Game Notes: Georgia Takes on the UMass Minutemen

November 12, 2018 | Football

The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The UMass Minutemen

Game & Broadcast Info

Georgia Bulldogs vs. UMass Minutemen
Kickoff: Saturday, November 17 - 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium (92,746) - Athens, Ga.
2018 Records: Georgia 9-1 (7-1 SEC), UMass 4-7 (Ind.)
2017 Records: Georgia 13-2 (7-1 SEC), UMass 4-8 (Ind.)
Rankings: Georgia #5/5, UMass NR
TV: SECN - Taylor Zarzour (PxP), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Laura Rutledge (sidelines)
Video Stream: SECN+
Radio: WSB AM 750 - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), Chuck Dowdle (sideline)
Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com | TuneIn
Satellite: Sirius 98, XM 191
Web Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: #UMASSvsUGA
ReBroadcast: SEC Network: Sun, Nov. 18th - 12pm

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Georgia	2018 Averages	UMass
37.0	Scoring Offense	33.4
*15.8	Scoring Defense	40.8
+4	Turnover Margin	-4
462.2	Total Offense	441.9
240.7	Rushing Offense	142.8
221.5	Passing Offense	299.1
^19.5	Punt Returns	7.2
24.6	Kickoff Returns	20.0

*9th nationally; ^4th nationally

Bulldogs Get Senior Class Its 40th Win

Fifth-ranked Georgia plays host to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Saturday on the SEC Network at 4 p.m., and the Bulldogs aim for their 10th win of the season. The 2018 senior class picked up its 40th win last Saturday after dispatching No. 24 Auburn 27-10. The 2018 seniors are 40-11, and the 40 wins are tied for fifth best by a class in school history. The record for most wins by a class is 44 held by the 2005 contingent as they went 44-9 with a pair of Southeastern Conference titles. The most decorated class was the 1983 group that posted a 43-4-1 record including the 1980 national title and three SEC crowns.

The 2018 Bulldogs (9-1, 7-1 SEC) have already secured their spot in next month's SEC Championship Game where they will face top-ranked Alabama. Georgia looks to win back-to-back SEC titles for the first time since claiming three in a row from 1980-82. Saturday marks the second of three straight contests to close out the regular season at Sanford Stadium.

Swift Takes It To The House Again

For only the third time in school history and the first time since Herschel Walker accomplished the feat in 1980, the Bulldogs have had a tailback with two rushing touchdowns of 75 yards or more in the same season. Sophomore D'Andre Swift raced 83 yards for a touchdown at #9 Kentucky on Nov. 3 and then took off for a 77-yard scoring run in the latest win over #24 Auburn. Walker had a pair of 76-yard touchdown runs in 1980, one against Texas A&M and the other versus South Carolina. The only other Bulldog to do it was Charlie "Rabbit" Smith in 1945. Smith took one 86 yards at Kentucky for a score and then 80 yards at Chattanooga for a touchdown. For the year, Swift has 808 yards on 116 carries (7.0 yards per carry).

Last Time Out For UMass

The Minutemen played host to BYU at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough last Saturday, and the Cougars posted a 35-16 victory. BYU overcame a slow start as UMass built an early 10-0 advantage. Ross Comis got the start at quarterback for UMass and went 22-for-33 for 183 yards passing plus ran for a touchdown. The Minutemen (4-7) notched both of their scores via the running game.

Andy Isabella is one of 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's top wideout. The 5-10, 190-pounder ranks second in the FBS in receptions (87), receiving yards (1,479) and is tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (11). Against BYU, he led the team with 10 catches for 85 yards while senior Bryton Barr tallied a team-high 14 tackles including 1.5 TFLs. The Cougars collected 388 yards of total offense (221-rushing, 167-passing) on 63 plays and went 5-for-6 inside the red zone against Mass.

SEC Nation Back In Athens

SEC Network's traveling pregame show, SEC Nation Presented by Regions Bank, will be Between the Hedges Saturday, as No. 5 Georgia plays host to the University of Massachusetts. Laura Rutledge hosts the traveling pregame show, navigating the Saturday morning conversations with analysts Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum, along with reporter Lauren Sisler.

Airing live from 10 a.m. - noon ET from Myers Quad on the campus of the University of Georgia, the show will delve into the storylines of Southeastern Conference football, the weekend's biggest matchups and more before the Minutemen and the Bulldogs duke it out at Sanford Stadium at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network.

