FOOTBALL
There was something different about this October afternoon.
It wasn’t the tear trickling down my cheek as the lone trumpeter sounded the UGA Battle Hymn, that happens every time I hear it.
Coach Mark Richt led his wounded Dawgs past the statue of Uga and through the big G with a renewed spirit that created a feeling among the faithful not felt in years.
These Dawgs were mad, they were determined, they were motivated and they were ready to put a stop to all the “hot seat” talk.
The past week of practice was different too, it was physical and it prepared this team mentally to take Tennessee out between the Hedges and extract a month’s worth of frustration from them.
For the first time in four games, the defense stopped an opponent on their opening drive…….. that was different too.
Justin Houston brought flashbacks of the “Junkyard Dawg” days, he had 2 sacks and 3 tackles for a loss.
The Vols ran 6 plays, gaining 16 yards before being forced to punt to A. J. Green, the first punt return of his career……. that was also different.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray completed 17 of 25 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns, he also rushed for 41 yards and two more TD’s…… that was considered pretty normal for the young signal caller.
Murray’s first touchdown came on a 35 yard scramble to cap the opening drive, he didn’t hesitate to lower his shoulder at the one and carried a defender into the end zone.
It was his second TD that could not be called until the replay official had a closer look to determine if he had stepped out of bounds at the one as had been called on the field. The picture below clearly shows that he was inbounds by at least an inch and 3/16th’s…….you can measure it if you like.
A.J. Green finished the day with 6 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown but it was this catch at the ten yard line that had the Dawg Nation holding their breath while he was trying to regain his.
With the entire stadium chanting…..A.J…..A.J….A.J., Green finally sat up, collected himself then stood up and walked off without any assistance…… as the best receiver to ever wear the Red and Black, it shouldn’t be a problem to retire all his unsold jerseys.
The Dawgs kicking game continued to be one of the best in the country as Drew Butler averaged 43.5 yards per kick on 4 punts, his longest was 51 yards.
Blair Walsh drilled a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter and then a 20-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter. He is 13 of 15 from 40 to 49 yards in his career, including 3 of 4 in 2010. Walsh is now 11 for 12 on field goals this season and is 46 for 57 in his career. Also, he had five PATs for 11 total points.
Sophomore flanker Rantavious Wooten hauled in a 9 yard touchdown in the opening quarter, it was Wooten’s first score of the season and third of his career.
Sophomore free safety Shawn Williams made his first start on defense.
On offense, freshman Kenarious Gates from Greenville, Georgia started at right guard for the first time in his career. The Dawgs shuffled their offense line with Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle, Cordy Glenn at left guard, Ben Jones at center, Gates at right guard and Clint Boling at right tackle.
Seven true freshmen have played for the Dawgs this season.
Junior strong safety Nick Williams suffered a right hamstring injury in the first quarter and did not return. Redshirt sophomore tailback Carlton Thomas was out with a hamstring injury and redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Cornelius Washington missed the game with concussion symptoms.
Tennessee is not a good football team but it felt good anyway.
Dawgs play Vandy at home next week and Uga VIII will be introduced, kickoff is set for 12:21 pm.
Great photos!
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