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Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham didn't have his star linebacker Saturday, but the coordinator didn't see that as an excuse for his defense's poor play in a 29-24 win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Sautrday.
The Wildcats rushed for a season-high 206 yards Saturday. Junior reserve Jonathan George rushed for a career-high 87 yards, including four rushes of at least 10 yards.
Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph if Georgia's issues stopping the run were attributable to the absence of All-American linebacker Jarvis Jones, who did not play with a sprained ankle. Grantham, to Emerson:
"No, we've just gotta play better. I mean anybody that's out there we expect them to play well. I thought the guys that played, they did some good things."
Kentucky's offense has been limited in recent weeks—starting quarterback Maxwell Smith is out indefinitely with a torn ankle ligament—and reliant upon a rotation of true freshman quarterback Jalen Whitlow and displaced senior quarterback Morgan Newton.
Still, the Wildcats were able to move the ball Saturday with a plan that relied heavily on their running game. Kentucky's quarterbacks combined to go 11 for 20 with 123 yards and a touchdown.