This will be SEC Nation's sixth visit to Athens and the 16th appearance on the show for the Bulldogs. In addition to the live show Saturday, The Paul Finebaum Show Presented by Johnsonville airs from 3-7 p.m. Friday on SEC Network. Fans are invited to catch all four hours of #FinebaumFriday live from the SECNetwork set at Myers Quad.

Head Coach Kirby Smart

Personal
Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart
Birthdate: December 23, 1975
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008), and Andrew (May 25, 2012)
High School: Bainbridge (Ga.)
College: BBA Georgia '98; MS UMass State '03

Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 UMass Defensive Backs
2005 Georgia Running Backs
2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties
2007 Alabama Asst. HC/DBs
2008-13, '15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs
2014 Alabama Asst. HC/Safeties
2016-current Georgia Head Coach

Playing Experience
Georgia (1995-98): Four-year letterman as defensive back. First team All-SEC in '98; 13 career interceptions; four-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Bainbridge H.S. (1991-93): Three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; first team Class AAAA All-State as a senior; 16 career interceptions.
High School Coach: Sonny Smart (father)

Coach Smart's Record
Year	W	L	Pct.	SEC
2016	8	5	.615	4-4
2017	13	2	.866	7-1
2018	9	1	.900	7-1
Total	30	8	.789	19-7

When Georgia looked for a new head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed.

In his first year leading the Bulldogs in 2016, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and posted five fourth-quarter comebacks including wins over No. 8 UMass and No. 22 North Carolina. He led UGA to an 8-5 final record, which included a victory over TCU in the Liberty Bowl.

In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club's George Munger National Coach of the Year. Before 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation's top-ranked class in 2018 and the third-ranked class in 2017. In addition to coaching, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focused on being champions in the community by supporting and giving back to needy children and families.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015. But he still had unfinished business at Alabama, which was chasing a national title. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Tide won its fourth national championship in a seven-year span. Twelve hours later, he was at work in Athens.

Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.

The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
Barry Odom (UMass)
Mark Richt (Miami)
David Shaw (Stanford)
Kirby Smart (GEORGIA)

Top Ind. Single-Game Performances Under Smart
Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D'Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 3, Eason @ Missouri (9/17/16); Fromm vs. Samford (9/16/17), vs. MTSU (9/15/18), @ Missouri (9/22/18), vs. Vanderbilt (10/6/18), vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ UMass (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17); Jeremiah Holloman vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18)
Longest TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Longest Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Tackles: 13, Roquan Smith vs. GT (11/26/16); SECCG (12/2/17); CFPNC (1/1/18)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16)

Quick Facts

2017 Georgia Munger National Coach of the Year finalist, leading UGA to a 13-2 record, a Rose Bowl Game victory and an appearance the CFP National Championship Game.
The Bulldogs' No. 2 AP ranking in 2017 was the team's top AP ranking since week three of the 2008 season when Georgia was No. 2.
Bulldogs captured the SEC Eastern Division by going 7-1 in 2017, including a perfect 6-0 in the division for the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992.
Seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over #8 AU (2016), #22 UNC in Atlanta (2016), @ #24 Notre Dame (2017), vs. #2 Oklahoma in 2018 Rose Bowl Game.
Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history, posting a 33-24 win over #22 UNC during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

10 Defense/Special Teams Scores
2016: Safety vs. #22 UNC; Lorenzo Carter 24-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Nicholls; Terry Godwin 43-yd KOR for TD @ SC; Maurice Smith 34-yd INT return for TD vs. #8 UMass; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recover for TD vs. UMass
2018: Juwan Taylor 1-yd INT return for TD @ USC; Mecole Hardman 70-yd PR for TD vs. MTSU; Tyson Campbell 64-yd fumble recovery for TD & Eric Stokes 8-yd blocked punt for TD @ Missouri

7 Victories When Tied Or Trailing Late
Year	Opponent	Start of 4th Qtr.	Final
2016	%#22 UNC	Trailed 24-23	33-24
2016	@ UMass	Trailed 27-21	28-27
2016	@ UMass	Trailed 21-16	27-24
2016	#8 UMass	Tied 7-7	13-7
2016	^TCU	Trailed 23-21	31-23
2017	#24 Notre Dame	17-16, trailed 19-17 with 10:21 left	20-19
2018	$ #2 Oklahoma 31-31	trailed 45-38 with 0:55 left	54-48 2ot

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game

High Octane Offense

Georgia is on pace to have one of the best scoring averages in UGA history this season. The Bulldogs have scored 40+ points in five games this year and are averaging 37.0, which is third in the SEC. The 2014 team owns the school record at 41.3.

