ATHENS, GA – On a perfect weather day for college football, the Georgia Bulldogs kicked off their 2025 season in dominant fashion, securing a decisive 45-7 victory over Marshall. The Bulldogs extend their season-opening win streak to 12 games with Saturday’s victory. Under head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia remains undefeated in season openers (10-0) and further strengthens their home-field advantage, bringing their record at Sanford Stadium to 51-4.
Georgia’s offense clicked on all cylinders, amassing a total of 488 yards on 76 plays. Quarterback Gunner Stockton stole the show, accounting for four touchdowns in his second career start (and first in Athens). Stockton completed 14 of 24 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding two rushing touchdowns – the first of his college career.
Stockton’s performance marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Bulldog quarterback to lead the team in rushing with at least 70 yards since 2018, when Justin Fields ran for 102 yards against U Mass.
“It’s always a different feeling when you’re starting, for sure,” Stockton said. “This was a dream come true, and I enjoyed if for sure. We won a ball game, so we had fun, but we have to get better each week.”
In the first half, the Bulldogs established a commanding 24-0 lead, racking up 239 yards of offense on 41 plays. Their opening drive set the tone for the game, as they marched 70 yards on eight plays in just over four minutes, capped by a 17-yard touchdown run by Dwight Phillips, Jr. Stockton converted a crucial 4th-and-2 on the drive with a 14-yard rush. On their second possession, Stockton powered through on a 4th-and-1 for a 13-yard touchdown, extending the lead.
In the second half, the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure on Marshall. Zachariah Branch caught a screen pass for the 47 yard touchdown on the opening drive, making the score 31-0. Later in the third quarter, Stockton connected with London Humphreys for a two-yard touchdown pass, that extended the lead to 38-0.
Freshman quarterback Ryan Puglisi made his highly anticipated debut with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. He completed 5 of 8 passes for 59 yards and threw his first career touchdown pass – a 23-yard strike to true freshman Elyiss Williams, making the score 45-0. Williams’ touchdown marked the first time a Bulldog scored on his first career reception since Oscar Delp in 2022.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were equally impressive, limiting Marshall to just one touchdown and 207 yards of total offense on 52 plays. The Thundering Herd were held scoreless in the first half, managing just 40 yards of offense. Linebackers Raylen Wilson and Zion Branch led the team in tackles, each recording a career-high seven.
“They played hard and ran to the ball,” Smart said postgame regarding his assessment of the Georgia defense. “I’ll wait to reserve judgment until we get to the film, but I did think we ran to the ball hard. I thought guys competed. I still think if we’re going to be who we want to be we have to create more turnovers.”
Marshall avoided the shutout with a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, going 84 yards on seven plays, highlighted by a 44-yard reception. However, it was too little, too late as the Bulldogs secured a dominant 45-7 victory to start the 2025 season.
The Bulldogs now hold a 2-0 record against Marshall and will host Austin Peay next Saturday at 3:30 PM PT on the SEC Network.
