Georgia Postgame Notes Versus Georgia Tech
November 29, 2014 | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
Overtime Between The Hedges: For the first time in Sanford Stadium history, the Bulldogs played an overtime game. After today's 30-24 defeat, the Bulldogs are now 6-5 in overtime (4-2 at an opponent's field, 2-2 at neutral sites, 0-1 at home). The Bulldogs went 2-0 in overtime last season on the road including a 41-34 victory in double OT at Tech. Today, Tech scored first, and then the PAT was blocked by senior Ray Drew. However, Georgia's OT possession ended with an interception, the first by Hutson Mason in 163 attempts dating back to the third quarter against Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Georgia's series lead is now 64-38-5 including 12-2 under Mark Richt. The Bulldogs are now 39-2 at home in non-conference games at Sanford Stadium with both losses to Tech (in 2008, 45-42). Today saw Georgia's five-game winning streak in the series end.
Senior Defenders Star in Final Home Game: Senior linebackers Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera finished with a career-high 19 tackles each to lead the defense. Senior Damian Swann accounted for a defensive touchdown with a school record 99-yard fumble return and finished with 10 tackles. It was the longest fumble return for a TD in school history and longest since Sean Jones took one 92 yards at No. 13 Tennessee in 2003. Coming in to this season, a 99-yard fumble return ranks as in a tie for fourth longest in NCAA history and the longest since a 100-yarder in 1999 by Kevin Thomas (UNLV). Senior Ray Drew became the first Bulldog since 2000 (Jamie Henderson versus Vanderbilt) to block a field goal and a PAT in the same game.
Successful Fake Field Goal: On 4th and 12 at the Tech 31, Georgia attempted its first fake field goal since 1998, and it resulted in a successful 28-yard rush by placekicker Marshall Morgan. The drive ended with a 19-yard field goal and a 17-14 edge with 11:19 left. Before today, Georgia's last fake FG was against Auburn in 1998 and it resulted in an interception in the endzone. The last successful fake FG before today was in 1997 against Tennessee as the holder Drew Cronic completed a 21-yard pass to Patrick Pass.
Touchdown Drive To Open The Contest: On the opening drive, senior Hutson Mason was 4-for-4 for 39 yards while freshman Nick Chubb accounted for 36 yards rushing on six carries and scored on a 4th and 1. It capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive in 4:03 for a 7-0 edge. In the first half, the Bulldogs converted two 4th-and-1 plays, making them 10-for-12 (83%) on fourth down this year. Georgia's seven points is the lowest in the first half since the Florida game when it trailed 14-7. In the first half, Mason was 8-for-9 for 88 yards and finished 18-for-28 for 194 yards with one TD and one interception.
Points Off Turnovers: The Bulldogs got 14 points off two Tech turnovers. Georgia fumbled twice at the Tech 1 yard line, and it led to seven points, and it threw an interception in overtime to end the contest. Opponents have tallied 19 points off 11 Bulldog miscues this year. Tech got no points off the first Bulldog turnover (Nick Chubb) as senior Ray Drew blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt, and it was recovered by senior Damian Swann at the Bulldog 41. It was Georgia's first blocked field goal since Auburn last year by Leonard Floyd. Late in the second quarter, freshman Sony Michel fumbled as it rolled in to the end zone for a touchback. It led to a touchdown to make it 7-7. In the second half, Swann forced and recovered a fumble at the Bulldog 1 and scampered 99 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
Coming in today, Georgia ranked second in the nation with a +16 turnover margin (1.45/g). The Bulldogs now have scored 104 points off 26 turnovers. Today, it finished minus one in turnovers and ends the regular season +15. In the fourth quarter, Amarlo Herrera recovered a fumble by Tech QB Justin Thomas at the Bulldog 31 with 2:41 left and trailing 21-17. The Bulldogs went 69 yards in 12 plays in 2:23 capped by a 3-yard TD from Mason to Malcolm Mitchell for a 24-21 edge with 18 seconds left. Mitchell finished with seven catches for 56 yards and a TD.
Chubb Carries The Load Again: In the first half, freshman Nick Chubb had 117 rushing yards on 14 carries including a 65-yard gain, and he finished with 129 yards plus had three catches for 36 yards. Since moving in to a starting role, Chubb now has had seven straight games with at least 100 yards rushing. He is the first to do that since Herschel Walker in 1982 had 11 games in a row counting the bowl game. As a freshman in 1980, Walker had eight 100-yard rushing games but only four in a row.
For Starters: Senior linebacker Amarlo Herrera made his team-high 42nd career start including 27th in a row while senior center David Andrews extended the team's longest consecutive string of starts to 39. Freshman Christian Payne made his first career start. He was one of two fullbacks that started.
Today's Captains: The 2014 Senior Class served as the game captains, and the four Bulldogs who went out for the coin toss were David Andrews (C), Hutson Mason (QB), Ray Drew (DL) and Ramik Wilson (MLB). A total of 27 senior student-athletes were recognized during pre-game a ceremony.
Up Next: Georgia (9-3 overall, 6-2 SEC) will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 7 when the pairings are announced. The Bulldogs will be making their 50th all-time appearance in a bowl and that ranks tied for fourth nationally. Additionally, Georgia will now have been to 18 straight bowl games, which extends its school record.
