In a game and season going wrong, UGA gets it right

Washaun Ealey gives extra effort on a night of extra effort. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)

Athens – It began almost as an ending. Auburn led by 14 points after 12 minutes, and Georgia needed a whole quarter just to make a first down, and the crowd was booing the home side, and it was possible in that moment to see the entire Mark Richt Era unraveling in a pile of bad penalties and blown coverages.

It ended, however, as something approaching a new beginning. It ended with Georgia winning 31-24, with the Bulldogs defense having held Auburn offense to three points over the final 48 minutes, with Georgia looking not just like the better team but the stronger team, the smarter team, the more forceful team. And when last could we say that?

It ended with Georgia becoming bowl-eligible, but there was more on the line here than a trip to Memphis or Nashville. At stake this impassioned night was the credibility of a famous program. Because if Georgia couldn’t beat either Lane Kiffin or Gene Chizik in Year 1, what hope was there when those ambitious coaches got to Years 2, 3, 5?

But now we see that, contrary to popular belief, there’s life in the Red & Black just yet. There are young players capable of seizing a big game going wrong on a night when A.J. Green was lost in the first quarter, players like Tavarres King and Washaun Ealey and Orson Charles and Israel Troupe. And even Caleb King, of whom so much has been expected, ran hard and well in the second half of this turnaround game, and suddenly the future of Georgia football doesn’t seem half so bleak.

And here we pause for a few words about the beset defensive coordinator. Georgia’s D opened the game as if it hadn’t looked at a frame of film. Auburn had 145 yards in the first quarter, and it seemed Martinez had ordered his players not into the traditional Cover 2 but some sort of Cover None.

But then it changed. To borrow from Ray Goff, Georgia “got after ‘em.” The defensive line got a surge. The offensive line, strangely benign most of the season, got a push. The Bulldogs wrested control of both scrimmage lines. The defensive front so addled quarterback Chris Todd that he threw one ball to an offensive tackle and another to defensive back Reshad Jones, who really wasn’t covering anyone.

Jones’ interception changed the game. Auburn had just retied it at 24 after a 99-yard kickoff return and had stopped Georgia inside the final nine minutes, and the Tigers were driving. But Todd threw the ball to a Georgia man when he had a teammate wide open, and then it was Georgia’s game to win.

And Georgia won it. Joe Cox found T. King down the sideline. C. King burst up the middle to score. There was time enough for Auburn to answer, but something about Martinez’s men was different this time. They were hitting harder, closing faster. The closest Auburn came was when Mario Fannin shook loose down the middle, but Bacarri Rambo arrived concurrent with the ball and the pass was incomplete.

Rambo stayed down 10 minutes, a sobering scene, and was immobilized before being stretchered off. But his effort was symptomatic of the reborn Bulldogs — full-tilt and fearless. And his mates made two more plays, and it was done.

Georgia had won. Georgia would not wind up 5-7. Georgia would not cede recruiting ground to Gene Chizik. Given every chance, Georgia would not back down. Georgia reached into its storied past and finally offered up an effort worthy of the nickname “Bulldogs.”