University of Georgia Athletics
Dog Notes: Big Plays Lead The Way
November 19, 2016 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
An afternoon of big plays Saturday at Sanford Stadium started with a 45-yard kickoff return by Reggie Davis.
Actually, you might say it started with the Georgia Bulldogs taking the field for warmups in the black jerseys, which coach Kirby Smart said he supported but found to be "not a big deal." Then it was Davis' big return, followed by the first play from scrimmage: wideout Isaiah McKenzie's reverse run up the right side 55 yards for a touchdown.
"When I got the pitch I saw that [tight end Jeb Blazevich] had a good block, had brought his man to the outside, and it was up to me to hit the hole and run fast, as fast as I can," McKenzie said.
Soon after, on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's first play from scrimmage, a deep ball up the left side, Bulldog cornerback Deandre Baker came up with his second career interception — and then returned it 28 yards.
Games don't start out a whole lot better: big special teams play, big offensive play, big defensive play. That's checking every box. All of which helped the Dogs to a 35-21 victory, their third in a row.
"I'd say it's pretty exciting," said junior safety Aaron Davis, who had his own first-quarter interception on a deep ball. "We always say big plays are contagious and you see one person make a big play, someone else wants to make a big play. And that just comes from doing your job.
"Turnovers, special teams returns, that happens when all 11 guys do their job and you just see the result."
The big plays were far from over at that point. After the defense got a stop, McKenzie fielded a punt at the Bulldog 18 and went 82 yards untouched for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 8:30 left in the first quarter. It was McKenzie's fifth career punt return for a touchdown, setting a new school record.
"My guys up front did a great job of holding blocks and blocking everybody they can so I can get in the end zone," McKenzie said.
Listed at 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, McKenzie is often the smallest guy on the field. As he showed Saturday — an 82-yard punt return for a TD, a 55-yard rush for a TD and two catches for 32 yards — he can also have an enormous impact.
"They never measure the heart by height or by weight," Smart said.
Said running back Nick Chubb: "I enjoy seeing Isaiah play well. Every time he plays well we end up getting a victory."
Late in the first half, while Georgia was seemingly in full control of the game and had all the big plays, the game was still 14-0. With 6:20 left in the half the Dogs had 144 yards of offense and 127 return yards, but only seven first downs, to the Ragin' Cajuns' six. One big play by Louisiana and suddenly it would be time to sweat a bit, especially in light of how Nicholls State was able to hang around two months earlier.
Georgia (7-4) avoided that big play when a replay review showed that running back Sony Michel's elbow was down before he fumbled the ball. And after Georgia punted the ball back to the Cajuns, the defense made the play. Davis stripped backup quarterback Dion Ray and linebacker Lorenzo Carter recovered it at the Cajun 45. It was the Dogs' fourth takeaway of the half.
A few plays later, highlighted by a 32-yard Chubb rush to the 4, quarterback Jacob Eason hit tight end Isaac Nauta for a 9-yard touchdown. Suddenly it was a much more comfortable 21-0 with 2:50 left in the half.
OK, that didn't last long. The Cajuns (4-6) quickly drove the other way and scored their first points to make it 21-7 with 2:04 left. That would be a theme Saturday: Dogs make some big plays, build a nice lead, then allow the Cajuns to keep it fairly close.
"We had a lot of picks and a couple of tackles for loss [4.0]," defensive tackle Trenton Thompson said. "We left some stats out there, though."
Catch And Run
We all know Chubb can run — the junior is already among the greatest ever at a program with a lot of really great backs. And Chubb ran well Saturday, busting loose for multiple big gains on his way to 108 yards on 16 carries (a 6.8 average). He scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter and essentially put the game away in the fourth, but not with a rushing attempt.
On third-and-4 at the Cajun 49, Chubb moved into the flats from the backfield as Eason went through his progressions. Eventually Eason got to an open Chubb, who caught the ball, career reception No. 27, the same as his jersey number, and took off down the right hash for a touchdown.
"It was exciting to see him run away from somebody," Smart said.
Chubb, who missed most of last season with a major knee injury, looked as fast, agile and spry as he's looked all season.
"Every week, every day I'm feeling one percent better and it's starting to show off," he said after his second straight game, and fourth of the season, with at least 100 yards rushing.
Men In Black
About those black jerseys, Smart said he never wanted the special jerseys to be any kind of distraction. Clearly his black jersey wasn't for Chubb.
"I forgot we had them on, honestly," he said, sounding much like his head coach about the matter. "When I'm old I'm going to appreciate them a lot more, but right now I'm focusing on winning games."
Up Next
The Bulldogs wrap up their regular season against Georgia Tech next Saturday back at Sanford Stadium, with another noon kickoff. Smart was asked after the game if anything the Cajuns ran would help them in their preparation for Tech's venerable triple-option attack.
"There's nothing applicable," he said, later adding that in the preseason and during the off week the Bulldogs spent some time preparing for Tech's offense.
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.