The Bulldog offense has scored 42 touchdowns in 2018 while the defense and special teams have each chipped in two scores.

Georgia piled up 516 yards of total offense in the most recent 27-10 victory over #24 Auburn. This was the most yards the Tigers have given up since Oklahoma had 524 in the 2016 Sugar Bowl.

The Bulldogs did not trail in a game until Vanderbilt took a 3-0 lead in game six this year. The Bulldogs responded 15 seconds later with a touchdown pass from sophomore QB Jake Fromm to senior WR Terry Godwin with 10:15 left in the opening period. Georgia trailed the entire game at #11 LSU in Baton Rouge.

In Jacksonville, #9 Florida took a 14-13 lead early in the second half and Georgia responded with a seven-play, 72-yard TD drive to reclaim the lead for good en route to a 36-17 win. The Bulldogs led the entire game at UK to clinch the SEC East. Georgia trailed for more than a quarter in its latest win over #24 Auburn before running away with a 27-10 victory.

Efficient Signal Callers

Jake Fromm, a 2018 Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist, is hovering around the school record for Completion Percentage in 2018. He is ranked second in the SEC at 67.5 percent. Georgia's school record is 67.9 by Hutson Mason in 2014. The SEC record is 72.3 percent held by Tim Couch (UK, 1998).

Fromm is 21-3 as a starter, including 8-3 versus Top 25 teams.

The Warner Robins, Ga., native is ranked fifth nationally on the active list in Passing Efficiency at 164.2.

His three TD passes versus #9 Florida all came on third downs covering 12, 16 and 24 yards. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after going 17-for-24 for 240 yards and three TDs.

Georgia also has freshman QB Justin Fields, who was one of the nation's top recruits. After enrolling in January, he has seen action in nine of 10 games and is 20-for-27 with 220 yards and two scores and three rushing TDs. Fields also has 150 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns and is averaging 5.2 yards a carry.

Fields scampered for a career-high 45 yards on five carries during the win over the Vols and finished with two scoring runs.

In his career, Fromm has led his team to two comebacks when trailing at the half. One of Georgia's signature wins came with his 2018 Rose Bowl Game performance after the Bulldogs trailed #2 Oklahoma 31-17 at the half and rallied to a 54-48 win in double overtime. Georgia trailed 45-38 with 3:22 remaining in the game before Fromm directed a game-tying drive.

Fromm's first career start came last year at #24 Notre Dame. Trailing 19-17 with 6:47 left in the contest, Fromm directed a nine play, 63-yard drive to set up the go-ahead field goal. He was 3-for-4 for 45 yards during the drive.

Jake Fromm (UGA Career)
2017	Att	Cmp	TD	Int	Yds	Sk	Eff.
ASU (W)	15	10	1	0	143	0	168.7
@ #24 ND (W)	29	16	1	1	141	2	100.5
SU (W)	13	8	3	0	165	0	244.3
#17 MSU (W)	12	9	2	0	201	0	270.7
@ UT (W)	15	7	1	1	84	2	102.4
@ VU (W)	11	7	2	0	102	1	201.5
MU (W)	26	18	2	1	326	1	192.2
vs. UF (W)	4	7	1	1	101	0	196.9
USC (W)	22	16	2	0	196	1	177.6
@ #10 UMass (L)	28	13	1	0	184	4	113.4
UK (W)	14	9	1	1	123	1	147.4
@ GT (W)	16	12	2	0	224	0	233.8
SECCG -#2 AU (W)	22	16	2	0	183	2	172.6
ROSE - #2 OU (W)	29	20	2	0	210	2	152.6
CFP NC - #4 UA (L)	32	16	1	2	232	4	108.7
2017 TOTAL	291	181	24	7	2,615	20	160.1
2018	Att	Cmp	TD	Int	Yds	Sk	Eff.
APSU (W)	16	12	2	0	157	0	198.7
@ #24 USC (W)	18	15	1	1	194	2	181.1
MTSU (W)	12	10	3	0	128	2	255.4
@ MISSOURI (W)	23	13	3	1	260	0	185.8
TENNESSEE (W)	22	16	0	0	185	3	143.3
VU (W)	23	17	3	0	276	0	217.8
@ #13 LSU (L)	34	16	1	2	209	3	96.6
vs. #9 ^UF (W)	24	17	3	0	240	1	196.1
vs. #9 UK (W)	20	14	1	0	113	0	134.0
#24 AU (W)	20	13	2	1	193	0	169.8
2018 TOTAL	212	143	19	5	1,955	11	169.8
CAREER TOTAL	503	324	43	12	4,570	31	164.2

