In a week where everything seemed set up for Georgia to finally get the publicity some thought they deserved, the only squad that ended up leaving Sanford Stadium on Saturday night with an enhanced national perception was the Alabama Crimson Tide. No. 8 Alabama beat No. 3 Georgia 41-30 after jumping out to a 31-0 first-half lead. “We just got whipped,” said Georgia head coach Mark Richt. “There’s not really any excuses.”
That whipping began early, as the Crimson Tide drove 80 yards for a touchdown on 11 plays in the game’s opening possession. Running back Mark Ingram ran the ball in from 7 yards out to set off an Alabama (5-0, 2-0) celebration in the end zone that would repeat itself over and over again in the first half. Alabama’s fans, clad in white to counter the Georgia “blackout,” were very vocal throughout the game.
The Tide had some help in jumping out to their lead; help from Georgia, that is. A roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Akeem Dent wiped out a fumble recovery by the Bulldogs and gave Alabama a first-and-10 on Georgia’s 11. That set up the Ingram score, and later, another roughing-the-passer penalty set up a Leigh Tiffin field goal to put Alabama up 10-0. Dent was in the game in place of starter Dannell Ellerbe, who left the game early because of an injured left knee. “We kept the drives going for them just by our penalties,” Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said. “We’ve just got to play smart.”
Touchdown runs of 3 and 4 yards from Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch, and a Julio Jones 22-yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson, would put the Crimson Tide up 31-0 at halftime. “They were outstanding up front, very outstanding on the offensive line,” Richt said. “They were as good as advertised.”
The Tide offensive line helped Coffee run for 86 yards and two scores and let Wilson have enough time to complete 13 of his 16 pass attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. Jones led Alabama in receiving with five catches for 94 yards and a score.
The Bulldogs and their crowd remained undeterred despite the grim circumstances. The energy level of the fans in black never subsided and gave Georgia reason for hope even when it appeared all hope was lost. “I told the team at halftime that [the fans] certainly deserved better than what they saw in the first half,” Richt said. “When we rolled back out in the second half, they were still there, they were still ready to cheer and did a heck of a job.”
After a 43-yard field goal by Blair Walsh and a 2-yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno, Prince Miller returned a punt 92 yards for a score to cut the Alabama lead to 31-17. Moreno’s touchdown was one of few bright spots for the superstar sophomore on the night, as he was held to 34 yards on just nine carries. “They made plays,” Moreno said. “As a defense, they ran after the ball.”
Georgia just would not allow themselves back in the game, despite several chances. After an Alabama field goal pushed the lead to 34-17, Georgia appeared to be on the verge of scoring once again as Matthew Stafford hooked up with A.J. Green on a fourth-and-18 to put the Bulldogs deep into Tide territory. That play was nullified, however, as center Ben Jones was called for holding. The Bulldogs failed to get the first down on the next play and that led to Alabama’s final scoring drive, a 12-yard run from Coffee. Late Georgia scores that saw Stafford find Michael Moore and Green on scoring tosses of 24 and 21 yards would not be enough. Green finished the day with 88 yards and a touchdown on six catches and Stafford was 24-of-42 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Curran led Georgia with 14 tackles.
With a win, the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs were hoping to move up in the rankings, possibly as high as No. 1, as top-ranked USC lost on Thursday. Also, conference rival Florida fell to Ole Miss earlier in the day on Saturday, meaning Georgia would not have to worry about the No. 4 Gators passing them in the rankings should the Bulldogs win. But now Georgia may be looking up to the fallen Gators, as the loss does little to help the national perception of a Georgia team that already had fallen twice in the rankings after wins.
The unexpected loss by Florida does help Georgia when it comes to the SEC East race, however. With the Gators and Bulldogs both losing, Georgia (4-1,1-1) still could lose another conference game—say, to an Auburn or LSU—and still make the SEC Championship Game by beating Florida. “We still have our goal set to go into Atlanta and play in the SEC [Championship] Game,” Dent said. “We just have to go into the bye week, refocus and look at our mistakes.”
The bye could not come at a better time for Georgia as Stafford, Moreno, tight end Tripp Chandler and wide receiver Kris Durham all had injury concerns in addition to Ellerbe’s. Stafford had a headache that was not thought to be a concussion, while Moreno had a sore right elbow. As the Bulldogs regroup and heal their wounds, how the race for the BCS Title Game and the race for the SEC Championship Game continues to shake out over the upcoming weeks is anybody’s guess. But one thing is for certain: with this loss, Georgia missed an opportunity to affirm their status among college football’s elite.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
