Georgia starts slow, then writes winning script (UPDATED)
If Dogs' comeback wasn't big enough statement, this was.
(UPDATED: 1:15 a.m.)
COLUMBIA, Mo. — By the time this night was over, Georgia had to be more than just somebody else’s memory.
Decades from now, there couldn’t be any warm-and-fuzzy storylines about how some newbie won its first SEC game, because the flip side to that would be that the Bulldogs had lost it. There couldn’t be the tale of how a long-standing program (Georgia) had stumbled in its conference opener for the third straight season, this time falling to a program (Missouri) that some questioned was even worthy of this leap.
But by the time the evening ended, Georgia didn’t have to worry about that. The Dogs had several early hiccups Saturday. They turned the ball over. They committed penalties. They trailed as late as 20-17 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter. Then they changed the script.
The Dogs scored the final 24 points of the game. They scored 38 in the final 30:30 of the game after managing only a field goal in the first 29:30. They won 41-20.
It’s too early to know if Georgia is a great team. But that is how great teams react. They take over games and look like they’re ready for the moment, especially when the opponent looks like it isn’t.
As the game ended, Georgia fans in one corner of Memorial Stadium, chanted, “Old man football! Old man football!” The reference was to the Missouri player who had mocked their style.
Big mistake by the Tigers. Fond memory for the Bulldogs.
“We all heard it — that was great,” quarterback Aaron Murray said.
“”Hilarious,” wide receiver Marlon Brown added.
Defense held Dogs in it until Aaron Murray got going.
It was 3-3 until late in the second quarter. Brown said, “I was thinking, ‘Wow, this really is ‘old man football’ — for both teams.”
But Georgia drove to a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half, and suddenly it couldn’t be stopped. In one stretch they scored on five of six possessions (four touchdowns and a field goal), although the last two touchdowns of the game were gimmes, set up by Missouri turnovers caused by linebacker Jarvis Jones: an interception and return to the Mizzou 1, and a sack and forced fumble at the 5.
“I think we showed people we can play,” Jones said. “In the first half, they threw a variety of punches at us, they showed us everything they had. In the second half we were more comfortable. And we made plays.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers unraveled. It started with their head coach, Gary Pinkel. He called for a fake punt early in the fourth quarter when Georgia led only 24-20. Some might call that the element of surprise. In reality, it was an awful message to send his players. It was like telling them, “We can’t win this playing normal football.” There is nothing wrong with calling a fake punt, but not at that point of the game.
Also, it failed. Punter Trey Barrow was stuffed on a fourth-and-11 run by Sheldon Dawson at the Tigers’ 38. The Dogs converted that into a field goal and outscored Missouri 17-0 from that points.
Jones: “That was a big turning point for us.”
Nobody went into Saturday expecting a blowout win. Georgia showed flaws last week against Buffalo (soft defensive line, off-target quarterback), was missing bodies (four defensive starters suspended) and was playing on the road against a solid opponent that obviously was pumped for its SEC debut.
But the one thing nobody in Athens wanted or expected was a reminder of last season’s first significant test of the season. Remember the Boise State game? The Bulldogs looked outcoached and overmatched physically by a perceived inferior team that night. They trailed 28-7 in the third quarter and lost 35-21.
That’s sort of what it looked like for a half (or more) against Missouri. The offensive line didn’t block well. Murray was off target. He frequently overthrew receivers, and the one time when he underthrew a receiver (Brown), the pass was intercepted — and on the first play after Georgia had recovered a Missouri fumble.
There were other problems. Malcolm Mitchell belatedly and foolishly decided to field a punt on a bounce and in traffic. Of course, he got hit and fumbled. The Dogs finished with 12 penalties, including five false starts. There were dropped passes. Placekicker Marshall Morgan made 52-and 41-yard field goals but missed an extra point and had another ricochet in off the upright.
But defense, despite also having some bumps, kept the Dogs in it until Murray and the offense got going. With Georgia trailing 20-17, Murray completed consecutive passes to Brown (40 yards), Michael Bennett (22) and Brown (11) again, the last one for a touchdown and a 24-20 lead.
Missouri panicked. It didn’t look ready for the moment. Pinkel’s fake punt backfired. It was over.
This memory was all Georgia’s.
By Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
687 comments Add your comment
"NO means NO, Zach"
September 9th, 2012
12:38 am
Look at the WEAK SEC West!!!
