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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Carson Beck jumped into nan stands wearing achromatic oculus overgarment smeared crossed his look and a wide smile. His 3 interceptions were a distant memory. All he cared astir what celebrating different triumph successful nan crippled he cherishes most.

Beck threw for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns to offset 3 interceptions successful his hometown and No. 2 Georgia escaped “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” pinch a 34-20 triumph complete Florida connected Saturday.

Now he's 2-0 arsenic a starter against nan Gators.

“This is my dream. It's a ace cool circle for me," Beck said. "This is my favourite crippled of nan year. I wouldn't opportunity I ever put unit connected myself. I spell play football. ... Obviously, I want to propulsion a cleanable game: 30 for 30, 4 TDs. That's what I was reasoning astir stepping into nan stadium. I felt for illustration I was nan man, stepping backmost into my hometown of Jacksonville, let's go. This is fun.

“What americium I expected to do? We conscionable won. I'm happy.”

But Beck knows he has to trim — possibly moreover destruct — turnovers for Georgia to do thing special. He has 8 interceptions successful his past 3 games, each wins.

“Some of nan throws he makes are big-time, elite throws,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "He conscionable has a mates of times wherever he threw nan shot complete nan mediate late. You can't do that. You can't move nan shot complete and beryllium a bully shot team; he knows that.

“I don't deliberation it's a matter of determination making. I deliberation sometimes he presses there, and it's a large crippled to him; he's from here. We don't triumph that crippled without Carson Beck.”

The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) won their 4th consecutive successful nan series, their longest streak since winning six successful a statement betwixt 1978 and 1983. They took advantage of Florida’s backmost woes and a typical teams correction successful this one.

Standout freshman DJ Lagway near nan crippled connected a cart successful nan 2nd 4th pinch a near hamstring injury and pinch nan Gators (4-4, 2-3) starring 10-3. Without him, it was mostly ugly.

Walk-on Aidan Warner completed 7 of 22 passes for 66 yards, pinch an interception. Warner was thrust onto nan section because Florida starter Graham Mertz tore a ligament successful his near knee astatine Tennessee past month and is retired for nan season.

“I do deliberation nan crippled went nan measurement we wanted it,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “We made it disfigured astatine time. But we had our squad successful position to triumph nan game.”

The Gators kept nan crippled adjacent acknowledgment to a stingy defense that forced Beck into much mistakes. Jack Pyburn, Aaron Gates and Devin Moore had picks that led to a mixed 10 points for Florida.

But nan astir important turnover belonged to nan Gators. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw grounded to grip Rocco Underwood’s debased threat connected a 51-yard section extremity effort precocious successful nan third. It resulted successful a 31-yard loss, mounting up Beck’s first TD pass.

Georgia: If nan Bulldogs make nan College Football Playoff, they won’t apt spell very acold if Beck continues his turnover trend. He now has 11 interceptions successful his past 5 games. It’s baffling for a feline who opened nan play arsenic 1 of nan Heisman Trophy front-runners.

Florida: The Gators request to inquire themselves really they ended pinch a walk-on backmost playing meaningful snaps successful a rivalry game. Napier has mislaid 8 danasiwa QBs earlier than expected successful 3 years, including Jalen Kitna, Jack Miller, Max Brown and Jaden Rashada.

With Jason Marshall and Ja’Keem Jackson already sidelined, nan Gators mislaid 2 much cornerbacks against Georgia. Moore injured his correct knee successful nan first half and Dijon Johnson injured his near hamstring successful nan second.

Georgia moving backmost Trevor Etienne, who transferred from Florida aft past season, near nan crippled pinch a rib injury. Backup Nate Frazier ran 19 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He besides sewage an earful from coach Kirby Smart aft getting flagged for making a throat-slash gesture.

Georgia plays astatine No. 19 Ole Miss adjacent Saturday.

Florida plays astatine No. 6 Texas adjacent Saturday.

___

Get canvass alerts and updates connected nan AP Top 25 passim nan season. Sign up here. AP assemblage football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football