Georgia rolls past A&M

Published 4:03 am Tuesday, December 29, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. — Joe Cox threw two touchdown passes, Caleb King added two rushing scores and Georgia beat mistake-prone Texas A&M 44-20 on Monday in the Independence Bowl.

Cox hit Aron White on touchdown passes of 24 and 2 yards in the second half as the Bulldogs (8-5) pulled away for their fourth straight bowl victory. It was the fourth straight postseason loss for the Aggies (6-7), who have not won a bowl since 2001.

Georgia blocked two kicks, Brandon Boykin tied the Southeastern Conference record with his third kickoff return of the season and Cox threw his first touchdown pass after the snap sailed over the Texas A&M punter’s head in the third quarter.

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The Bulldogs sealed the win by intercepting Jerrod Johnson twice in the third quarter.

White tied the Independence Bowl record for touchdown receptions, sharing it with four others.

Special teams led directly to 24 points for the Bulldogs, who also blocked an early field goal attempt and got a 49-yard field goal from Blair Walsh.

The game was billed as an offensive showdown, but a shootout never developed. The teams had more punts than first downs in the first 25 minutes of the game.