One school loses a coach because he was horny. One school sweeps arrests and failing drug tests under the rug. One school actually REWARDS felonies by making those players starters and captains. One school out-right cheats every chance they get…always have. Plus…there are actually TWO schools from the state of Mississippi? REALLY. (I’ll give T A&M a break)
How did they all do today?
eddie willers
September 9th, 2012
12:38 am
The Turning Point IMO was the failed Fake Punt.
No….the turning point was the score before that when Ga. took the lead. The Mizzou coach knew he had lost momentum and that his boys were running out of gas. He knew if he didn’t score then, he never would…..and he was right.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:38 am
I dont know GTBob,but i know virginia tech did not play good and georgia tech lost to them!!!!
Virginia Tech would blow out Missouri without much of a problem. You aren’t exactly comparing apples to apples here. What you saw tonight was Missouri at the top of their game.
Burt's Mustache
September 9th, 2012
12:39 am
Mizzou is not “a really good team” as some have proclaimed on this blahhhg. They’re unranked and if any of you kool aid drinkers think this is some momentous win, it’s only because UGA hasn’t beaten a top 10 team or had a momentous win in several seasons. And I don’t count beating UF during a rebuilding year as a momentous win.
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:39 am
UGA beat a team that struggled to get to 7-5 last year and lost most of their starters. Congrats, I guess.
Thanks!!! GO DAWGS!
Trandall19705
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
As I said pre-game. If there was team that could possibly win by 21, it was UGA. THEY DID!
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
@Ghost, you’re starting to sound bitter. I’m only rubbing your nose in stuff because again, I’m stuck living in the A-T-L. I’m up where all the counties come together south of the lake. I see lots of UGA stuff around these parts, and man, I just love rubbing it in.
Although if ya’ll had lost, aw man, I’d eaten you up. And for a long time there it was looking good for Mizzou. So much so that if anyone saw that game, probably out of boredom because we put Washington away early, they would probably think that maybe #7 is too high.
After all, this is the team that brought you a 42-10 loss last December. Mississippi St gave us a better game last year. And don’t forget, we were playing with Jefferson. And we till won 42-10. With Jefferson.
Congrats
again 
on your big 
win 
over a unranked team 
!
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
GTBob… I don’t suppose UGA had something to do with the way Mizzou played? Your comments are broken record. In other words, predictable and boring.
Did UGA cause them to play horrible most of last season as well? They aren’t a very good program in general and they will more than likely get worse in the SEC.
FLA DAWG
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
LSU couldn’t beat Bama even if the entire Bama squad spent the night in the gutters of Burbon Street.
GT had a great football team many, many decades ago. Now they have nothing but a memory of that tradition. But instead of improving their team and actually filling their stadium they come onto UGA sites to badmouth The Dawgs after a good win.
HEY GT, if you can’t beat ‘em……………………….shuthehellup !!!!!!!!!!
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
MY BAD kERRYB
lsu42izzatyourIQ?
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
Isn’t it time for drunken cajun losers like you to be home raping your sister/daughter? Too bad another massive hurricane can’t inundate your whole stinking swamp of a state and let your corpses do some good as fish food.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:40 am
I’m trying to get all of the Ga Tech nerds and LSU dumbasses to get on this site and obsess about UGA tonight.
Bob669
September 9th, 2012
12:41 am
If they could just keep there head in the game they could beat anyone. I stand by what I’ve said in earlier post, they lack discipline.
But for now, get everyone back and get healthy. Gonna be a long season. If Arkansas can lose the way they did, any one can lose on any given day!
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:41 am
NO means NO, Zach”
September 9th, 2012
12:38 am
Look at the WEAK SEC West!!!
One school loses a coach because he was horny. One school sweeps arrests and failing drug tests under the rug. One school actually REWARDS felonies by making those players starters and captains. One school out-right cheats every chance they get…always have. Plus…there are actually TWO schools from the state of Mississippi? REALLY. (I’ll give T A&M a break)
How did they all do today?
________________________________________________________
I was thinking the same think. Which division is really the weakest? I think Bama and LSU are the only good teams over there. The East has UGA, UF, USC, and even TN may be improved this year.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:42 am
DAWG FOR REAL, no problem. Sorry about the dumb bell comment.
