The Bulldogs started this game out like they wanted to, but seemed to have forgotten what allowed them to move the ball 80 yards on 10 plays on their first drive. On that drive, the Dawgs used the Wildcat formation with Branden Smith and Logan Gray and hit AJ Green for a long gain on a crucial third down. Joe Cox completed a pass to Michael Moore on another big third-down play, this time for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Dawgs an early 7-0 lead.
The Georgia defense then forced the vaunted OSU offense into a three-and-out and things were looking rosy for the Dawgs. Unfortunately, Cox and Company could not move the ball the rest of the half and eventually, the host Cowboys made them pay.
After trading possession for much of the half after the Bulldogs’ initial drive, OSU finally hit pay-dirt when Zac Robinson connected with Al-Everything wideout Dez Bryant on a 46-yard touchdown pass to tie the score with 2:24 left in the half.
Georgia then gave the ball back to OSU when freshman running back Carlton Thomas coughed up the ball and the Pokes recovered on the UGA ten. After a personal foul penalty allowed OSU to the UGA five with first and goal, the Georgia defense rose to the challenge and stopped the Cowboys cold. The Pokes settled for a field goal and the 10-7 halftime lead.
Anyone watching had to wonder why UGA stopped going to AJ Green after the first drive and why the play-calling suddenly became so unpredictable when the first drive was so dynamic.
Willie Martinez’s defense kept the Dawgs in the game despite the off-season howling for his job. His charges should be commended for their heroic effort in keeping the Cowboys out of the end zone for the first 26 minutes and then again before the half when the Cowboys started at the five-yardline.
Georgia needs to get the ball to AJ Green and Orson Charles in the second half and find a way to run the ball more effectively.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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