What was your favorite Bulldogs play of the season?
Brandon Boykin goes 80 yards against Boise State. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
If you haven’t been over to Georgiadogs.com lately, they’ve got a vote going to pick fans’ favorite plays from UGA’s 2011 football season.
They’ve compiled 25 plays (or performances), which are represented by video clips complete with Scott Howard’s play-by-play description — which makes for some very enjoyable viewing. They’re all individual plays except for Jarvis Jones’ four sacks against the Gators, which are clustered together as one entry.
Many of the nominees are, naturally, touchdowns, but you’ve also got key plays like Isaiah Crowell’s 29-yard third–and-9 run against Ole Miss, Sanders Commings’ interception against Mississippi State, Shawn Williams’ diving interception against Tech and Drew Butler’s game-saving tackle on a blocked punt against Vandy.
And there are other fan favorites like Aron White getting trapped in the hedges, John Jenkins body-slamming a Mississippi State player like a pro wrestler and Quintavius Harrow delivering a big hit on an Auburn kick returner.
Michael Bennett's touchdown catch against Auburn (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
You can vote for your favorite and the Top 10 plays will be counted down on the Christmas Day edition of “Inside Georgia Football With Mark Richt” and then posted on the website on Dec. 27.
Just for the sake of discussion, here in reverse order, Letterman-style, are my choices for the Top 10 plays from the list:
10. The daring and perfectly executed onside kick against LSU, complete with a decoy kicker, Brandon Bogotay popping the ball up just right and Alec Ogletree recovering it. Too bad more of the SEC championship game wasn’t like that.
9. Orson Charles going up high to haul in a touchdown pass on a fade pattern against Ole Miss. A really nice catch just as he was about to go out of the end zone.
8. White vaulting one of the Redcoat Band’s marimbas for a touchdown catch against New Mexico State and then getting stuck in the famed hedges. You had to smile when his teammates excitedly jumped up and down after finally freeing him!
Orson Charles with an impressive catch against Ole Miss. (Associated Press)
7. Chris Conley leaping high to make the first-down reception that iced the game against Florida. As Howard put it, the freshman looked like a senior on that play.
6. Brandon Boykin taking the handoff on his first offensive play of the season against Boise State at the Georgia Dome and breaking it all the way for an 80-yard score, thanks to a key block thrown by Bruce Figgins. Unfortunately, the success against the Broncos didn’t last.
5. Tavarres King going up over a defender to snatch the ball away and score against Florida. A great catch but, incredibly, only the second best of the day for a Georgia receiver (see No. 1).
4. Bacarri Rambo’s pick 6 against Auburn. Rambo weaving his way through Tigers defenders all the way to the end zone produced the loudest ovation heard in Sanford Stadium in years.
Jarvis Jones with one of his four sacks against the Gators. (Jason Getz / AJC)
3. Michael Bennett’s diving, over-the-shoulder touchdown catch against Auburn. And it wasn’t even the right shoulder!
2. Jones’ four sacks against the Gators. He basically made Florida QB John Brantley a nonfactor in the game, and he also forced a key fumble in one of the best defensive performances by any player nationally this year.
And my favorite Bulldogs football play of the season …
1. Bennett scoring against Florida. On fourth-and-5 with Georgia trailing 17-3 against the Gators, Aaron Murray pump-faked and threw to Bennett in the corner of the end zone. The redshirt freshman made a spectacular touchdown catch falling backwards with a Florida defender all over him. A.J. Green couldn’t have done it any better.
Feel free to share your own favorites, and don’t forget to go vote in the poll.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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173 comments Add your comment
Jealous of UGA
December 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm
fights, suspensions? When/where?
USC Jimi
December 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
Melvin Ingram sprinting down the sideline into the end zone on the fake punt comes to mid!
Jealous of UGA
December 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
I heard Coach Fish Fry handed out $5 Walmart gift cards to those close to him. Wait, is anyone close to him?
wrightsville dawg
December 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm
I have to go with the final 4th down stop in the Florida game. We stopped them and ran out the clock.
But then again, where is the love for Marlon Brown’s SEC east clinching TD against UK?
But to get to clinching the SEC east, the 3 TD saving stops after the blocked punt in the Vandy game, the clutch catches by TK and MB in the Florida game. And the entire Auburn game is my favorites!
Dawg_Mike
December 22nd, 2011
12:56 pm
I have never been on a Tech blog, if there is a such thing.
Dawg_Mike
December 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm
@SSI- It’s a secondary violation. Whatever.
It will not hurt the program and for the good it did I still feel it was the play of the year.
BTW, I have never been on a FL blog, if there is a such thing.
SSIgator
December 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm
It has got to be Isabel’s sterling performance against LSU, rushing for fifteen yards on ten attempts and then having that wiped out with a penalty by trying to fight the whole LSU team. No wonder he won Freshman of the Year. What a stud.
GTBob
December 22nd, 2011
1:03 pm
It will not hurt the program and for the good it did I still feel it was the play of the year.