Sharing The Load In The Ground Game

This year, Georgia is primarily utilizing a pair of backs to share the load between junior Elijah Holyfield and sophomore D'Andre Swift. For more on the Dynamic Duo, check pg. 5.

Most recently, the Bulldogs went over 300 yards on the ground versus #24 Auburn and had a 100-yard rusher for the third straight game. In the SEC East clinching road win over #9 Kentucky, both tailbacks went over 100 yards as the Bulldogs tallied 331 yards on the ground with three scores on 50 attempts.

Swift registered a career-high 186 yards and a score on 17 carries (10.9 avg) and had four catches for 43 yards against AU.

Swift went for 156 and two scores and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week while Holyfield registered a careerhigh 115 and one touchdown versus the Wildcats.

Name	Atts.	Yds.	Avg.	TDs
Elijah Holyfield	118	767	6.5	5
D'Andre Swift	116	808	7.0	8
TOTAL	234	1,575	6.7	13

Next Man Up On The Line

Georgia leads the SEC in Rushing Offense at 240.7 yards/ game and also leads in SEC only games at 232.8. Sophomore LT Andrew Thomas was named the league's Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Dogs finished with 331 rushing yards at UK.

Georgia has started three different alignments on the OL.

Georgia's starting line has featured Thomas/freshman Cade Mays (LT), redshirt sophomore Solomon Kindley (LG), senior Lamont Gaillard (C), redshirt sophomore Ben Cleveland/ Mays (RG) and redshirt freshman Isaiah Wilson (RT). Wilson is the only lineman from the aforementioned who has not missed a snap due to injury.

The Bulldogs have rotated a number of players on the line due to injuries. Mays has started at a pair of spots and played at three different spots, most recently filling in for Cleveland. After missing five games with a leg injury, Cleveland saw limited action against #24 Auburn. Senior Kendall Baker and freshman Trey Hill have also played significant reserve roles.

Spreading The Wealth

Junior Riley Ridley leads the wideouts with 31 catches for 430 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Mecole Hardman checks in with 28 receptions for 407 yards and four scores.

Versus AU, junior WR Tyler Simmons caught his first career touchdown pass to give Georgia a 13-10 edge during the 27-10 win.

Hardman had a career day at #24 South Carolina, hauling in six catches for 103 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown. This was Georgia's first 100-yard receiver since the 2016 Liberty Bowl versus TCU (Isaiah McKenzie, 4-103). He had a 70-yard PR for a TD versus MTSU and a 54-yard touchdown catch at Missouri.

Senior Terry Godwin topped his teammates with 84 yards on three catches versus #24 Auburn, including a 38-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-3 situation right before halftime.

Sophomore Jeremiah Holloman has emerged into another target for the Bulldogs. He has 19 catches for 321 yards and four scores, including a pair that came in the win over the Gators.

Bulldogs Setting The Tone On Defense

Georgia is third in the SEC and ninth nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 15.8 points/game.

Last Saturday, Georgia held #24 Auburn to just 10 points and 274 yards, including only 102 on the ground, and kept the Tigers to a 3-for-11 mark on third downs. Like the Austin Peay and MTSU games, the Bulldogs shut out AU in the second half.

With the SEC East title on the line, the Bulldogs built a 14-3 halftime lead over #9 Kentucky as Georgia forced a pair of punts, a fumble and a field goal on the Wildcats' first four possessions.

Georgia kept #9 Florida to a season-low 275 total yards in their 36-17 victory over the Gators in Jacksonville. UGA forced UF into turnovers on its first two possessions.

