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
GaPuppies are a joke...
September 9th, 2012
7:49 am
Just like the FAILCANTS….LSU and Saints own you…fact..
Mizzou will remember Jarivs Jones for a long, long, long, long time.
September 9th, 2012
7:50 am
Mizzou’s fans’ faces were priceless, when with 52 seconds before the 4th Quarter, they were winning.
Jarvis Jones Time.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 9th, 2012
7:51 am
Congrats to the Dawgs for a huge win!!!! Huge. The fact the players stood tall in the 4th qtr when both teams were spent is the best thing you take away from the game. UGA has a little more talent,size, and speed and they needed. Give the Mizzou team credit for giving it all they had for this huge 1st SEC game. I don’t know who Mizzou plays this week but it better be the little sisters of the poor or they will get beat due to the effort they gave and they still lost. I don’t understand why so many get on Bobo so much when for the most part isn’t the play but the players that fail to execute the play. Again Congrats for the win.
@Huh….sport the wheels are off the auburn cheating machine. I hope you’re still all in. Bobby Petrino is riding his Hog (without the queen) toward Lee County this AM. The woodcutter,the banker,and the old drunk coach is gathering up the 5 mill they owe clean Gene and it’s over for trupa and lupa. Karma on the plains….oh hell it’s just too funny. There is no doubt Mark Richt and Tommy Tubberville have lost control of the auburn football program.
Ralph
September 9th, 2012
7:53 am
Good game overall. Todd Gurley needs to touch the ball more. U have a star running back and you scare to run him or trying satisfied everyone in the backfield.
Mark Richt did well last night hugging his players.
September 9th, 2012
7:54 am
The hugs by Mark Richt of his players were the highlight of the night. Mark Richt did that, right. You really haven’t seen that from any coach anywhere anytime. It is great to see him do that. Do it some more Mark Richt.
AP
September 9th, 2012
7:55 am
Lots of room for improvement, but you have to love this win and the determination of this team. Let’s get healthy, beat FLA ATL like we should (by 40 or so with no injuries) and get ready for the state of Tennessee. Side note— Hats off to Conner Norman, however, the fact a walk-on kid is starting in the SEC tells me we have some depth or attitude issues in Athens. With his size he should only be a special teams player on this team at best. Hope we get our full compliment of players back soon. And Connor, youre a Damn Good Dawg!!
Lonnie
September 9th, 2012
7:56 am
PJ it was the starting right tackle and it was first game jitters in the SEC and in a hostile environment! Now he is ready for SC. Plus we will have Danztler back to spell him! What a great job by line down the stretch just overpowering Missouri. Hurley averaged 6.5 yes per carry! We will be fine. This game allowed the freshmen to grow up and our depth on defense will be awesome when everyone is back!!!! Jarvis Jones is a truly great player!!!
Joey
September 9th, 2012
7:58 am
Jones is the most fun D player to watch since Terry Hoage.
They both seem(ed) to be involved play.
Great road win – reminiscent of Richt’s earlier teams.
Go Dawgs!
Emphasize the RUN Mike Bobo
September 9th, 2012
7:58 am
Todd Gurley needs a lot more touches than he gets, Boo Malcome a lot fewer touches, and Aaron Murray a lot fewer plays too. It’s not that we are trying to satisfy everyone in the offensive backfield, but that we have no emphasis whatsoever on running the football, nor getting the touches by our BEST PLAYERS,
Ralph.
Joey
September 9th, 2012
7:59 am
…involved in every play.
Terry Hoage was a Defensive Back
September 9th, 2012
7:59 am
We’ve NEVER had a LINEBACKER like Jarvis Jones.
Connor Norman
September 9th, 2012
8:01 am
Connor Norman has no business being out there in the secondary, none. He missed his assignment all night long.
legionaire
September 9th, 2012
8:05 am
Great game. Bobo continues to make calls that defy logic. Jarvis Jones has a knack for knowing where to be. He is great. O line is a work in progress. The D will be excellent when all the dope smokers get back from time out.
no fan
September 9th, 2012
8:05 am
Wonder who wrote those signs so they could hold them up?
