Georgia right guard Tate Ratledge was shocked when he heard quarterback Carson Beck calling the final play in overtime during the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas.
Beck was thought to be out for the rest of the game after injuring his arm on the final play of the first half. Coach Kirby Smart had told ESPN he didn’t expect Beck to return. Beck’s right arm was wrapped in ice on the sidelines, which made it seem even more likely that he wouldn’t play again.
However, a hard hit on Beck’s backup, Gunner Stockton, in overtime changed the situation. Stockton had to leave the field for one play after his helmet was knocked off.
Beck returned to take the last snap and handed the ball off to Trevor Etienne, who ran 4 yards for the game-winning touchdown in Georgia’s 22-19 overtime victory over Texas.
“I think when we got the play and everybody saw it was Carson, it was pretty juiced up in that huddle and that ended up being the play that won it,” Ratledge said.
Beck had been hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore on the last play of the first half, which caused a fumble that was recovered by Anthony Hill Jr. Hill then lost the ball when he tried to extend the play with a lateral as time expired.
Beck was left lying on the field after the hit and needed help to get up before walking off.
Beck was one of the last players to return from halftime. He was holding his helmet but did not warm up. He stayed on the sidelines while Stockton led the offense to a touchdown on Georgia’s first drive of the second half.
In overtime, Stockton took a hard hit from Andrew Mukuba, knocking off his helmet. The referees initially called targeting but reversed the decision after a review. Because Stockton lost his helmet and the targeting call was overturned, Stockton had to leave the field for one play.
This left Smart with a choice: use another backup, Ryan Puglisi, or possibly put Beck back in.
“He knows the system, he knows what to do,” Smart said about Puglisi, but then he was told by an offensive assistant coach that Beck “can take a snap. It’s not an issue.”
Even though Beck could barely raise his right arm, he was able to take the snap and hand off the ball on the key play.
Smart said Stockton would have come back if Etienne had not scored the touchdown to end the game.
Stockton completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception.
“I think Gunner did a great job standing up like he had to,” Ratledge said. “I think him coming into the game made everybody realize that this is the new juice we’ve got to come out of the second half with. And I think everybody did a great job with it.”
Despite Beck being in the game, Texas outgained Georgia 260-54 but only led 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs had negative 2 yards rushing, and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards.
Stockton and Beck were not available for interviews.
Winning the SEC championship comes with the benefit of a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, which gives Beck more time to heal from what Smart described as an upper extremity injury. Smart said tests would be needed to determine how serious the injury is.