In the first half of the win at Missouri, the Tigers ran 38 plays for 159 yards and were held to a touchdown. Missouri entered the contest averaging 43.7 pts. In the second half, the Tigers tallied 22 points and finished with 393 total yards on 85 plays.

In the Bulldogs' 41-13 win over Vanderbilt, the Commodores were held to a pair of field goals until they scored their first touchdown with :02 left.

Walker Making An Impact

Senior OLB D'Andre Walker has emerged as the leader on the outside. At #13 LSU, Walker had his team-leading fifth sack. He recorded four tackles, including two sacks, and forced two fumbles in the win at Missouri.

Walker also has a team-leading three forced fumbles to go along with 30 total tackles and 7.5 of those are TFLs.

Georgia has senior Juwan Taylor, sophomore Monty Rice, junior Tae Crowder and senior Natrez Patrick splitting time at ILB. Rice leads the team with 59 stops in only nine games while Taylor is tied for fifth with 37 tackles.

Rice posted a team-high eight tackles, including his first career sack, during the win at #9 Kentucky. In fact, UGA had a season-high four sacks against the Wildcats.

In the victory over #9 Florida, Rice established a career high 11 stops and forced a fumble while Crowder recovered a fumble on the Gator 1-yard line.

Taylor recovered his second fumble versus Tennessee, which is tied for the team lead.

Crowder highlighted the Missouri game with a 43-yard interception return, marking the first pick of his career.

Taylor was credited with a TD after DB Deandre Baker dropped the ball at the 1 yard line following a 55-yard INT return.

Starting Up Front

Veterans Jonathan Ledbetter and Tyler Clark anchor the line. Ledbetter is fourth on the team with 38 tackles, four tackle for loss and a sack, while Clark has 23 stops, including 4.0 TFL and a sack. Against #9 Kentucky, Ledbetter forced a fumble that Clark recovered. Ledbetter posted a career-high 10 stops at #13 LSU.

True freshman Jordan Davis has started the last three games versus #9 Florida, at #9 Kentucky and against #24 Auburn. In the contest at #13 LSU, Davis recorded seven tackles.

In addition to Clark and Ledbetter, junior Julian Rochester, Georgia is rotating in junior Michael Barnett and sophomore Devonte Wyatt.

Georgia held Missouri QB Drew Lock to no TD passes in their trip to Columbia. Lock has 19 TD passes in nine games in 2018.

Baker, Reed Leading Defensive Backfield

Senior DB Deandre Baker, a midseason All-American and semifinalist for the Bednarik and Thorpe awards, has 33 tackles on the year and a team-best two picks and nine pass break-ups. Baker is tied for second in the SEC in passes defended with 11.

He had six stops, two pass breakups and the team's first interception in 2018 (along with a 55-yard return) at #24 South Carolina. Baker was named the Athlon National Defensive Player of the Week following the contest. He followed that performance up with another pick and a fumble recovery in the win over MTSU.

Junior safety J.R. Reed ranks third on the team with 44 tackles. He has been the leading tackler three times. Reed's lone pick on the year came in the end zone at South Carolina.

Sophomore Richard LeCounte has started every game but last week's Auburn contest this year and is second with 58 tackles. He has been the leading tackler twice this year, including six stops and a forced fumble versus Vanderbilt. LeCounte had seven tackles and a 32-yard fumble return in the win over #9 Florida.

Freshman Tyson Campbell posted a career-high 11 tackles in the loss at #13 LSU, including eight solo stops.

Campbell and redshirt freshman Eric Stokes had career highlights in the win at Missouri. Campbell started the game by forcing a fumble, recovering it and scampering 64 yards for a touchdown. Stokes blocked a punt and returned it eight yards for another of the Dogs' scores. With AU leading 7-6, he had a key pass breakup on a 3rd-and-goal from the 4-yard line to force the Tigers to a field goal.

Blankenship One Of The Best

All-American candidate PK Rodrigo Blankenship enters the game with 94 points on the year (17 FGs, 43 PATs). He is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist for the second straight year and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the 41-17 rout at #24 USC.

Leads the SEC for scoring for PK (9.4 ppg).

Honored as one of 11 players nationwide named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

Has connected on a school record 132 consecutive PATs, topping Blair Walsh's record of 119 (2008-11). His 132 ranks fifth in SEC history for consecutive PATs.

