Georgian Kirby Smart issues brutal challenge to Stetson Bennett after thrilling win: ‘He needs to play better’
Georgia bypassed Ohio State in the college football playoff semifinals on Saturday night thanks to a late-game missed field goal from the Buckeyes.
Stetson Bennett had two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs win the game 42-41. He finished with four total touchdowns on the night. His coach, Kirby Smart, wasn’t about to praise the quarterback just because Georgia miraculously got the win.
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Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is fired by Ohio State during the Peach Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Smart said immediately after the game that Bennett needed to tie up.
“He’s shown great competitive character, but he has to play in our system and he has to do what he’s learned to do or you can’t win games,” Smart said as his players celebrated. “He didn’t have those opportunities until the defense stopped them and we were lucky enough to stop them a few times. He needs to play better if we hope to win the next one.”
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Ohio State took a 21-7 lead and took a 28-24 halftime lead. The Buckeyes then led 38-24 early in the fourth quarter before the crazy fourth quarter changed everything. Bennett had one interception and was sacked four times. Georgia was also just 2 of 10 on third down.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett celebrates after the Peach Bowl against Ohio State, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Quarterback Stetson Bennett and head coach Kirby Smart after Georgia’s victory over Ohio State at the Peach Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
“If we want to have a chance of winning the national championship, we have to play much better football than what we played tonight, but we have to keep our resilience,” Smart added during the post-season press conference. match.
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Georgia will now meet TCU for a chance at back-to-back national championships.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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