ATHENS, Ga., – Freshman Bo Walker ran for the first three touchdowns of his career on Saturday, helping No. 4 Georgia post a 35-3 victory over visiting Charlotte.
Gunner Stockton completed 17 of 21 passes for 196 yards, before backup Ryan Puglisi entered and threw for 49 yards for the Bulldogs (10-1), who won their seventh straight game. Nate Frazier rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns for Georgia, which outgained the 49ers 449-169.
Grayson Loftis threw for 130 yards and was intercepted twice for Charlotte (1-10), which dropped its eighth straight game. The 49ers had just seven first downs to Georgia’s 30.
Holding a 28-3 halftime lead, Georgia went ahead by 32 on Walker’s third touchdown of the game with 11:46 remaining in the third quarter.
After forcing a turnover on downs, Charlotte threatened to find the end zone for the first time after Loftis’ 38-yard pass to E. Jai Mason extended the 49ers’ drive to Georgia’s 21-yard line.
Loftis was then picked off by freshman Daniel Okonkwo in the end zone with 5:59 remaining in the fourth.
After Georgia punted on its opening drive, the Bulldogs found the end zone as Stockton’s 29-yard pass to Lawson Luckie was followed with Frazier’s 2-yard rushing score with 6:18 left in the first quarter.
Frazier’s 7-yard rushing touchdown doubled the lead with 52 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Following Charlotte’s third punt in as many drives, Walker scored his first career touchdown – a 15-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead.
Ellis Robinson IV picked off Loftis on the 49ers’ next possession, before Walker’s 12-yard rushing score extended the margin to 28 with 3:27 left in the first half.
Charlotte’s highlight of the opening half came with less than a minute left, as Ja’Qurious Conley intercepted Stockton, leading to Liam Boyd’s 42-yard field goal as time expired, cutting the 49ers’ halftime-deficit to 28-3
–Jack Batten, Field Level Media
