100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays—Day 47

UGASports continues its 100-day countdown to the Bulldogs’ 2026 season opener with the “100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays” series. Today, on Day 47, we examine and relive one of Georgia’s greatest plays in its football history, relating to that specific number. On Day 47, we look back at Zachariah Branch’s explosive 47-yard screen-pass touchdown in the season opener a year ago (Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images). The Game: No. 5 Georgia (0-0 record coming off an 11-3 season in 2024) vs. Marshall (0-0 record coming off a 10-3 season in 2024) at Sanford Stadium in Athens for the season opener on August 30, 2025. The teams were meeting for only the second time ever. Georgia was one victory shy of breaking the SEC record for most consecutive wins at home with 32. The Bulldogs were established as 38½-point favorites over the Thundering Herd. “Get the Picture”: As expected, Georgia had little trouble with Marshall from the start, shutting out the Thundering Herd 24-0 in the first half. Dwight Phillips Jr. scored the Bulldogs’ first touchdown of the season, followed by two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Gunner Stockton. Opening the second half, Georgia moved 28 yards in three plays to reach Marshall’s 47-yard line, setting up a first-and-10 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Play On a checkdown, Stockton threw a quick screen pass to wide receiver Zachariah Branch on the left side. The Southern California transfer, making his highly anticipated debut as one of Georgia’s 27 scholarship newcomers in the 2025 season opener, caught the pass behind the line of scrimmage. Branch turned upfield and raced down the left sideline. Around the 20-yard line, fellow wide receiver Dillon Bell sprung the play with a key downfield block, allowing Branch to cruise untouched for a 47-yard touchdown with 13:13 remaining in the third quarter. Branch finished with game highs of three receptions and 95 receiving yards, highlighted by the 47-yard touchdown. The scoring play was Georgia’s longest offensive play of the game, exceeding the next-longest gain by 19 yards. On defense, Branch’s older brother, safety Zion Branch, recorded a team-high seven tackles (all solo). In his lone season at Georgia, Zachariah Branch set a school record with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns. His longest catch of the season was the 47-yard touchdown against Marshall. According to Pro Football Focus, 44 of Branch’s 81 receptions came on screen passes.