how Mizzou uses running back Cody Schrader here.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:14 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Mizzou answers back

Cody Schrader, the SEC's second-leading running back coming into the game, found the end zone on a stretch play for an 12-yard score to make it a one-score game with 12:50 to play. Quarterback Brady Cook hit Luther Burden III in the back of the end zone for the 2-point conversion to make it 24-21 in what has become a very quiet Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. 

The Bulldogs settled in with their running game on their previous drive, so it'll be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Mike Bobo uses tailbacks Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton here.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:11 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Jamon Dumas-Johnson in the locker room

Georgia's leading tackler, Jamon Dumas Johnson, injured his shoulder on the final play of the third quarter when he tackled Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook on a scramble. Jalon Walker has stepped in for Dumas-Johnson, and he isn't exactly the most experienced player on the roster. That's something to keep an eye on.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 6:01 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia makes it a two-score game

That might have been the dagger. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck found Oscar Delp -- who is starting in place of Brock Bowers -- for a 5-yard touchdown to push Georgia's lead to 24-13 in the final minute of the third quarter. That capped off a 10-play, 67-yard drive that included a 33-yard strike from Beck to Ladd McConkey to get to the 9-yard line to set up the touchdown. Georgia's defense has tightened up and the offense is consistently moving the football with time-consuming drives. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 5:44 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia regains the lead

Kendall Milton cruised in for the touchdown from 15 yards out for the touchdown, but Missouri fans can't be happy with how that one went down. It appeared that the Tigers had a stop on third-and-7 from their 39-yard line after Carson Beck misfired to a pass to RaRa Thomas. However, Thomas essentially requested a pass interference call and then the official tossed one in late. Milton's touchdown run came a couple of plays later. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 5:34 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Huge sack for Georgia

Mizzou came out of the locker room on fire as the Tigers quickly moved into Georgia territory as Brady Cook spread the ball around to three different receivers. However, Georgia safety Tykee Smith came in untouched and popped Cook on third-and-7 to end the drive and force Mizzou to settle for a Harrison Mevis field goal. Bookmark that drive. It could be a huge sequence if Georgia comes back to win this one.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 5:07 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Tied up at halftime

HALF: Georgia 10, Missouri 10

It's been a very conservative game on both sides in this SEC East showdown as Georgia and Missouri head into the half tied 10-10. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is 10 of 17 for 115 yards with a 6-yard touchdown to Dominic Lovett on a tunnel screen. Beck has only been sacked twice, but the Bulldogs offensive line has been having a hard time keeping pressure out of his face.

On the other side of the ball, Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook started out 5 of 5, which included a 39-yard touchdown to Luther Burden III. However, Cook misfired on his next five passes before breaking out of his slump on Mizzou's final drive of the half. The Tigers signal-caller has become a big-time force in the rushing attack as he leads the team in rushing with seven carries for 52 yards on the afternoon. 

Neither offense has broken out yet, and quite frankly, this game is as old-school as old-school gets. It'll be interesting to see which coach decides to take the governor off in the second half.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 5:00 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Burden is back as Mizzou's drive stalls

Luther Burden III was back in on Mizzou's next series, but the Tigers went three-and-out. Georgia sacked quarterback Brady Cook on second-and-10 from the 29-yard line, which was Georgia's first sack of the game. The Bulldogs have been brutal in that department this year, so that's a good sign for a defense that is typically living in the backfield.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:50 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Luther Burden III is hurt

Brady Cook took a shot for the end zone to his star wide receiver in an attempt to take the lead, but it was just out of Burden's reach. Burden got his feet tied up while trying to make the catch, and stayed down as trainers checked him out. He walked to the sideline nursing what appeared to be an ankle injury. He wasn't limping badly, but it was clear that something was bothering him. Missouri settled for a field goal on the drive, so we will have to wait to see if he comes back out during Mizzou's next possession. Mizzou and Georgia are tied at 10 with 4:14 left in the first half. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:46 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Missouri's official X account has a great couple of photos of Burden's TD 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:38 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Brady Cook on the ground

The Missouri quarterback isn't Johnny Manziel out there, but it's clear that coach Eli Drinkwitz is going to use his quarterback on the ground today. He has four carries for 20 yards, including a tush push third-down conversion on the first drive. Two of those carries were on scrambles, but Cook just took off on a designed draw on second-and-12 during the current drive. Georgia isn't putting a spy on him, which is understandable since -- again -- he's not a burner. However, the small threat of Cook being simply a "willing" runner could open up some more of the offense. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:20 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Lovett burns his old team

Georgia's Dominic Lovett found the end zone on a quick screen pass from Carson Beck to take a 10-7 lead. Lovett, a former Missouri star, has been coming along nicely for a team that has plenty of wide receiver options. Ladd McConkey was the star last week in tight end Brock Bowers' first game on the sideline, and the game plan today seems to be centered around Lovett. He has two catches for 15 yards, and has been targeted a team-high three times so far. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:13 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Missouri leads Georgia after the first quarter

This game is as old-school as old-school gets. Georgia's field goal on its first possession was answered with a tremendous 39-yard touchdown from Tiger quarterback Brady Cook to superstar wide receiver Luther Burden III. Georgia is on a nine-play march as the team switch sides in their second possession of the game. Missouri hasn't had its second possession yet. This game is a grinder. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 4:04 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

An incredible first drive for the Tigers

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook dropped an absolute dime to Luther Burden III to take a 7-3 lead over Georgia. It was a tremendous first possession that saw the Tiger convert two opportunities on third down against the best third-down defense in the country, and kept Cook clean in the pocket despite some pressure from the Bulldog front seven. Interested to see if Georgia dials up some more pressure on the next drive in an attempt to try to force some mistakes from Cook.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 3:58 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Georgia's balance

I liked Georgia's balance on that drive. They ran six passes and five times on the ground, which included a great mix of outside, inside, screen and downfield attempts. Missouri's defense was on skates at times, but Carson Beck's incomplete pass near the goal line hurt.