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
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 9th, 2012
1:28 am
@LSU42…..have you noticed that Zach seems to miss all those sideline passes where the receiver are near the cheerleaders????
Once a pervert….always a pervert…..
Another in a long line of LSU QB losers….Zach, Perriloux, J Jefferson, Lee, NFL-bust JaMarcus
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:29 am
@Dawg, you sucked me in. Okay, real quick, 4 starters back on defense.
A) Where were they?
B) Where were they last year when you went 0-2 to finish the season against admittedly, #1 US, and then Michigan State??
Now I won’t bother to wait, you write in all caps. I can’t imagine a response is worth waiting for.
Triple shot of JJ
September 9th, 2012
1:29 am
Jarvis Jones – sacks, interception, 8 tackles, dominating All American;
John Jenkins – many tackles for a loss, future 1st round draft pick;
Jordan Jenkins – fumble recovery, 5 star Freshman.
If the Dawgs need Defense, all we need to do is order a Triple Shot of JJ !!!
Mizzou Texas A and M join SEC and BOTH lose
September 9th, 2012
1:29 am
______________________________________
The MOST telling points about tonight’s game :
______________________________________
1. We beat an unranked team
2. Marshall Morgan looked poor last week on extra points, and worse again tonight. One would think a Special Teams’ Coach would have noticed that last week and had him working on it.
3. Malcolm Mitchell was missed on offense again. Our receivers all dropped pass after pass all night long, except Jay Rome.
4. Mizzou had more 1st Downs than we did, and more of them on the ground than we did
5. How can a team have jitters at the beginning of that game ? After what we did last week, and what we’ve done over these current 8 years now – which is not beat teams who are Top 10 teams – go out and execute from the start like it matters.
6. We did not do that, again.
7. Mizzou had more total offense against our defense, than we did against their pitiful excuse of a defense.
8. 3 FUMBLES tonight and Aaron Murray’s interception.
9. 2 more Sacks to bring that total to a zillion for Aaron Murray.
10. Boo Malcome is our Starting Tailback ? Another FUMBLE tonight and he has never on any day been our best Running Back.
11. Congratulations to Mark Richt for making the SUSPENSIONS all anyone would talk about pre-game.
12. Blake Sailors was an abomination.
13. Connor Norman right there with him.
14. Merritt Hall returns kick-offs for 7 yards each time ? No wonder they kick-off to him.
15. Quayvon Hicks at least they let Quayvon Hicks play – the 1 Fullback we’ve recruited in 6 consecutive recruiting classes with 200 fullbacks singed by our opponents every 1 of the 6 seasons.
16. 12 penalties, nicely coached football team we’ve got here Mark Richt.
17. Aaron Murray 2012 now has 12 carries for minus 2 yards per carry.
18. Aaron Murray pass completions against these 2 cupcakes with Florida Atlantic next stands the same as last year when he is the # 72 QB in the nation in pass completion percentage.
19. Richard Samuel proved he should be on Defense, again tonight, instead he’s jerked-around by Mark Richt’s “coaching staff.”
20. Christian LeMay did not get 1 snap against a 7-6 football team we beat by more than twice their score.
21. Christian LeMay averages more yards per game rushing than Ken Malcome.
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
1:29 am
Bob isn’t jealous. The Mighty Nerds destroyed the up and coming, lol Blue Hose, while UGA played an “Historic” SEC ROAD-GAME and came home with a BIG OLD SATISFYING W. I think we more than covered the spread, don’t you? You win any SEC road game, you’ve done something. You beat the Blue Hose, well not so much…
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
1:30 am
REMEMBER TIGER KITTEN LSU 42 UGA YOU WILL NOT BEAT BAMA THIS YEAR AND PLAY IN THE BIG DANCE. DREAM ON WILL NEVER HAPPEN
Mizzou Texas A and M join SEC and BOTH lose
September 9th, 2012
1:30 am
Oh, wow we beat an
UNRANKED TEAM.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:31 am
I have no idea about the Zach story, I wasn’t there. Were you?
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
1:32 am
JEFF,, BTW—GOOD JOB…
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 9th, 2012
1:32 am
@LSU42….your former coach Saban who led you to a Co-Championship in ‘03 (USC was by far the better team)….left you and the stinky swamp and went to your arch enemies where he buried you last year.
Meanwhile, Uncle Les stumbles his way to a fluky 2 loss NC and has underachieved since….
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
1:33 am
Good night Doggies and haters…
Dawgman
September 9th, 2012
1:33 am
We did a lot to try to give this game away….. but the team refused to give up and that was what I was looking for. We must all remember UGA has never…..NEVER been a team that blows out it’s opponents. It has always been close hard nose football and if we can limit the mistake and continue to improve we will be okay!