HEE HEE
Sugar Hill Dawg
September 9th, 2012
8:07 am
Going into the unknown against an opponent jacked higher than high – no doubt I was nervous about this one! I don’t care if we won by 1 or 21 – “JUST WIN, BABY!” Survive and advance – I’ll take it! Maybe this year we’ll be fully stocked and ready to rumble when we meet the Evil Genius in the real Columbia. My boys are Auburn men – I had a MUCH better day than they did! Go Dawgs!!!
BobbyDawg
September 9th, 2012
8:07 am
I’m happy to see Grantham’s defense to have a strong game. I hope the Falcons get Jarvis Jones when the Dawgs are through with him. GO DAWGS and FALCONS and BRAVES !
DAWG RED
September 9th, 2012
8:10 am
Is it me or do our red helmets almost look orange at times on TV? Seems to me we used to have a deeper, darker red years ago that looked very different from today’s uniform color. I am getting older, so could be my eyesight, but wonder if anyone else has noticed my perceived change of red. Hope everyone has a great week!
Hmmmmmmm
September 9th, 2012
8:13 am
Your defense gets torched again, and Mizzou will be lucky to beat Kentucky… But hey, you won…
GT Mike from Athens
September 9th, 2012
8:20 am
It was fun to watch and any win is a good win. The offense needs to wash clothes and cook meals for the defense and special teams for the next couple of weeks. Most of the points came from defenisve set ups… D carried the game even though they got torched and scorched a few times…missed assignments hurt even more against other ranked teams.. Murray will be OK, he needs to learn to control the adrenaline like any other high performing athlete.
Georgia is lucky the Mizzou coach isn’t real bright.
Paddy
September 9th, 2012
8:25 am
DAWG RED….helmut looked normal on my tv in HD. Try adjusting your color ratio, that may help.
Maynard Jackson
September 9th, 2012
8:26 am
Jeff, did your computer guy for the pick-off game get drunk last night?
Al
September 9th, 2012
8:26 am
@Joey
Good comparison with Hoage and JJ. Hoage was always around the ball just like JJ is.
Good win last nite, still problems on the OL. Hopefully Theus gets better, he was getting whipped by Missouri’s DE. I would have liked to seen Samuel at LB during his career. Great tackle by him to stop the fake punt
catlady
September 9th, 2012
8:26 am
ANY STATE IN WHICH YOU CANNOT ROUTINELY ORDER AND RECEIVE A SWEET TEA HAS NO BUSINESS HAVING A TEAM IN THE SEC! How stupid is it that a school from TEXAS and a school from MISSOURI are playing in the SEC? Make them go join the Big Ten or something!
birdo
September 9th, 2012
8:29 am
We r not ready for upper level SEC football. Murray seems to be lost. Does he drink from the same glass as Bobo? Defense bails us out ,again. Really, extra points should be automatic.
option smoption
September 9th, 2012
8:36 am
Will we ever stop this running back by committee crap?!?! Gurley should be getting at least 20 carries a game. He is a big play waiting to happen but he’s sitting on the sideline watching malcome and marshall get equal carries? Yesterday Gurley had 10 for 65, Marshall 12 for 32, and malcome 7 for 33. You give Gurley 10 more carries and he breaks at least one to the house. Don’t give me the “keeping them fresh” reason either because that’s crap. This has been my main criticism of CMR and Bobo the clown for years.
I’m happy for the win, don’t get me wrong, but GET GURLEY THE ROCK!!!!!
chicken boy
September 9th, 2012
8:36 am
How bout them Dawgs!!
te29wr
September 9th, 2012
8:38 am
You guys would bitch if Miss Universe call and offered to take you to bed
Tyler's Dawgs
September 9th, 2012
8:39 am
Keys to the Win:
1) Jarvis Jones had one of his best games in a red & black uniform. He created havoc all night for Mizzou, and if he wouldn’t have…. well there might have been a different outcome. 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int, and 1 FF. This guy is our “Ace” on the defense.