It probably would have done more good if the money had been donated to a good cause instead of people who don’t need it. You would think that a humanitarian like Richt would understand that. Instead of the money being spent to feed starving children it will probably be used on a couple of new flat screen TV’s.
SSIgator
December 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm
DawginLex -
It was our pleasure to have you here. Sorry that we did not have the typical red KoolAid that you are used to, but we will fix that just for you next time. Also, don’t forget to bring AltamahaDawg, WDE and the rest of the KoolAid Club with you next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Dawg48
December 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
SSIgators favorite Georgia play of the year!
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=5_0ClmxKrJ4
AltamahaDawg
December 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Certainly can’t leave out: a troll’s desperate play for attention in another man’s sport blog.
DawginLex
December 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
I wasn’t there SSI. GTBob told us all about it.
Next year, you gotta get him some yellow kool aid
He said he was angry.
A year from now, when your coach is applying for coaching jobs in the MAC, remember to send him a fresh powder packet too.
Merry Christmas
Dawg_Mike
December 22nd, 2011
1:26 pm
GTB’s To do list:
Wake up in the morning, go to UGA fan blog and cut/paste comments and then offer your pearls of wisdom.
what a life.
Dawg48
December 22nd, 2011
1:28 pm
SSIgators real name is squirrel!
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=5Tqzg5b_Nk8
UGA Insider
December 22nd, 2011
2:12 pm
Bill, when are you going to announce who the Troll of the Year award is???
I know there are plenty to choose from but SSI Gator has really come on strong of late. It really is sad. Normal people like me have never been to. much less posted on another school’s blog. I mean what’s the point? I have a sociology degree and people like this really have some serious issue’s with self pride. Go away in 2012 trolls!!
Make Special Teams, Special
December 22nd, 2011
2:25 pm
Bill,
My favorite is bitter sweet. It is the last Richard Samuel run against Florida. I sure wish he had not gotten hurt, but it was a memorable run. I sure hope he comes back strong. RS is a DGD.
DAWGS forever
December 22nd, 2011
3:12 pm
maybe not my favorite but the play which had the biggetst impact just may have been Butler’s game saving tackle after the blocked punt.
Love ALL the Florida catches for sure and beating Auburn and Tech. Priceless!
Go DAWGS!
DAWGS forever
December 22nd, 2011
3:13 pm
Love the Samuel run as mentioned and his really growing up and stepping up.
Top Row Dawg
December 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm
The long bomb to Mitchell up in Knoxville to put the game out of reach.
Unfortunately he got hurt that play, but it was worth it. CMR’s 4th win in 6 games up in Obknoxville.
Jim
December 22nd, 2011
3:28 pm
Some great plays this year and I would add that Conley is going to be a special player for us. He’s just over-shadowed right now by some pretty dawg-gone good players.
Jim
December 22nd, 2011
3:32 pm
The best play was when Vandy’s Coach Franklin was about to get his clock cleaned by Grantham.
Bama Mike
December 22nd, 2011
3:52 pm
Happy Holidays to all. Good luck to the Dawgs and all our conference teams going bowling this year. Let the beat-downs begin.
Magdalene
December 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
MSU 42, Athens Kindergarten for Remedial Studies 10
DawginLex
December 22nd, 2011
4:42 pm
Magdalene
December 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
MSU 42, Athens Kindergarten for Remedial Studies 10
******************
when did they play?
The next game for Michigan state is versus Georgia and Georgia is going to win 24-17
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 22nd, 2011
4:47 pm
The Play when UGa didn’t come out of the Dome locker room for the 2nd half of the LSU game. That was the best play of the Year for sure.
CTG Punches Himself in the Face
December 22nd, 2011
5:00 pm
The play that almost was…Coach Franklin opening a 55-gallon drum of whoopass on Coach Grantham.
Dennis
December 22nd, 2011
5:05 pm
Get back on your meds. Either you guys are so bad you have to fire your Coach or you are in line to be ranked in the top ten next year. Come on Guys, even out some. You have a great chance of having a Miss St. year next year. This year was a mirage and next year will be another downer.
UGA fan...not fanatic
December 22nd, 2011
5:27 pm
2 loss season if UGA plays Bama, 2 loss season if they dont. No Bama? LSU will win the SECCG again.
UGA fan...not fanatic
December 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
next year’s prediction
AltamahaDawg
December 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
Already predicting a 12-2 season?
needums
December 22nd, 2011
7:45 pm
Samuel against UF. He just ran the ball right down their throat and there was nothing they could do about it.
Butler
December 22nd, 2011
7:47 pm
Mine was Drew Butler’s tackle in the Vanderbilt game. If he doesn’t make that tackle, the Florida game is meaningless, and we don’t make it to the SEC title game.
Dawg logic at its finest...
December 22nd, 2011
7:52 pm
Dawg_Mike
December 22nd, 2011
8:38 am
One of my favorites was the handoff to Zander Ogletree. First carry of the year for a fullback and it came in either the AU or the GT game- cant remember which one.