Good win playing that old man football
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:33 am
You wouldn’t be chance still be hoping Cam Newton is guilty of something or that Alabama’s pictures in the clothing store will amount to anything.
Ol'JacketFan
September 9th, 2012
1:33 am
Obviously I am a Jacket fan but I gotta say Jarvis Jones is a BAD dude, what a game by that young man!
Our Stats were great ? Huh ?
September 9th, 2012
1:34 am
1. Mizzou had more 1st Downs than we did, and more of them on the ground than we did
2. Mizzou had more total offense against our defense, than we did against their bad D
3. 3 FUMBLES tonight and Aaron Murray’s interception.
4. 2 more Sacks to bring that total to a zillion for Aaron Murray.
6. penalties, nicely coached football team we’ve got here Mark Richt.
7. Aaron Murray 2012 now has 12 carries for minus 2 yards per carry.
8. Aaron Murray pass completions against these 2 cupcakes with Florida Atlantic next stands the same as last year when he is the # 72 QB in the nation in pass completion percentage.
10. . Christian LeMay did not get 1 snap against a 7-6 football team we beat by more than twice their score.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:34 am
You win any SEC road game, you’ve done something.
Are you really crowing Missouri one of the classic tough SEC road wins when they have only played one SEC game in their history? Did they inherit SEC speed when they signed the contract or something?
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
1:35 am
Remember Bama will mop the floor with LSU, no dance in the sec championship game much less national championship game
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:35 am
I can’t help myself…I am obsessed with UGA and being tea-bagged.
How bout that weak SEC West today?
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:36 am
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since ‘05
September 9th, 2012
1:32 am
@LSU42….your former coach Saban who led you to a Co-Championship in ‘03 (USC was by far the better team)….left you and the stinky swamp and went to your arch enemies where he buried you last year.
Meanwhile, Uncle Les stumbles his way to a fluky 2 loss NC and has underachieved since….
—-
How many weeks has UGA been ranked #1 since? How about us?
How many BCS titles has UGA won since we won our last one?
And 6-18 against teams that finished the season ranked? I’m shocked it’s even 6. That’s over 7 years? 6 teams?
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 9th, 2012
1:36 am
I am a huge critic of Richt…..having said that….his game plan was pretty sound tonight. The execution wasn’t there….hopefully this will inprove, it better.
Zach Mettenberger plead GUILTY
September 9th, 2012
1:36 am
Who needs to have been there ?
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
1:36 am
GTBob you did not win your cupcake ACC game a week ago if i remember right. Nerd i have to go to bed
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:37 am
We did a lot to try to give this game away….. but the team refused to give up and that was what I was looking for.
You didn’t have a chance to. Missouri beat you to it.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:38 am
GTBob you did not win your cupcake ACC game a week ago if i remember right. Nerd i have to go to bed
Virginia Tech is a cupcake game and Missouri is an amazing SEC super battle. Thanks for the insight.
After 2005 only Vandie & Missy State have fewer wins over teams who made AP Poll Top 10
September 9th, 2012
1:39 am
Mark Richt coached a good game tonight ?
That why we started out so poorly, again ?
That why they did better against our defense than we did against their defense ?
Mark Richt couldn’t get Christian LeMay in the game at the 2:28 mark ?
How did Mark Richt’s WALK-ONS given scholarships do tonight ?
Columbus
September 9th, 2012
1:39 am
Dont be happy. You are a LOSER. The rest of us? We won the game…..we WON. Be happy! MAN…10-2 is a very good year by the way. VERY GOOD AND MOST TEAMS WOULD BE THRILLED TO HAVE THAT GOOD OF A SEASON YOU BLIND LOSER AND ESPECIALLY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HAVING SEVERAL 10 WIN SEASONS, YOU ARE BUILDING A PROGRAM THAT WILL WIN CONSISTENTLY AND HAS A CHANCE TO WIN THEM ALL….HARDLY NOBODY GOES UNDEFEATED….NOBODY AND CERTAINLY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. ASK TENN, FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, ARKANSAS, ALABAMA, LSU….BUT KEEP WINNING AND SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY 10 WIN SEASON UGA HAD IN THE 15 YEARS PRIOR TO RICHT? DO YOU? LOOK IT UP. IF YOU DONT WIN 10, YOU CANT WIN 11 OR 12 OR 13! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN 8 OR 9 EVERY YEAR? LIKE UGA WAS DOING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS PRIOR TO RICHT HUH? RICHT HAS TOOK US BEYOND THAT AND HE IS ABOUT TO TAKE US FURTHER. THIS TEAM WILL ONLY GET BETTER AND BETTER AND COME SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME….HAS A GREAT CHANCE TO BE UNDEDEATED AND GUYS, WE HAVE A DEFENSE AND ONE THAT WILL BE SO GREAT BY THENM THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BEAT ANYBODY. ANYBODY. SEASON JUST STARTED….JUST WAIT. ITS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.
