University of Georgia Athletics
Dog Notes: The Win That Almost Was
October 01, 2016 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
How in the world do you sum up what we all just witnessed? It was one of the most stunning finishes in college football history, but that fact won't be easing the Georgia Bulldogs' pain anytime soon.
Down 28-24 with 19 seconds left Saturday, Georgia freshman quarterback Jacob Eason bought himself some time amid a furious Tennessee pass rush. Standing right at midfield, he showed off that powerful arm with a perfect strike across the field down the left side, right into the arms of fellow freshman Riley Ridley.
It was a holy-moly 47-yard touchdown against the No. 11-ranked Vols, who had overcome a 17-0 hole to take their first lead with 2:56 left in the game. Sanford Stadium was packed and about as loud and joyous as it's ever been. Suddenly, with 10 seconds left, the No. 25 Bulldogs were back in the lead, 31-28.
But an excessive celebration penalty on the go-ahead touchdown, what was essentially a Hail Mary score that brought with it the typical Hail Mary celebration, pushed the Dogs back for the ensuing kickoff. Not good when you're going against what coach Kirby Smart described as the best return game in the country.
After a 20-yard return, there were four seconds on the clock -- so the Vols had time for their own Hail Mary. And darned if they didn't nail it and launch their own frenzied celebration, with no time left on the clock. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs heaved the ball to the left side of the end zone and the Vols' 6-foot-3 receiver Jauan Jennings went up and got it. Final score: Tennessee 34, Georgia 31.
The late legendary Georgia writer Lewis Grizzard once, many, many years ago, quoted the Bulldogs' John Kasay, the elder, as saying that in football "the highs are never as high as the lows are low." For a few minutes Saturday night, the Dogs couldn't have been much higher. But a 43-yard throw later, here came the lows.
"It's heartbreaking," senior right tackle Greg Pyke said. "You're out there thinking you've just won the game and they make a good play on offense against our defense, and you're right down in the lows again.
"We won the game and then the next thing you know, you lost it."
Every Thursday
It's one thing if the other team comes up with a play you haven't seen. But the Vols' game-winner was a fairly standard Hail Mary heave. Georgia's 6-6 linebacker Lorenzo Carter, a former basketball player who was camped out in the end zone on the play, said the Bulldogs, like most every team, practice defending the Hail Mary every week.
"It's something every team in the country walks through every Thursday," Carter said. "It was the last play and they made a great play. He went up and caught the ball."
On the heels of getting blown out at Ole Miss last week, Georgia played hard and physical against a tough, physical Tennessee squad. Despite the defense around him, a big, athletic Tennessee receiver made a really big play.
"You put your best jumpers in the end zone and everybody gets up and gets the ball down," Smart said. "We do drills to rep it. Their kid just went up and got it."
Pick your description of the loss: heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, brutal. Whatever it is, the Bulldogs have to get over it quickly.
"I told them in the locker room, nobody's going to feel sorry for you next week," Smart said. "Nobody's going to feel sorry for you. You've got to go practice, be physical and do it just like you did this week, and go out and compete, because next week you'll get their very best."
A Memorable Drive
When a game ends with what are basically back to back Hail Mary touchdowns, anything that happens earlier almost seems moot. But the Bulldogs' first touchdown drive still stands out, for its variety, creativity and aggressiveness.
It was the Dogs' third possession and it began at the UGA 21-yard-line. Tailback Sony Michel started it with a classic Michel run, which means he packed as many cuts and jukes into a nine-yard run as possible. Then tailback Brian Herrien ran for 10, followed by a rush for no gain by wideout Isaiah McKenzie.
On second-and-10 at the UGA 40, Eason threw a heater to Ridley for a 12-yard gain -- it was Ridley's first career catch. On the next play Eason lined up out wide on the right side and wideout Terry Godwin took the snap and handed it to Michel for a five-yard gain. After Herrien was stuffed on the next play, McKenzie was the tailback in the I-formation and after bobbling Eason's pitch he ran four yards for a first down at the UT 38.
Herrien showed great patience on his nine-yard run on the next play, following his blockers all the way. Michel had a dramatic rush for no gain on the next down, running into a wall of white on the left side before cutting back and getting back to the line of scrimmage.
Then, on third-and-1, a gift of a pass interference penalty on Eason's incomplete throw. That made it first down at the 14, and on the ensuing play Michel ran hard up the right hash for a touchdown.
The guys ran hard, the line blocked well and the Vols had a hard time knowing what was coming. After some recent troubles, Georgia's offense ended the game with 392 yards, including 181 on the ground. Michel ended with 91 yards rushing and Herrien added 74.
"We needed to be able to run the ball better, we practice hard and worked on it and I think that showed out there today," Pyke said.
New Kids
The freshmen, a lot of them, are starting to come into their own and contribute in big ways. Eason is the most obvious guy -- after playing in five games he's not really a freshman anymore, Smart said, though he's far from a finished product -- and it was Ridley who caught his 47-yarder after getting behind the defense.
Eason ended up 17-for-28 for 211 yards, with two touchdowns, an interception and he was sacked three times. Ridley finished with two grabs for 59 yards, but his wasn't Georgia's longest reception. That was freshman tight end Isaac Nauta, who caught a 50-yarder in the third quarter and finished with a game-high five catches for 83 yards.
What's Next?
Having lost 45-14 at Ole Miss last week and on the final play Saturday, the Dogs return to action next week at South Carolina.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.n
