All is well in Dawgland.
In an action-packed, high-scoring affair from Sanford Stadium, Georgia held on to defeat South Carolina 41-37 in the highest-scoring game in series history since 1970. Brandon Boykin returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and the Georgia defense made a game-saving stop in the last minute to save the day.
“The bottom line is, we got it done,” declared a relieved Mark Richt. “We got it done at the end. There were really just so many good things, so many bad things. I think, when it came down to it, the red zone defense was fantastic.”
The Bulldog defense gave up 37 points and 427 total yards but did not break when Carolina drove down the field at the end of the game. The Cocks had a first down and 10 from the UGA 13 in the last minute but could not convert a first down in four tries.
“It was a very good last drive,” lamented Steve Spurrier. “We wanted to score a touchdown with about 10 seconds left.”
“We had a great chance to win at the end.”
Rennie Curran batted down the fourth-down attempt.
“Rennie talked to the team before the game and promised them all he was going to play with every ounce of energy he had and with all his heart,” said Richt. “Sure enough, at the very end, he makes the play.”
THE BIG PLAY
Georgia managed to hold on after losing almost all of a 38-23 third quarter lead. The Gamecocks climbed back into the game with two Spencer Lanning field goals, a safety when UGA snapped the ball through their end zone and a 35-yard “Pick Six” by Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood (who is ironically, a native of Acworth).
However, Georgia defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson blocked the ensuing PAT to keep UGA’s lead at 38-37. The Dawgs would follow-up with Blair Walsh field goal with 6:20 remaining to conclude the scoring.
Tyson’s block was a key point in the game, as it forced the Cocks to go for the touchdown in the final minute instead of kicking the game-tying field goal.
BIG PERFORMANCES
For the Dawgs, A.J. Green was the star on offense. The sophomore from Summerville, SC, caught six balls for 86 yards and a touchdown. Two of the catches could be described as acrobatic, including the touchdown.
“It feels good,” explained Green of his performance against his home-state school. “It’s always good to go back home and have the bragging rights.”
Joe Cox bounced back from his performance in Stillwater with 17-24 passing for 201 yards and a touchdown.
Branden Smith ended up with 65 yards rushing including his 61-yard touchdown jaunt in the first half.
Boykin totaled 187 return yards, second all-time among Bulldogs behind Scott Woerner’s 190 which he set in against Kentucky in 1977.
Stephen Garcia put in a valiant effort for Carolina as he led them in both rushing and passing. Garcia threw for 313 yards on 31-53 passing with two touchdowns. The Tampa native rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries.
UP NEXT
The Dawgs face Arkansas (1-0) in Fayetteville next Saturday at 7:45 p.m. Georgia has not lost to the Hogs since 1993 and are 7-1 overall in SEC play against them. Richt is 5-0 against Arkansas while UGA is 8-3 all-time. The Razorbacks were off this week after defeating Missouri State 48-10.
GAME NOTES
-The Dawgs wore a commemorative seal on the back of their helmet in honor of the 48th Infantry. “Y’all probably didn’t know we had the shield on our helmet for this ballgame and we hope we honored it with the victory,” explained Richt.
-Demarcus Dobbs left the game briefly the third quarter due to an injured hamstring only to return later. Dobbs reported no problems after his brief respite.
-Curran led the Bulldogs in tackles yet again and tied a career-high with 15, which he set last year at Kentucky.
-The 54 first half points were the most in a UGA game since 1991 against Kentucky (55).
-Blair Walsh is now 4-7 from 50-plus yards in his career.
-The Dawgs returned South Carolina kickoffs for a school-record 252 yards. The record was actually set in the first half with 204.
-The 83 plays Carolina ran were the second-most of an opponent in the Richt era and most since the 2003 Vanderbilt game.
-Lanning’s five field goals tied a school record held by Collin Mackie since 1990.
-The blocked extra point by Georgia was their first since the 2003 SEC championship game when Kedric Golston accomplished the feat.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