Second in NCAA with 64 touchbacks out of 72 KOs in 2018.

Last year, 67 of his kickoffs were touchbacks, which was a new school record. The old mark was by Kevin Butler (51 in 1981).

Set a Rose Bowl Game record by drilling a career-long 55- yard field goal during the 2OT win over #2 Oklahoma. His performance included a 38-yard FG in overtime.

Career Highs For Blankenship
Points: 17 (MU17; 4FG, 5PAT)
PATs: 7 (MT18)
FG Att: 6 (MU18)
FG Made: 4 (UK16, MU17)
FG Long: 55 (OU18)
KO: 10 (MU17)
KO Yards: 635 (MU17)

Blankenship Kicking Stats

Year	PAT	FG	LG	TP
2016	26x26	14-18	49	68
2017	63x63	20-23	55	123
2018	43x43	17-19	53	94
Total	132x132	51-60	55	285

Field Goal Breakdown

Year	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99
2016	0-0	7-7	3-4	4-6	0-1
2017	0-0	8-8	6-6	4-7	2-2
2018	2-2	6-6	2-3	6-7	1-1
Total	2-2	21-21	11-13	14-20	3-4

True freshman Jake Camarda started his career versus APSU with three punts for a 55 yard average (fifth best in UGA history), including a long of 63. He is averaging 42.2 this year.

SEC's Leading Punt Returner Back

Junior returner/receiver Mecole Hardman is leading the SEC in Punt Return average at 24.3. He is back in the lineup after having 23 punt returns for 271 yards and an 11.8 average in 2017 (all of those led the SEC). Also, Hardman is averaging 27.6 on eight kickoff returns this year.

He has had a 70-yard PR for a touchdown versus MTSU and a 65 yarder set up Georgia's first score at #9 UK.

Another SEC Championship Game Appearance

With the 34-17 victory over Kentucky in Lexington on Nov. 3, Georgia clinched the Eastern Division. The Bulldogs will face topranked Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) in the 2018 SEC Championship Game (SECCG) on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in Atlanta in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The teams met in that venue in last season's College Football Playoff National Championship as the No. 4 Crimson Tide won 26-23 in overtime over the No. 3 Bulldogs.

Georgia and Alabama last squared off for an SEC title in 2012, and then No. 2 Crimson Tide held on for a 32-28 decision over No. 3 Georgia. That game also was decided on the last play as Georgia ran out of time at the Alabama 5-yard line. The 2012 SEC Championship Game was the only time the Bulldogs have faced the Crimson Tide in an SECCG.

The Bulldogs will be making their seventh appearance in the game, and they are 3-3 including winning the 2017 title over Auburn in 2017. The Bulldogs have won or shared the SEC Eastern Division title nine times (1992, 2002, '03, '05, '07, '11, '12, '17, '18).

In 1992, UF won the tiebreaker over UGA to represent the East in the SECCG and the same went for UT in 2007.

N.O.T. Just Scoring On Offense

The Bulldogs' 46 touchdowns this season have included 42 by the offense, two by the defense and two by special teams.

The last N.O.T.s (Non-Offensive Touchdowns) came in the 43-29 road win over Missouri. Georgia had a 20-7 lead at halftime and the offense did not have a touchdown. The Bulldogs' first score came on a forced fumble/64-yard return for a touchdown by freshman Tyson Campbell. In the second quarter, redshirt freshman Eric Stokes blocked his first career punt and returned it eight yards for a score. This marked the 10th defensive/special teams score in the Kirby Smart era. In fact, Georgia's first TD in both of the first two SEC games this year were scored by the defense.

Also, it was the first time since 2015 at Tennessee that Georgia had registered a special teams touchdown and a defensive score in the same game. That year, current Chicago Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd had a 96-yard fumble return and Reggie Davis had a 70-yard punt return.

Dynamic Duo

Georgia is one of six FBS schools that has two running backs with at least 700 yards each.