YOU BETTER SUPPORT YOUR COACH BECAUSE IN 15 THE YEARS BEFORE HE GOT HERE, THERE WERE NO CHAMPIONSHIPS OF ANY KIND FOR 20 YEARS…WE ARE ABOTU TO GET SOME MORE AND GO UP ANOTHER LEVEL….GOT TO GROW AND RICHT IS STILL GROWING TOO. FIRST TIME HEAD COACH. TOOK BEAR BRYANT 18 YEARS UNTIL HE WON A NC. DOOLEY TOO. EVEN SABAN TOOK 10 YEARS YOU LOSERS AND HE IS THE BEST COACH EVER….RICHT HAS ONLY COACHED ONE MORE YEAR THAN IT TOOK SABAN! AND TRUTH BE KNOWN, YOU WAS THE BEST TEAM IN THE NATION A FEW YEARS BACK BUT DIDNT GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY FOR IT. YOU KNOW ITS TRUE. THATS NTO RICHTS FAULT. BAMA GOT THE CHANCE TO LAY FOR IT LAST YEAR EVEN THOUGHT THEY DIDNT WIN THE SEC, NOR THEIR DIVISION. HAD UGA GOTTEN THAT OPPURTUNITY, RICHT WOULD HAVE A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND 2 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 4 EASTER DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS…..PRETTY IMPRESSIVE FOR ANY COACH. EVER….MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE ON THE HORIZON THE NEXT 5 YEARS. MAYBE THE BIG ONE. MAYBE EVEN THIS YEAR. ITS NTO HOW YOU START AS MUCH AS HOW YOU FINISH AND WE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD COME NOVEMBER!!! GET OFF RICHTS BACK. YOU YOUNGUNS DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, DONT HAVE ENOUGH TIME ON THIS PLANET TO KNOW. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY! NOTHING WILL MAKE YOU SORRY PATHETIC EXCUSES FOR FANS HAPPY EXCEPT A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. ONLY 1 TEAM CAN WIN THAT OUT OF 114 TEAMS. ONLY 1. ODDS ARENT GOOD. MOST TEAMS DONT EVEN HAVE HOPE. 10-11 WINS IS A GREAT SEASON, ESPECIALLY IN THE SEC! YOU YOUNGUNS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM BEING IN HERE. YOU DONT HAVE A CLUE…MOST OF YOU. LISTEN TO WHAT IM SAYING AND GET SOME WISDOM….LISTEN TO YOUR ELDERS AND YOU WILL….STOP TALKING AND START LISTENING AND YOU CAN….
ITS GONNA BE A GREAT SEASON. WE ARE 1-0 IN THE SEC AND LAST YEAR WE WAS 0-1.
BE HAPPY! ITS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER TOO!
Trouble on the Oline...
September 9th, 2012
1:39 am
First off great win by the Dawgs and D. Glad we won. However that Oline was horrible, and looked undersized. That needs to improve significantly and I mean drastically. If Murray even has one they could be a great team to give him time to set u people blame his passing, but if he has to rush throws before he takes his punishment, just think of how much better they would be. Start getting on the Oline as much as you do the D!
Columbus
September 9th, 2012
1:40 am
VANDY DONT HAVE A CHANCE BY THE WAY…..NOT IN ATHENS. NO WAY.
HighTide
September 9th, 2012
1:40 am
Georgia did not look the best but got the win tonight. By the way, I cant wait to play those kittens again.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:40 am
Weak SEC West… let’s see. In the past 3 years, 4 SEC West teams played in the BCS national championship.
In fact here is a stat you might not pay attention to. But the winner of the Iron Bowl for the last 3 years won the BCS. How is that big game you guys have against… what is your big rival? Florida? You never beat them? UT? Everyone beats them. South Carolina? I’d have to look but do you ever beat them? Oh, right, GT. That’s your big rival. Because you beat them.
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 9th, 2012
1:41 am
@LSU42….before Saban came to LSU….you were nothing!!! Nothing!!!! Saban put you on the map and he left cuz he couldn’t stand that stinky backwater swamp. If I remember correctly, you had more losing than winning seasons for the entire decade of the 90’s.
