LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Remember those kicking issues Georgia suffered from early in the season?
Well, it's not a problem anymore.
Freshman Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired to help the Georgia Bulldogs (5-4, 3-4 SEC) complete a late-game rally against the Kentucky Wildcats (5-4, 4-3 SEC) and win 27-24 at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, ending a two-game losing streak.
"I know this, we have a damn good field goal kicker," head coach Kirby Smart said in an interview with SEC Network after the game.
Georgia's defense made a stand with their backs against their own end zone to limit the Wildcats to a field goal which tied the game at 24 with roughly three minutes left.
Georgia took over and drove 67 yards down the field to set up Blankenship's field goal. Blankenship finished 4-or-4, including a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter that began Georgia's quick rally when down eight.
Freshman quarterback Jacob Eason threw a touchdown pass on the team's first drive. He found Isaiah McKenzie in the middle of the field, who ran outside and into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown.
Eason completed 17 passes on 31 attempts for 245 yards and the lone touchdown.
Sony Michel had a 26-yard touchdown run to give Georgia a 24-21 lead before Kentucky tied it with the late field goal.
Michel had 19 carries for 127 yards. Nick Chubb had 21 carries for 85 yards to help the running game bounce back from last week's dismal performance against the Florida Gators. Chubb had two fumbles in the game.
The Wildcats lived up to their namesake and scored all three of their touchdowns out of the wildcat formation, something that's helped boost their offense since their 0-2 start to the season.
Georgia struggled to defend the wildcat, including a snap to Benny Snell Jr. who shook a tackle by Davin Bellamy to get into the end zone.
After Isaiah McKenzie muffed a punt that Kentucky recovered, Stanley "Boom" Williams broke two tackles from Deandre Baker and Aaron Davis to score from the wildcat and give Kentucky its first lead in the second quarter. Snell Jr. extended the Wildcats' lead in the third quarter after a 1-yard rush that a review showed was a touchdown.
Snell pushed around the Georgia defense throughout the game, who rushed 39 yards on the Wildcats' final drive before Georgia's defense had the late stand limiting Kentucky to its game-tying field goal.
Georgia's defense was able to force two turnovers from the Wildcats. Maurice Smith forced a fumble in the third quarter, and Deandre Backer picked off Wildcats quarterback Stephen Jackson for his first career interception.
The Wildcats would have become bowl eligible with a victory, but instead will look next week to earn a bowl berth for the first time since 2011 next week against Tennessee.
Georgia is one win away from extending its streak of consecutive seasons going to a bowl game to 20. They face the Auburn Tigers next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at home.
