Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart had complete faith in backup quarterback Gunner Stockton.

‘This kid is a winner. This kid’s special,’ Smart said after Stockton rallied the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs were trailing the Longhorns 6-3 when Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was knocked out of the game on the final play of the first half. Beck took a hit from Longhorns defensive edge Trey Moore and suffered a hand injury. Stockton started the third quarter and led the Bulldogs to a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Trevor Etienne’s 10-yard touchdown run. It set the tone for Georgia in the second half.

Smart praised Stockton, a redshirt sophomore, for the comeback: “I didn’t say one word to him. (Quarterback) coach (Michael) Bobo did and all the coaches did and he believed.’

Stockton, who completed 12-of-16 passes for 71 yards and one interception, credited his teammates as the inspiration for his performance.

“It goes back to the love I have for everybody in the locker room. All the seniors. Wanted to go out the right way,’ he said. ‘This is pretty awesome. It’s special with the guys I get to do it with.” 

Etienne said he’s ‘proud’ of Stockton: ‘He works so hard, day in and day out. He never complains… It goes to show how much work he puts in.’

Saturday’s win marks Georgia’s second SEC championship in three seasons. With the conference win, Georgia clinched a spot in the 12-team college playoff bracket.

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