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
12:42 am
Bob
When you are ranked #7 in the country, every win is a “big win”! Another step towards an undefeated season. Even though Tech has no goals other than bashing UGA on the blogs, we want to win them all. EVERY WIN IS BIG WHEN YOU WANT TO WIN THEM ALL!!!
stendek
September 9th, 2012
12:42 am
Dawggirl is right. A loss in Missouri would have been deplorable. A home loss by the Razorbacks in OT to a high school team is far more devastating. Too bad that scum Bobby Petrino was not at the helm!
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:43 am
When Tech gets a win period they might can talk about who we beat.
SiddyBoy
September 9th, 2012
12:43 am
Jarvis Jones is a man among boys.Keep it up JJ.It’s great to have you as a GA Bulldog !!!
GB's Hamburgers
September 9th, 2012
12:44 am
It was another disjointed effort. Looked nothing like Bama’s opening game. UGA is known for play 1/2 of a game. This time the half they chose to play was the 2nd half. I don’t think the offense would have won the game. The defense made the difference.
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:44 am
You can all in here with your smart@@@ remarks but your the same ones that said Georgia would barely win or lose this game.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:44 am
Run this by me again real quick, what is UGA’s signature win over the past few years? Was it 2008 when you beat us? We ended 8-5 though. Oh wait, Michigan State in a bowl game. They finished the season #24.
Is that your last big win? that’s like over 3 full seasons ago?
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:44 am
I was thinking the same think. Which division is really the weakest? I think Bama and LSU are the only good teams over there.
Bama and LSU are the only good teams in the SEC.
Biggun
September 9th, 2012
12:45 am
Chill out G TBob, UGA will get around to stompping Techs’ Beehives soon enough! Enjoy your win over that Super Power you played today and leave real football to the people in Athens Georgia!!!!!
eddie willers
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
Too bad that scum Bobby Petrino was not at the helm! I almost never say anything bad about anybody…..but I’ll join in on a little Petrino bashing!
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
My only regret last season is that I didn’t get “tea-bagged” in the face by the Bama fan.
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
LSU 42 GA 10,WAKE UP AND GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ANAS. NO HONEY BADGER AND IT .NEW YEAR. BY THE IF I RECOLLECT RIGHT BAMA WON THE BIG ONE OVER YOU KITTIES LAST YEAR. DREAM ON BAMA OWNS YOU LIKE THE DOGS OWN TECH. IF WE MAKE TO THE CHAMPION AGAIN THIS YEAR,WE WILL PLAY BAMA NOT YOU. BAMA WILL SWEEP THE FLOOR WITH THE KITTENS THE FIRST TIME AROUND. YOU KITTENS ARE DOOMED.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
When you are ranked #7 in the country, every win is a “big win”!
So being highly overrated makes your games against cupcakes more important? Interesting concept.
ugavant
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
For the seemingly few of you that graduated from 6th grade:
..Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful touchdowns so familiar
That SEC Coaches – both East & West – shall but smile when they behold
Their teams quarter’d by the hands of Murray;
All pity choked with the felling of Gators & ‘Cocks:
And Jarvis Jones ranging the field for revenge,
With Gurley by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in SEC Stadiums, with a Champion’s voice
Cry ‘HAVOC,’ and let loose the DAWGS of war!!!
[with apologies to Will (HBTD) S'peare]
FLA DAWG
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
LSU getting stomped by BAMA every year is fun to watch.
Hold That Tiger !!
LOL, HA !
lsu42izzatyourIQ?
September 9th, 2012
12:47 am
Please 42, you’ve whined enough. We get it, you’re a bitch. Go home and diddle your daughter like a good cajun. Red stick. Named for your mama’s tampon by chance?
mickey
September 9th, 2012
12:47 am
PJ, I’m glad UGA won – no thanks to the offense. Again, this Bobo led offense is not very poor. The QB, O-line and receivers were average. They are lucky the defense put them in good positions for easy scores. UGA’s offense is a problem and they can’t win meaningful games playing like this. I saw LSU, ALA and SC offenses move the ball consistently today. There O-lines opened running lanes and pass blocked very well and the UGA O-line looked out of place most of the game against Mizzu.
I’m telling you, keeping Bobo as the OC will cost us. The UGA AD or the boosters need to pressure CMR to replace Bobo – when Willie Martinez was replaced our defense improved exponentially. If we get rid of Bobo, the offense will do the same and UGA will be a national powerhouse.