—
Such a memorable play that you can’t remember which game it was in.
Dawg logic at its finest...
December 22nd, 2011
8:01 pm
dawgfan
December 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
GTBob, at least Grantham acts like a 5 year old to someone’s face instead of while sitting within the comfy confines of a radio booth talking in to microphone.
—-
I thought that Dawg fans celebrated Grantham’s hissy as “being a man”, “having the back of your players”, etc, etc.
It’s good to see someone agree that he was acting like a petulant 5 year old.
Dawg logic at its finest...
December 22nd, 2011
8:05 pm
Jealous of UGA
December 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
FAVORITE fLORIDUH gATOR MOMENTS OF THE YEAR
1) Crying to Mack Brown, begging to come back
—-
Mack Brown has never been a player, assistant or coach at UF. He played and was subsequently a GA at Florida STATE University
Snoop Dawg
December 22nd, 2011
9:10 pm
Snoop’s favorite play of the year was when Richard Samuels ran straight up the middle over the tired Gators in the 4th quarter for a TD. It’s been a long time since Georgia physically beat up the Gators. I really relished that moment and still do. Too bad he got hurt on that play… He’s a DGD unlike a lot of the narcissistic running backs in the pack.
DostaDawg
December 22nd, 2011
11:16 pm
Hard to pick one play out of so many. My top 5 memories:
5. Butlers tackle. It saved the season.
4. The can of whoop ass that Richard Samuel and our D opened in Jax.
3. My local guys, Malcolm Mitchell and Mike Gilliard coming up BIG.
2. Bennetts catch against UF. As good as it gets.
1. Cootie’s hit on the kickoff. So glad to see this kid shut up all the people who said he was signed just to get Crowell. He is a player and will make lots of big plays before he leaves Athens.
Merry Christmas to all you guys. Be safe, and remember the reason for the season is the birth of our Lord.
Dawg48
December 23rd, 2011
12:29 am
Still@the koolaide bar
December 20th, 2011
8:58 pm
It was Mercer. Calm down. LOL
How did that tech mercer game turn out?
Lol
Jealous of UGA
December 23rd, 2011
7:33 am
hey Dawg logic,,,,,,,,boy you are stupid. Brown coaces at Texas and Muschump is begging foe CMB to take him back at Texas. What a dummy!!!!
ole yeller
December 23rd, 2011
8:04 am
I’m a “D” type guy so, Harrow Hit on Auburn return man in Athens was top’s for me. Great hit. Lit him up. rang his bell.
ole yeller
December 23rd, 2011
8:17 am
It wasn’t a play that ranks up high with me but an action. When coach “G” came to the aid of one of the Uga “DB” at Vandy and got in coach Franklin face. Some kind of courage, don’t mess with one of my men, he doesn;t play for you or Vandy. He had coach “F” crying like a little girl, I’m gona tell on you. I was a bit unhappy with coach “R”, he should handled coach “F” a bit different.
UGA fan...not fanatic
December 23rd, 2011
8:25 am
anything wrong with a prediction?
East Repeat
December 23rd, 2011
8:33 am
My favorite play of the season was the scoop and score. Remember, Arron Murray was Sacked and Fumble forced by Clowney and Melvin Ingram scooped for the score! 10 point cushion, Sanford Stadium starts to empty in rapid fashion! SEC Game of the Year! 45-42, Chickens beat Pups!
East Repeat
December 23rd, 2011
8:39 am
Any UGA fan or blogger that does not realize CTG is an unstable person and total horses rear, just has Kool-Aid in his eyes. CTG defense has been good, but CTG will probably leave coaching the way Woody Hayes did- in a whirlwind of unleashed emotion resulting in crazy behaviour! Good Luck, ha-ha!
Mobile Dawg
December 23rd, 2011
8:39 am
Yes East, the Dawgs wrapped it up and handed it to you guys, an early Christmas present.
Mobile Dawg
December 23rd, 2011
8:43 am
There’s a fine line between being “on the edge” and “unstable”. CTG’s fiery temperament runs right up to the edge. Richt is a pacifist, he tries to keep everyone happy. Richt has a soft backbone.
AltamahaDawg
December 23rd, 2011
9:08 am
Nobody that is a HC in the Southeastern Conference, or big time football for that matter, could survive even a couple of years, if they truly had a soft backbone. That’s an absolute exageration.
LHarding Dawg
December 23rd, 2011
9:18 am
My favorite this year was a totally inept Auburn team beat SC at home and giving the Dawgs the Eastern Division Championship.
AltamahaDawg
December 23rd, 2011
9:20 am
I figured a SC fan favorite plays would have been from thier battle with Au.
Mobile Dawg
December 23rd, 2011
9:20 am
Richt has always had trouble with making tough decisions. The program has suffered because of it. It has yet to be righted, the jury is deliberating at this point. The next two years will show whether Richt and company can build a team to compete with the top tier programs in the country. Is there any reason they shouldn’t be able to?