2) Marlon Brown’s big catches. He quietly had his biggest game of his career here at UGA with 8 receptions for 106 yards and two TDs. He stepped up big time in a big game. With our offensive hiccups in the first half, Brown seemed like the atmosphere didn’t affect him. Kudos to the Senior, my offensive MVP.
3) The whole Defense. If you look at the stats for the game, they’re almost exactly the same numbers. The one way Mizzou was going to beat us was by spreading the football and running over us. We might have allowed this to pass all over us with 269 passing yards, but we held them to only 102 rushing yards. The D-Line plugged up the gaps and our linebackers played smart and with speed.
chicken boy
September 9th, 2012
8:43 am
One still has to wonder why Richt still wants to pass the ball so much—-maybe its just a retardation that comes with coaching in the ACC————in any case I guess his reputation off the field has kept him at UGA———-But Georgia HAS got to run the ball better and more often in order to beat the better teams—–other wise, more interceptions and whatever————–The theory that Richt uses is based the premises that he has Joe Namath as a quarterback—that is fine and good ————-but he doesn’t have the best receivers in the league and Murray is not Namath. So watch Alabama play—they always get those tough yards while still passing——– a little more balance and patience.
Genesis
September 9th, 2012
8:43 am
The sleeping Dawg, has awoken! T. Gurley is a run-away Mac truck in a mall parking lot on black Friday! I love the way he runs. I believe he deserves more time. J. Jones, great game, Thanks for waking the sleeping dawg.
option smoption
September 9th, 2012
8:46 am
@conner norman. Have you watched the replay of the buffalo game? You made some real positive improvement over last weeks debacle. Hopefully Bacarri Rambo won’t have any more off feild issues and we won’t need you to fill in after this week. Don’t be so hard on yourself. We got the win.
Mike Franklin
September 9th, 2012
8:48 am
Please, no more uni makeovers. No more Nike pro-clown garb.
Mizzou’s unis looked like some 1970’s throw-back, roller derby ensemble. GT’s new design is a cross between spiderman and one of those netted bags you buy Vidalia onions in.
Ugh.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 9th, 2012
8:48 am
@awg red…the reason for the orange helmets for UGA is the stadium lighting is so weak. Mizzou needs to update that little league stadium and soon. The rock garden isn’t a great plan as well. It would be ok if we’re there to watch the Allman Brothers but looks cheap for the SEC.
..note..a media group will bring forth the cheating out of Memphis this week so get some extra popcorn. You All In folks got some real problems and your deserve it!
Vampire Bill
September 9th, 2012
8:52 am
How many wounded ducks did Murray throw? He was an instructor at a passing camp this summer?
Refund please…
fish2774
September 9th, 2012
8:52 am
It’s time for a new OC! Bobo is just to fustrating to watch with his playing calling….
Alphare
September 9th, 2012
8:52 am
For a while I thought UGA would lose to an un-ranked team. I know they usually lose to ranked team.
1eyedJack
September 9th, 2012
8:55 am
We won trolls. Get over it. How did your team do against Sister Mary Catherine’s PowderPuffs?
And Schultz, it was Richard Samuel that stopped the fake punt and not Sheldon Dawson. Get your facts straight.
Murray look bad in the 1st half and good in the 2nd.
Jarvis Jones is a great football player and was the MVP of the game.
Theus looked like a true freshman on a bum ankle but will be a damn good Dawg.
Gurley is going to make all of us Dawgs proud.
Marlon Brown has finally arrived.
Mizzou played a good game but was just out-classed in the end. I’m impressed with their fans.
That’s how old men play football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kramer
September 9th, 2012
8:55 am
OK, someone explain to me how my morning AJC paper did not have the Dawg score but, my Gwinnett paper did? WTF!
GREAT WIN DAWGS!
Kramer
September 9th, 2012
8:56 am
Alphare, time for you to have your morning bowl of Coco Puffs and grab a cup of STFU.
