(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy on the margin by which Georgia outscored Texas in the second half.)
ATLANTA — Gunner Stockton was pressed into action in the second half for Georgia football on Saturday in the SEC Championship Game against Texas.
The Bulldogs, just off an eight overtime win over Georgia Tech, went past regulation for the second game in a row. It was the first time in the 33-year history of the event not decided in four quarters.
Stockton, the seldom-used backup quarterback, came to the rescue of the Bulldogs for an injured Carson Beck. Stockton ignited a dormant Georgia offense in the second half.
Purchase The Stadium Edition Purchase The PosterHe then put his body at risk on an 8-yard run in overtime in which his helmet flew off after a punishing hit by Andrew Mukuba. Beck came in the game because Stockton had to be out for one play by rule.
Trevor Etienne ended it with a 4-yard run up the middle for a touchdown.
The No. 5 Bulldogs overcame a halftime deficit and beat No. 2 Texas 22-19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to lock up a bye to a spot in the CFP quarterfinals.
Cornerback Daylen Everette picked off two Quinn Ewers passes, the second with 3:36 to go at the Texas 28.
The 11-2 Bulldogs managed just 54 first-half yards and trailed 6-3, but Stockton led a Bulldogs team that outscored Texas 13-10 in the second half.
With Beck sidelined with an apparent right elbow injury, the redshirt sophomore from Rabun County completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards and picked up 9 yards on one quarterback run.
He threw an interception with 2:30 to go to give Texas life.
He held on a 21-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring with 4:32 to go that gave Georgia the go-ahead points.
Here are three key observations from the SEC title game:
Purchase “Dominant Dawgs” HereGeorgia football clinches spot in quarterfinals
Georgia football completed its own Texas two-step with its second win this season over the Longhorns.
With it comes a big perk in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Bulldogs earned a first-round bye and an expected trip to the Sugar Bowl, where they will await the winner of a first-round game. Those teams will be revealed on Sunday when the CFP selection committee puts out the bracket.
Coach Kirby Smart won his third SEC championship in nine seasons as head coach.
No. 2 Texas fell to 11-2 and will now have to settle for a first-round game.
Fake punt works to perfection for Georgia
A fake punt to Justin Fields didn’t go well for Georgia in a 2018 SEC championship loss to Alabama
The one Smart called in the fourth quarter vs. Texas went splendidly.
With punter Brett Thorson out with a left knee injury and Charlie Ham in at punter, upback Drew Bobo took a direct snap and shoveled it to Arian Smith, who ran for the first down on fourth-and-5 to the Georgia 39. That set up the Woodring field goal.
Daylen Everette and Georgia defense delivers
Everette looked again like a Texas-killer, but he was called for pass interference on Ryan Wingo in the end zone with 35 seconds to go in regulation to put the ball at the Georgia 14.
Texas forced overtime on a 37-yard field goal with 8 seconds to go. Everette broke up a pass in the end zone during the OT.
Everette, a junior from Norfolk, had a sack that forced a fumble in the win at Texas in October along with an interception. He had two more interceptions Saturday to give him a team-high three on the season.
Freshman KJ Bolden had a big third-down, open-field tackle in overtime.
