Dawgs Bowl Tech

FOOTBALL

The Dawgs now have won nine of the past 10 games against Tech and thanks to tonight’s 42-34 win over Tech, the Dawgs improved to 6-6 and will extend their bowl streak to 14 consecutive years. The streak began in 1997. Before tonight, the last time Georgia needed a win over Tech to be bowl eligible was 1995 and those Dawgs came through that year too, beating them 18-17 in Atlanta. With the latest win, Georgia improves to 61-37-5 in the series against Tech and retains the Governor’s Cup Trophy for another year.

Against second ranked Auburn two weeks ago, redshirt freshman QB Aaron Murray was 6-for-8 for 121 yards and three TDs in the first quarter. Tonight against Tech, Murray was sharp again, going 6-for-7 for 147 yards and two TDs in the first quarter and finished the half 11-for-14 for 220 yards and 3 TDs. One of Murray’s first quarter highlights was a career-long 66-yard TD strike to SE Kris Durham to put Georgia on the scoreboard first. It was a career-long catch for Durham too. Murray finished tonight 15-for-19 for 271 yards, 3 TDs.

With three TD passes in the first half, Aaron Murray now has 24 for the season, one shy of the Georgia single season record held by Matthew Stafford who had 25 in 2008. With 24, Murray currently is in a tie for second with Eric Zeier (1993-94), D.J. Shockley (2005), and Joe Cox (2009). This marks the sixth time this season that Murray has tied his career high with three TD passes in a game.

Also with 271 passing yards, Murray now has 2,851 which is the most ever by a freshman and ranks second in SEC history, trailing only Jared Lorenzen of Kentucky who had 3,687 in 2000. Murray passed Georgia’s David Greene who had 2,789 in the 2001. And one more record of note, Murray notched the Georgia mark for Total Offense by a Freshman now with 3,014, which ranks second all-time in the SEC behind Lorenzen (3,827).

Butkus Award finalist and Nagurski Trophy finalist junior outside linebacker Justin Houston had a fumble return for a TD, a game-clinching interception and seven tackles (2 solo, 5 assist) and one tackle for a loss tonight. A trio of Dawgs tied for the team-high tackles with career nights. Sophomore end Abry Jones, junior nose DeAngelo Tyson and senior linebacker Akeem Dent all had 16 tackles apiece. Tech ran 92 plays, which was the most against the Dawgs since last year’s Independence Bowl by Texas A&M as they ran 92 too.

Redshirt sophomore FS Bacarri Rambo forced the Georgia defense’s second red zone turnover of the season as Georgia Tech fumbled on the Dawg 5-yard line, which was recovered by junior Brandon Boykin. The turnover led to an eventual 66-yard TD reception from redshirt freshman QB Aaron Murray to senior SE Kris Durham.

Overall, Georgia got 21 points off four Tech miscues while the Yellow jackets got No points off two Georgia turnovers. Georgia forced one fumble in the first half, which led to a TD. On the year, Georgia has forced 24 turnovers and converted them into 101 points while its opponents have scored 21 points off 14 Dawg miscues on the year. Georgia junior TB Caleb King fumbled in the red zone and Georgia Tech recovered at the 9-yard line. Georgia Tech was forced to punt but a fumble by sophomore PR Branden Smith trying to field it gave Tech the ball back at the 34-yard line. Georgia Tech then turned over the ball as Georgia sophomore DE Abry Jones forced a fumble and senior ILB Akeem Dent recovered. It led to a Georgia TD and a 28-21 advantage with 0:51 left in the third quarter. On Georgia Tech’s next possession, junior OLB Justin Houston returned a fumble for an 18-yard TD giving Georgia a 35-21 advantage at the end of the third quarter. This was Georgia’s first fumble return for a TD since Tony Taylor did it against Tech in 2006. Georgia now has four defensive TDs this year. Georgia OLB Justin Houston ended the game with an interception, the first of his career.

Sophomore TB Washaun Ealey had his fourth career game of 100+ rushing yards in a contest. Tonight, he finished with 118 yards on 13 carries with two TDs. Last year against Tech, Ealey had a career-high 183.

Injury Report: Senior DE Demarcus Dobbs left the game in the second quarter with a right elbow injury and did not return.