TDawg
September 9th, 2012
8:57 am
Great win for the Dawgs! If you can’t be happy with a 3 TD win on the road in the SEC then you probably have some other issues in your life as well. Lot of mistakes and we did not play our best but we did own the 4th quarter and that’s all right with me.
Jarvis Jones is moving into Pollack territory as a DGD. Man this guy is good. Other heroes Samuel, Marlon Brown, Big John, Herrera, King. OL was resilient and did hurt Mr YoungMan at the end.
Big win and this team really has a chance to be good as we get guys back and as our OL gels and grows up. Getting Commings back alone will shore up the D a lot.
As for RBs I really thought Malcome was excellent tonight. Good hard running, moving piles and a nice burst for the TD. Gurley is going to be the best back but he did make some mistakes tonight hence Malcome in at the end. Marshall will be fine and cat wait to see him get some daylight.
First catch for Jay Rome. 1st of many to come
01HAWK
September 9th, 2012
8:59 am
No class by UGA again………………………………You beat an unranked team and you act like you just beat a top 5 team. Going up in the stands and celebrating…………………..Just go to the locker room and celebrate.
Defense……………………..You have given up 23, and 20 points to teams that are not any good.
Another win versus an unranked team. Go CELEBRATE !!!!!
Mr. Hankey
September 9th, 2012
9:02 am
Woo hoo and all that crap. Let’s get real. And I am an alumni from ‘81 and a season ticket holder so I have a “right” to be critical in the face of that yay-hoos who probably flunked shop in high school and only set foot on UGA’s campus to sell cokes at the stadium, but spend thousands of dollars on Dawgs regalia. Here goes. Poorly coached for 3 quarters. Dropped passes. Hey, Number 82, you’re making it tougher and tougher to throw the ball to the white guy. Lord have mercy but you let “us” down. Sorry play calling. Is there a play on third down that calls for the ball to be put into play passed the little blue line on the tv screen that indicates herre’s where the first down distance is? HOW FRIGGIN MANY third and 7’s were answered with a three yard or less pass in traffic. Murray, good lord, son, you just keep on making turnovers. I’m tired and happy they won, more so that most, but the truly great teams play 4 quarters ilke the dogs played the 4th quarter. ‘Nuf sed.
Motocross Survivor
September 9th, 2012
9:03 am
So they’ve won two games against nobody. Why are the Dawgys so excited?
Brown Dog
September 9th, 2012
9:03 am
Congrats to UGA. That was some second half. You guys were picking up speed just as Mizzouwas trying not to throw up on their artificial turf. One observation: go back to Jeff’s running game thread, particularly in the first half. If you’re an actual Georgia fan who participated in that screed, you should be embarrassed. Or you should get help for your problems with alcohol.
Bud
September 9th, 2012
9:04 am
Murray makes Metzinberger look like second string QB.
air of mendacity
September 9th, 2012
9:06 am
since when does Michael Bennett get the drops? He had some very big drops in critical situations. Unusual for sure. Marlon Brown looked great. Where has he been. Lived up to his early press. A. Murray – I don”t know – he just does not seem to play big, but you turn around and he is passing for 250 yds and 3 TD’s Go figure.
Earl
September 9th, 2012
9:06 am
01Hawk tell your wife I said thanks.
dawginduluth
September 9th, 2012
9:08 am
Great second half. LOTS of dropped passes. Roughing the passer call against #34 was a gift. Only 10 carries for Gurley? What the heck is that all about? Could have, should have been a bigger blowout. Richt still can’t get a team ready to play. We have never seen a Richt team play well all four quarters. That won’t serve them well again in the dome this year.
TDawg
September 9th, 2012
9:10 am
I standby my comment and assert that Mr Hankey has some serious issues. Hey man, throwing off on our fans that didn’t attend UGA is just plain stupid. Enjoy the Sec win on the road nimrod.
Class of ‘84 btw
TDawg
September 9th, 2012
9:13 am
Earl, what time did you see 01hawk’s wife? She said I was first last night