As
I begin my 20th season of covering the Bulldogs, it's a beautiful
weather day for a fall Saturday in Athens with 77 degrees and maybe a
drizzle or two to keep it cool. But, if you read all of the preseason
prognostications, the Bulldogs are the hot team to watch in the SEC.
Most predict them to win the East with a #9 early national ranking. Many
think they'll continue from there at the SEC Championship Game against
Auburn or Alabama. And, the way things are set up, that game is
virtually an invitation to the Final Four Playoffs.
They certainly should win the East. Tennessee is building and on its way
back to where it used to be but may still be a year away. South
Carolina's run of strong seasons looks to be in the rear view mirror.
Florida fired their head coach last season and is still regrouping.
Georgia has a lot going for them. They lost Todd Gurley to the NFL
but have an equal replacement in Nick Chubb and a healthy Sony
Michel and Keith Marshall to share the load in the backfield
which led the SEC with 257.8 yards rushing per game in 2014. .
Other changes at UGA include Brian Schottenheimer taking over from
Mike Bobo as Offensive Coordinator. Greyson Lambert transferred
from Virginia and won the starting quarterback job. Expect the Dawgs to
have a monster season on the ground with that trio of backs running
behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation. The squad returns
four starters in senior LT John Theus, junior LG/C Brandon
Kublanow, junior RG Greg Pyke and senior RT Kolton Houston.
ULM, formerly known as Northeast Louisiana, competes in the Sun Belt
Conference and has had their share of SEC upsets in recent seasons
stunning Alabama in Tuscaloosa 21-14 in 2007 and shocking #8 Arkansas
34-31 three years ago...the first Sun Belt team to register a win over a
top 10 team.
The traditional playing of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" brings
us to kickoff. Not a great first drive for UGA with a pair of short runs
and a substitution penalty resulting in a three and out.
ULM began their first drive at their 21 and did worse. Not only did they
go three and out but had their punt blocked by Lorenzo Carter
giving the Dawgs the ball at the ULM 21.
Chubb got the first carry for seven, then went untouched for the rest to
give the home team their first score of 2015.
The visitors would try again, this time from their 25. Even worse as
R-So. BC Aaron Davis picked off a Garrett Smith pass and
ran it back 26 yards. Lambert immediately found So. TE Jeb Blazevich
in the end zone to put the Dawgs up by fourteen.
The Warhawks started their third drive with a first and 25 at their 10
after a holding penalty and could only make it back to the original line
of scrimmage.
On the punt, junior KOR Reggie Davis grabbed a ball that it
looked like he should have let roll and took it back 21 yards to the ULM
44. Then a pair of bad plays starting with a 15 yard penalty and a
fumble by freshman F Terry Godwin, recovered by ULM at the UGA
43. But a review ruled that his knee was down. So, a second chance
brought a second down and 20 at the 46. Michel picked up 14 but not
enough to avoid their second punt. Another holding call moved the
Warhawks back to their 10 where the next three plays came up a yard
short.
Georgia started at their 38 but the Dawgs could do no better. Collin
Barber made his third punt count pinning them back to their seven,
close to where they had been living all quarter. On a fake handoff,
Smith converted their first first down to the 20. That was the extent of
that drive and the first quarter.
Georgia got a 13 yard pass to Malcolm MItchell to the ULM 42.
Keith Marshall got six on his first carry with Sr. FB Quayvon
HIcks getting 15 in the air to the 21. Mitchell picked up 11
for a first and goal at the 10. Marshall got the rest to make it 21-0.
The Warhawks drive began at their 26. Smith converted a third down with a
nice 24 yard run to the UGA 43.
He then hit WR Rashon Ceaser for nine. But, senior Jordan
Jenkins halted progress with a nine yard sack.
The Bulldogs found themselves in a spot that they had been putting their
opponents in. A drive starting with their own end zone at their back at
the three. But not for long as Lambert hit Michel in full stride at the
18. It was 48 yards later before he was tripped up. Chubb added 18 to
the 28. On a third and five, Chubb got all 23. Six plays and 96 yards in
just 2:39 to make it 28-0.
ULN took over at their 25. On a third and three Tim Kimbrough got
a 14 yard sack as Smith was called for intentional grounding giving
Georgia great field position at the enemy 45.
Brice Ramsey came in at quarterback and was sacked for a six yard
loss to bring up a third and 17. He made up the difference on a 20 yard
pass to Godwin. Chubb got five to the 27. A five yard off sides penalty
brought up a third and nine. No problem as Michel pulled one down and
got the rest to make it 35-0.
The Warhawks finally got on the board mostly thanks to several nice
catches by Ceaser including ones for 22 and 26 yards. It was 35-7 at the
half. Georgia had a surprising 103 total yards rushing, 79 by Chubb.
ULM would try to build on the momentum from their last score and getting
the ball first to start off the second half. They started with another
reception by Ceaser for 18 yards to the 44. Smith recovered a dropped
snap and hit Tre Perrier for an 11 yard first down into Bulldog
territory. He then hit the ubiquitous Ceaser for nine for another first
at the 30. It was Ceaser again for a 30 yard touchdown pass to bring the
Warhawks to within 21 with 14 unanswered points.
Either the Dawgs got complacent with a 35 point lead or too many backups
were put in too soon. But, Georgia needed to answer and put their
collective feet back on the Warhawks' throats.
An on sides kick didn't work giving UGA good position at their 39.
Lambert was back in and smartly handed it to Chubb who refused to go
down until he had moved several defenders 12 yards to midfield. But a
pair of blocked pass attempts forced a Barbar punt to the 10.
Then, out of the blue, sort of, an announcement over the stadium PA that
lightning had been detected in the area and play had been suspended.
Where is Chris Holbomb when you need him?
After an hour delay and a few ran drops mixed in, play resumed at 3:15pm
with about half of the crowd somewhere else. UNL had a third down to
finish on a very wet field and missed on an attempt to the old reliable,
Ceaser. A delay of game moved it back to the nine. Then freshman
D'Andre Walker got himself noticed by blocking the punt. UGA got two
points and got to receive a free kick with Davis taking it to the UGA
42.
Chubb went over 100 yards for the game with an 27 yard run. On a perfect
28 yard pass, Lambert hit Mitchell in the back right corner of the
end zone to get the momentum back along with 7 more points to make it
44-14.
The Warhawks only were able to bring a Marshall Morgan kick out to
the 15. But Ceasar was back at it with a 16 yard catch, a career high
148 yards receiving for the talented senior. Kimbrell caused a
DeVontae McNeal fumble but it was recovered by the QB as a three
yard loss.
UGA again began a drive deep in their own territory at the seven. A pair
of Michell 11 yard carried got them out to the 31 as the game moved into
the fourth quarter. Its good to see Keith Marshall back and apparently
in his freshman form as he picked up a first on a 19 yard gain.
Brendan Douglas came in and got another first at the 25, then burst
free for 11 more. It was Marshall's turn to get it 16 yards closer to
the four, then the rest to put the Dawgs up 51-14. With the extra point,
Marshall tied the school record with Blair Walsh for career
points after touchdowns. His 184 PAT's is third in SEC history.
Shortly after, with just under 10 minutes to go in the game. officials
announced another lightning delay. Mark Richt met with opposing
coashes and officials and they made a mutual decision to terminate the
remainder of the game with the final score, UGA 51, ULM 13.