Georgia managed to put another win on the board on Saturday night. Although they improved to 7-1, the Bulldogs’ 24-20 victory over the Florida Gators was not dominant. They had to fight back from a fourth-quarter deficit, and even then, it all came down to Gunner Stockton. The quarterback sealed the win by sliding down at the one-yard line and letting the clock run out instead of diving into the end zone for a last score. After the win, a senior Georgia wide receiver who has quietly had the most miserable season of his college career shared his thoughts about Stockton.

Noah Thomas didn’t come to Georgia to disappear. Once a touchdown magnet at Texas A&M and a preseason All-SEC transfer choice, the senior wideout entered the 2025 season anticipated to be one of the Bulldogs’ most potent offensive weapons. But his stat line with just five catches tells a different story midway through the season. This year hasn’t gone as planned for a man who has been “that dude” since high school. When your draft year turns out to be the one when the ball stops finding you, it eats away at a competitor.

But Thomas isn’t showing any bitterness. Instead, after Georgia’s hard-fought win over Florida, he offered something that caught people off guard. A genuine praise for the guy who’s taken over the offense brilliantly. Thomas said, “I knew Gunner was a baller from last year. … He does everything for the team. Anything to pull out a win. He’s a gamer, he’s a competitor. Love that dude.”

Thomas has seen the grind of the SEC, transfers, and expectations, and he has witnessed what it takes to maintain patience when the spotlight fades. Maybe he is still developing a relationship with Stockton. Maybe it’s just a click away. Yet, for Noah Thomas, it’s pretty obvious that he still has trust in himself, the team, and the system. Most importantly, he still holds his quarterback in high regard, and rightfully so. After all, his shenanigans were what kept Georgia on the winning side.

Gunner Stockton’s one-yard slide was more just a game move

Georgia’s latest victory didn’t go easy on some bettors. With a 24-20 victory over the Florida Gators, the Bulldogs just missed the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, but the atmosphere following the game was complex. Fans should be excited about a 7-1 record, but know that it was Gunner Stockton’s last-minute slip at the one-yard line that turned things around. Every quarterback dreams of having a clean path to the end zone, but instead of pounding it in, he pulled back. Georgia lost the cover but sealed the win in no time.

Most people didn’t see the underlying reason behind that decision. Stockton was playing for something far more important than stat sheets or Twitter clips. For him, Jacksonville has always been a source of odd pain. A young Gunner witnessed his family’s agony in 2010 when his grandfather died shortly after Georgia’s devastating overtime defeat to Florida. He once remarked, “Every time we go to Florida, I really want to beat them bad in Jacksonville.” So it’s possible that Stockton’s decision to slide rather than score was a silent tribute.

Still, the irony wasn’t lost on anyone. It was obvious that the player had learned his lesson after going crazy and diving into the end zone against Auburn, giving them a chance to come back. After the game, Kirby Smart even quipped, “To a lot of bettors’ dismay, we fixed it.” While Stockton’s choice wasn’t spectacular, it was the type of football IQ play that produces championships rather than highlight reels.

Gunner Stockton ended the game with  223 throwing yards and two touchdowns. Ultimately, all he wanted was to leave that Jacksonville field with Georgia winning this time.