Go Dawgs!
eddie willers
September 9th, 2012
12:47 am
Bama and LSU are the only good teams in the SEC.
LOL…..Bama and LSU are the only great teams in the SEC. They’re also the two best in the country.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:48 am
What really makes me laugh is when Tech fans come on a UGA blog and tell us whose good and whose not when their team completely sucks and wears chicken wire on their helmets.
Dawg Whisperer
September 9th, 2012
12:48 am
Did UGA cause them to play horrible most of last season as well? They aren’t a very good program in general and they will more than likely get worse in the SEC.
——————————————–
GTBob… didn’t you know that each year is a different team? Mizzou is hardly a horrible program especially in their recent history. You know, you don’t have to say something just for the sake of supporting a poor point.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:48 am
@glory, i’d kind of say if you don’t take the lead until late in the 3rd and win because of the coaching and QB mistakes in the 4th. I’m clapping, you just can’t hear it. It’s not very loud.
A couple of things I noticed. Mizzou was still doing pretty well with many of their players going out of the game. I’d really love to compare the recruiting classes. Not interested enough to do that leg work but I bet there is a massive difference. And more importantly, hey nice leg cramp there to slow the game down when you’re getting beat down the field. What are ya, the Giants?
moobsjohnson
September 9th, 2012
12:48 am
Yep. PC Blue Hose is who tough teams play. Is it time for another fish fry?
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:48 am
So being highly overrated makes your games against cupcakes more important? Interesting concept.
Your right, GT being part of the cupcakes we beat this year won’t mean as much as the SEC championship game.
FLA DAWG
September 9th, 2012
12:49 am
GTBlurb,
Have you guys played any games yet?
I don’t keep up with the Atlanta Inner City High School Teams, sorry.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:49 am
GTBOB, who has LSU beaten yet to tell you that they are that good? They’ve only played 2 cupcake teams.
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
September 9th, 2012
12:49 am
@ UGA 95 Grad(12:21 am post):
If your small contribution is any true indication I seriously doubt you graduated from ANY SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ Tampa Gator, Dawglessville and others. Thanks for pointing out the sheer idiocy of the toothless inbreds who are nobodies but just have to get their two cents worth in but ignorant enough to be triplets. They are not UGA fans and couldn’t find their collective a$$es with both hands in their hip pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
12:50 am
DAWG FANS GTBOB IS USING THE LSU 42 UGA 10 ON THIS BLOG. THE YELLOW FLY HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO. WE OWN YOU NERDS GTBob. WILL SWEEP THE FLOOR WITH YOU NERDS AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. IT WILL BE 11 OUT OF THE LAST 12 FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL LOSING TEM GT. YOU ARE AN IMPOSTER USING VARIOUS LOG ON NAMES
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:50 am
Ah yes, about that National Championship game. No worries. We dressed Jefferson up and sent him on his way. You can find him in Auburn, his jersey says Frasier.
Not our problem anymore.
moobsjohnson
September 9th, 2012
12:50 am
I’m having rings made to commemorate this triumphant victory over the imposing team from Presbyterian College. They will be made from solid silver chicken wire to match our unis.
Mobile Dawg
September 9th, 2012
12:50 am
@GT BOB, and the rest of you who would like to distract from a “Great” win tonight. This was a big win because we earned it, didn’t quit, stared adversity down, and overcame it. You Bob have to be a
“little man” witnessed by the fact you are “OBSESSED” by UGA, win or lose. Show some class “sport” if you have any !
"NO means NO, Zach"
September 9th, 2012
12:51 am
Any chance they could add another team from Mississippi to the SEC West? That Division needs another weak team.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:51 am
Mizzou is hardly a horrible program especially in their recent history.
Trivia question. When was the last time they won a conference title?
Ghost
September 9th, 2012
12:51 am
LSU 42 your the only LSu fan that gives a damn nothing mor e than a troll,Who gives a big rats ass what happened in 2011
Dawg Haus
September 9th, 2012
12:51 am
Those chicken wire helmets were WAY worse than the power ranger costumes, kerryb!
Dawg Whisperer
September 9th, 2012
12:51 am
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:46 am
When you are ranked #7 in the country, every win is a “big win”!
So being highly overrated makes your games against cupcakes more important? Interesting concept.
———————————————-
When the press and the nation’s collegiate coaches place UGA at #7, somehow that carries more weight/credibility than your poll, Bob.