This week, the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, which is also known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, will take place in Jacksonville. At EverBank stadium, the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs face off against the Florida Gators. The rivalry is not as emotional this time around, as Florida is only 3-4, and Billy Napier has been fired. But for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton’s family, the game is very important. Stockton’s grandfather Lawrence Stockton passed away from a fatal heart attack in Jacksonville after Georgia lost to Florida 34-31. “He said something about Todd Grantham and collapsed,” Suzanne Frederickson, Lawrence’s widow, said via ESPN. Gunner was only six years old at the time, but it is clear that this incident left Gunner with a lasting impact on his life. He told ESPN that Gunner had a heartattack at the stadium. “I want to win badly in Jacksonville every time we visit Florida.”
Lawrence was a UGA School of Pharmacy graduate and loved spending time with him grandson, hunting and fishing in the North Georgia Mountains. Gunner said, “He always treated us well and spoilt the grandchildren.” He lived on a lake. “He was only a great grandfather.Stockton, as the starting quarterback for Florida in Jacksonville, will now have a shot to win his first game against them. Stockton’s last start saw him win the SEC Offensive Week award after a 43 to 35 comeback against Ole Miss. Stockton completed 31 of 26 passes for 289 yard and four touchdowns.
CBS Sports Research reports that Stockton threw 12 of 12 passes in the second halves of the game for 135 yard and three touchdowns. This makes him the first FBS QB to complete 12 of 12 passes or more in a single half against a top-five AP team since Aaron Rodgers achieved this feat for California in ’04 against USC No. Back in 2004, USC was ranked No. 1. Stockton may have one last chance to beat Florida at Jacksonville. The 2026 game will be held in Atlanta and the 2027 match in Tampa due to EverBank Stadium renovations. In 2028, the rivalry will return to Jacksonville. The match has been played every year in Jacksonville since 1933 except for 1994 and 1995. Since then, the Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Gators. Each victory was by at least 14-points. A top Georgia team, which was unranked, lost to a Florida squad that wasn’t ranked. This happened in 2002.
2025-10-30 20:43:27
