University of Georgia Athletics
Halftime: Georgia Leads Auburn 35-7
November 12, 2011 | Football
Nov. 12, 2011
Halftime Notes - #14 Georgia vs. #24 Auburn (Nov. 12, 2011)
Rambo Picks Another: Junior FS Bacarri Rambo grabbed his seventh interception of the year and the 12th pick of his career in the second quarter and returned the INT for a 24-yard touchdown. This marks the third INT returned for a touchdown for Rambo in his career and the first of 2011. The Bulldogs' last INT returned for a TD was CB Vance Cuff (Idaho State, 2010). Rambo is No. 2 in the nation with his seven INTs and now has 149 return yards for the year. Before Saturday, Georgia was the only team in the SEC this season not to score a defensive touchdown this year.
Murray Ties TD Record: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray set the school record with 27 touchdown passes in a season with four scoring passes in the first half. Matthew Stafford had 25 TD passes in 2008 to set the previous record. Murray also tied Stafford for career TD passes with 51.
Another Aerial Attack: Murray finished the half 13-of-16 for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Murray started the scoring spurt with an 8-yard strike to Tavarres King. King now has the team lead with six scoring catches. Murray's second TD was a diving 27-yard catch by Michael Bennett. This was a career-long grab for Bennett. FB Bruce Figgins hauled in the third TD catch of the day, which was the first of the year for him. Murray's fourth scoring pass went to Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell's 25-yard score was his fourth of the season after sitting out the last three games with a hamstring injury.
Sacking The Opposition: The Bulldogs recorded 4.0 sacks to help hold the Tigers to minus 12 yards rushing on 13 carries. For the game, Auburn has totaled 89 total yards on offense.
Longest TD Drive: Georgia's first scoring drive in the first quarter lasted 6:03. This is the longest touchdown drive for the Bulldogs this season. The 12 plays in the drive also matches the most plays in a scoring drive this year. Murray capped the scoring drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to King.
Third Down Precision: Georgia was 7-for-8 on third down conversions in the opening half, including two that went for touchdowns.
Turnovers: Freshman Isaiah Crowell fumbled the ball in the second quarter. One play later, Auburn gave the ball right back on a fumble of its own. N Kwame Geathers jumped on the loose ball for the Bulldogs in his first snap of the game. Opponents have scored 35 points off 13 Bulldog miscues. Following Geathers' recovery, Murray connected with Figgins for a 15-yard touchdown, which was his first TD grab since the 2010 Georgia Tech game and the fourth of his career. Later in the second period, Rambo made an interception and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. Georgia has forced 22 turnovers and converted them into 83 points.
Tackles: OLB Jarvis Jones leads Georgia with three stops, including 1.5 sacks, through two quarters. The SEC sack leader now has 9.5 and is in the top 10 in the nation in the category. Junior DE Abry Jones also has three tackles.
Starters: Freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell started for the first time since the Tennessee game. Mitchell injured his hamstring versus the Vols. He finished with three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in the opening half.
Captains: Georgia's captains on Saturday were senior C Ben Jones, senior LT Cordy Glenn, junior DE Abry Jones and senior CB/KOR Brandon Boykin.
Up Next: The Bulldogs play their third game at home in a row next Saturday versus Kentucky (4-6, 1-5 SEC). Vanderbilt beat the Wildcats 38-8 on Saturday.
