University of Georgia Athletics
Defense Delivers Again And Again
October 18, 2015 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
There really was no wrong answer.
Asked following Georgia's 9-6 grind-it-out win over Missouri on Saturday night at Sanford Stadium to pick which statistic made him happier, Bulldogs linebacker Jake Ganus liked them both. And for good reason.
The first stat was the Bulldogs' defense holding the Tigers to 21 rushing yards on 22 carries. The second was Georgia (5-2, 3-2 SEC) holding the Tigers to six first downs for the whole game.
"I thought we did a good job," he said of a defense that also held Mizzou (4-3, 1-3) scoreless in the second half and allowed just 164 yards of total offense. "I like the rushing stat, though. I think Tennessee ran the ball a lot on us (last week) and we wanted to come and not let them run it. We were going to try to make them pass it on us -- you know they have a freshman quarterback -- and we executed."
Drive after drive, Georgia shut Mizzou down. Of the Tigers' 11 drives, three lost yardage and only one, which resulted in a field goal and a 6-3 Tigers lead in the second quarter, went beyond 36 yards. The Dog "D" produced five three-and-outs and the Tigers' final two drives of the games netted minus-8 yards.
"We certainly had some good pass rush, it didn't always end up in a sack, but you could see us making the quarterback move off the spot a few times, which helps a lot, as well," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Facing Mizzou's Drew Lock, Georgia did get after the quarterback. The Dogs had four sacks -- one each from linebackers Ganus, Davin Bellamy, Leonard Floyd and defensive end Sterling Bailey -- for minus-16 yards. The Dogs stuffed the run and some screen passes in the backfield, as well, finishing with a total of 9.0 tackles for loss, for minus-26 yards.
"It's shows you that when we play our style of defense, when we go out there and execute the game plan, and when we have fun, we can be a really good defense," Bailey said.
As good as the defense was, the two biggest stops of the game were made by receivers.
After Mizzou safety Ian Simon intercepted a tipped pass from Greyson Lambert on the Dogs' first play, it was split end Kenneth Towns who brought Simon down at the 1-yard line, saving a touchdown. From there, the defense forced the Tigers backward over the next three plays, holding Mizzou to a field goal.
"If (Towns) doesn't make that tackle on the 1-yard line, they score seven and who knows what happens in the ball game," Richt said.
Senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell made Georgia's most pivotal stop, stripping Missouri punt returner Cam Hilton in the third quarter. Mitchell arrived just after Hilton caught the ball at the Tiger 43 and used his left arm to grab him around the waist, forcing the ball out. Cornerback Malkom Parrish recovered the ball at the 43 and the Dogs were able to get a game-tying 24-yard Marshall Morgan field goal out of the possession.
Douglas Busy Again
There's something about facing off against Missouri that leads to a busy day for tailback Brendan Douglas. The junior had 10 carries for 60 yards the whole season, but Saturday incorporated him into the ground attack and he ran nine times for 24 yards. He also had two catches for 15 yards.
"I've been working hard all year, just kind of preparing for this moment," Douglas said. "You've got to prepare every week like you're the No. 1 guy because you never know what can happen. That's what I try to do all season and the coaches did a great job of coaching me up this week."
Last year at Mizzou, Douglas had 13 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. The year before, as a freshman, he gained 70 yards on 14 carries. Richt seemed happy Douglas got the chance to contribute in a tight game.
"He's a solid person, a solid football player and a guy that we can trust," Richt said. "He just creates such good habits in his life and in practice that we're not surprised that he performs when he's called upon."
Breakout Game For Godwin
Georgia didn't have an explosive night on offense, but the Dogs moved the ball well for a squad that only scored 9 points. One reason for that movement (298 yards of offense against a solid Tiger defense) was the play of freshman flanker Terry Godwin.
In his most productive game year, Godwin had six receptions for a game-high 78 yards. His 35-yard reception in the second quarter was the longest of his career, and his development is giving the Bulldogs more weapons at wideout, to go along with senior Malcolm Mitchell and junior Reggie Davis.
Godwin also was busy as a punt returner, returning three for a combined 49 yards, with a long of 19. His 18-yard return with less than five minutes remaining set the Dogs up at the 50 for what became the game-winning drive.
"With a game like that, every little detail is going to be big," said Godwin, whose previous best was three receptions in a game.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
