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ATLANTA — With all kinds of turmoil behind them within the rankings, the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs left little question in regards to the prime group heading into the School Soccer Playoff, dismantling No. 11 LSU 50-30 within the Southeastern Convention championship sport Saturday.
Stetson Bennett’s threw a season-high 4 landing passes in one other stellar postseason efficiency, whereas Christopher Smith gave the Bulldogs an early spark with a heads-up play that turned a seemingly innocent blocked discipline objective right into a 96-yard TD.
Not that any fortuitous breaks had been wanted, however Georgia (13-0, No. 1 CFP) caught a giant one when a deflected cross bounced off an LSU receiver’s helmet and wound up being picked off by the Bulldogs, organising a rating that contributed to a 35-10 lead by halftime.
LSU’s hopes of denying the reigning nationwide champs their first SEC title since 2017 had been additional dampened by quarterback Jayden Daniels re-injuring a sore proper ankle late within the first half. Not that backup Garrett Nussmeier performed poorly, guiding the Tigers (9-4, No. 14 CFP) to 3 second-half touchdowns.
It wasn’t practically sufficient.
Georgia heads into the playoff assured of a return journey to Atlanta for a de facto semifinal residence sport at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, simply 75 miles from its Athens campus. The Bulldogs have already performed twice this season on the futuristic stadium, routing Oregon within the season opener and cruising previous the Tigers earlier than a predominantly red-and-black crowd.
LSU’s outdoors hopes of crashing the four-team playoff discipline had been worn out every week in the past by a surprising loss at Texas A&M, certainly one of a number of upsets that can give the choice committee loads to consider earlier than its announcement Sunday.
Tennessee and Clemson additionally ruined their playoff hopes with losses late within the common season, whereas No. 4 Southern California is presumably out after getting blown out by Utah within the Pac-12 title sport Friday.
Simply because the SEC sport was kicking off, No. 3 TCU misplaced to Kansas State in time beyond regulation for the Huge 12 championship, additional clouding a playoff image that instantly appears to be like rather more favorable for No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Alabama.
Regardless of who makes the elite discipline, Georgia is firmly centered on changing into the primary repeat nationwide title since Alabama in 2011-12, having gained all however one sport this season by double-digit margins.
The Bulldogs confirmed they’re greater than only a bunch of proficient athletes — this can be a sensible, well-coached group.
Late within the first quarter, LSU’s 32-yard discipline objective try was swatted away by Nazir Stackhouse bursting via the center of the road. The ball rolled to a cease on the Georgia 4 with Smith hovering over it, surveying the sphere.
Because the dejected Tigers headed towards their sideline, pondering the play was over, Smith instantly scooped up the ball and took odd the opposite means. With a convoy of a few half-dozen teammates and never an LSU participant in sight, Smith sprinted all the best way to the top zone to provide Georgia a 7-0 lead.
After LSU rapidly tied it up on Daniels’ 53-yard landing cross to Kayshon Boutte, Bennett took management.
The sixth-year senior, a former walk-on who was offensive MVP of each Georgia playoffs wins a yr in the past, struck for 4 TD passes in a lower than 15-minute span: 3 yards to Brock Bowers, 22 yards to Ladd McConkey, 14 yards to Darnell Washington and three yards to Dillon Bell.
Identical to that, Georgia led 35-7.
Smith was in the course of issues once more on a choose that arrange the scoring play to McConkey.
The protection broke up a cross meant for Jack Bach, the ball bouncing off Bach’s helmet earlier than it was stored alive with a tip from Javon Bullard and at last wound up within the arms of Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon.
It was that form of day for the Bulldogs. And ultimately, a promising debut season for coach Brian Kelly has turned ugly the final two weeks for the Tigers. With wins over Alabama and Florida, and an SEC West title, the Tigers are heading in the right direction, however nonetheless have a bit of labor to do to catch a powerhouse program just like the Bulldogs.
Georgia will study their destiny early Saturday afternoon, when the ultimate CFP rankings are launched. The one query is who the Bulldogs will meet within the Peach Bowl on New Yr’s Eve, with TCU, Ohio State and SEC rival Alabama all within the combine.
LSU may find yourself within the Citrus Bowl.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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