And anyone who can lose to KENTUCKY in triple overtime and STILL win the NC…..well, let’s just say the good Lord felt sorry for the Katrina wrath and he took pity on you…..
Dawgman
September 9th, 2012
1:42 am
GT bob has to be Saint Simons, remember that guy? Come on Bob, tech sucks, always will. you can’t even recruit instate kids to GT……wow, that triple floption…..Do you guys still have those rings from that historic win from five years ago?
Dawg2
September 9th, 2012
1:42 am
Good job team
Jarvis Jones Rocks!
September 9th, 2012
1:42 am
THANK YOU JARVIS JONES for stepping up and GATA!!!
Keep it up and be the leader on defense!
OLD MAN FOOTBALL!!
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 9th, 2012
1:42 am
@LSU42….last time UGA visited the stinky swamp, we put 50+ on your asses…..still can’t get rid of the stench from our uniforms though
Mizzou did better trying to give them game away than we did ? Huh ?
September 9th, 2012
1:43 am
1. Mizzou had more 1st Downs than we did, and more of them on the ground than we did
2. Mizzou had more total offense against our defense, than we did against their bad D
3. 3 FUMBLES tonight for us and Aaron Murray’s interception.
4. 2 more Sacks to bring that total to a zillion for Aaron Murray.
5. 12 penalties, nicely coached football team we’ve got here Mark Richt.
7. Aaron Murray 2012 now has 12 carries for minus 2 yards per carry.
8. Missed extra point when we should have tied the game-up at half, when a Special Teams’ coach would have noticed we kicked extra points horribly last week vs Buffalo.
Dawg2
September 9th, 2012
1:43 am
good game jj
Pokey
September 9th, 2012
1:44 am
A win is a Win….just like a nerd is still a nerd or a Fat chick is still a fat chick even after a few beers…..
had enough
September 9th, 2012
1:45 am
OLD MAN FOOTBALL.
Dawg2
September 9th, 2012
1:46 am
Yea LSU 42,we beat that big lsu quaterback down in the 2005 sec championship game
Saint Simons is not GT bob
September 9th, 2012
1:46 am
Saint Simons did nothing but brag how great Georgie tek is and how badly they would beat us.
GT bob spends his days saying how bad UGA is, and how bad Georgie tek is, too, but we’re to think that doesn’t matter to him. Just read his posts about how it should bother us how badly we do – but, notice that the same performance by his team matter not one iota to him, he says…
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:47 am
Come on Bob, tech sucks, always will.
We are pretty bad. I am sure after you beat us you will pretend we are one of the best teams in the nation though.
Yes, we beat LSU in 2005 SEC Championship Game
September 9th, 2012
1:49 am
Then, both LSU and Alabama ended up higher ranked than us in every single poll.
2005
1. Texas
2. Southern Cal
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. West Virginia
6. Louisiana State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Alabama
9. Notre Dame
10. Georgia
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:52 am
but, notice that the same performance by his team matter not one iota to him, he says…
It bothers me when my team plays bad. I am just realistic about it and I don’t try to sugercoat it.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 9th, 2012
1:53 am
Columbus: drunk? That’s the only way ALL CAPS is justified.
But to your POINTS in your COMMENT
1) 10-2 IS good…except when those losses are two the only good teams you play all year.
2) Everybody wins 10 games now that 12 games are on the schedule, plus a championship game and bowl game
3) UGA would have played for a national title in 2007 except for a loss AT HOME to South Carolina and debacle in Knoxville, in which the team was entirely unprepared to play either game.
4) 2-0 is good. Better than 1-1. But nothing from what I’ve seen in two games suggest this team will run the table in the SEC East, much less be a challenge Alabama or LSU for the championship.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:55 am
WANTED: Anyone who commits a felony, we could use you at LSU
Trandall19705
September 9th, 2012
1:55 am
I said I was unsure of the outcome but if there wa a team that could win by 21 it would be UGA. Got this one right. Now, let’s check my Upickem! Go Dawgs. Be shout out to Richard Samauel. Surley he will be a uga backs coach one day.
Mizzou is a bad team
September 9th, 2012
1:57 am
I was not unsure about the outcome.
I said from last year in here that we’d wipe the floor with this Mizzou team.
Mizzou is a bad team
September 9th, 2012
1:58 am
Richard Samuel is a linebacker jerked around by these Mark Richt “coaching staffs”
"NO means NO, Zach"
September 9th, 2012
2:00 am
Look at the West THIS year! More specifically, TODAY! Did Ole Miss lose to a Division 3 team today? Any chance you could add another Mississippi team to the division? Good thing Monroe isn’t in the division.