1. Florida Atlantic - 1,934 yds. / 322 carries = 6.01 avg. (Devin Singleterry, Kerrith Whyte)
2. Pittsburgh - 1,898 yds. / 245 carries = 7.75 avg. (Qadree Ollison, Darrin Hall)
3. GEORGIA - 1,575 yds. / 234 carries = 6.73 avg. (D'Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield)
4. Louisiana - 1,573 yds. / 242 carries = 6.5 avg. (Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell)
5. Tulsa - 1,555 yds. / 332 carries = 4.68 avg. (Shamari Brooks, Cory Taylor)
6. Ohio State - 1,423 yds. / 284 carries = 5.01 avg. (J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber)

Blankenship Latest Good Works Team Rep

When junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship was named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community, he joined a long list of Bulldogs who have garnered this honor.

In fact, Georgia leads the nation with 19 recipients since the award's inception in 1992.

Here is a look at all of the Bulldogs who have been named to the Good Works Team:

Alec Millen - 1992	Quentin Moses - 2006
Travis Jones - 1993	Kelin Johnson - 2007
Brian Smith - 1993	Jeff Owens - 2009
Matt Stinchcomb - 1997	Aaron White - 2011
Matt Stinchcomb - 1998	Aaron Murray - 2012
Brett Millican - 2000	Chris Conley - 2014
Jon Stinchcomb - 2001	Malcolm Mitchell - 2015
David Greene - 2003	Jeb Blazevich - 2016
D.J. Shockley - 2005	Aaron Davis - 2017

Youth Movement

The Bulldogs returned 51 lettermen from their 2018 squad, including 13 starters. However, Georgia is still the SEC's youngest team and the nation's 15th youngest team with 68.2 percent being either freshmen or sophomores.

Total	Fr. (True/RS)	Soph.	Team	Size	Pct.
Georgia	88	58 (39/20)	30	129	68.2

Record Watch

The Bulldogs are now 10 games into their 2018 slate and junior PK Rodrigo Blankenship has set one all-time school career record and has another on the horizon.

He now has 132 consecutive PATs, which topped Blair Walsh's 119 from 2008-10. The next record to keep an eye on is career touchbacks. The record is held by Kevin Butler (1981-94) who had 169 during his career. Currently, Blankenship has 152. Last year, Blankenship set the season touchback record with 67 breaking the mark held by Butler who had 51. Incidentally, Blankenship already has the nation's second-most touchbacks with 64 this year.

Bulldog Graduates

Georgia has three players on this year's roster who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.

The players who received their undergraduate degrees include: DL Jay Hayes (Notre Dame-Film, Television, Theater), P Landon Stratton (Murray State-Occupational and Health Safety) and OL Sean Fogarty (UGAHistory). Hayes is pursuing a Master's degree in Financial Planning while Stratton is enrolled in the Master's program for Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development. Fogarty is taking a full load of undergraduate courses.

All of the SEC players who have achieved an undergraduate degree will be sporting the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

UGA 13th In US News & World Report rankings

UGA jumped three spots to No. 13 in the U.S. News & World Report 2019 ranking of best public national universities, the highest ranking in UGA's history. This is the third consecutive year the university has risen in the U.S. News ranking.

2019 Schedule

Aug. 31 at ^Vanderbilt
Sept. 7 MURRAY STATE
Sept. 14 ARKANSAS STATE
Sept. 21 NOTRE DAME
Sept. 28 Open Date
Oct. 5 at ^Tennessee
Oct. 12 ^SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 19 ^UMass
Oct. 26 Open Date
Nov. 2 vs. ^UMass (Jacksonville)
Nov. 9 ^MISSOURI
Nov. 16 at ^UMass
Nov. 23 ^TEXAS A&M
Nov. 30 at Georgia Tech
^SEC game

First-Time Starters In 2018

The Bulldogs had seven first-time starters in their 2018 season opener versus APSU and 14 overall, including six freshmen.

APSU: Isaiah Wilson (RT), Tyler Simmons (WR), Ahkil Crumpton(WR), D'Andre Walker (LB), Tyson Campbell (DB), Walter Grant (LB), Jake Camarda (P).
MTSU: Cade Mays (LT), Mark Webb (DB), William Poole (DB)
UF: Jordan Davis (DL), Jeremiah Holloman (WR)
UK: Tae Crowder (ILB)
AU: Otis Reese (DB)

The True Freshman Experience

During the opener, 18 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs while 36 newcomers made their debut. Tyson Campbell started the season opener at DB in his first collegiate contest.

Bulldog Captains In 2018