UPDATED: Georgia manhandled in its own backyard by No. 5 Boise State
The question for the Georgia Bulldogs was whether last year’s losing season was a trend or an aberration. While there’s much football still to be played, they could not have liked the answers they got Saturday night.
Facing No. 5-ranked Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome in a game they hoped would return them to national relevance, the 19th-ranked Bulldogs instead were manhandled by their visitors from the Mountain West Conference 35-21 before a partisan crowd of 73,614.
“Boise State just beat us tonight,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “They were better than we were and my hat’s off to them. Our players understand that and our players understand that we’ve got to get a lot done before we play next week and open Southeastern Conference play. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We know that everybody’s 0-0 in league play. Our goal is to win the Eastern Division and that’s not changing. So we have to get ready for that.”
It was the Broncos’ first win in history over an SEC team. They were 0-4 previously. But the former WAC member has won its last five against BCS schools.
“It means a lot to us,” said Boise State’s Chris Petersen, who improved to 62-5 as the Broncos’ head coach. “We have tremendous respect for the conference and for UGA. Last time we were down here it wasn’t even a game.”
The Broncos lost 48-13 to Georgia at Sanford Stadium in 2005.
It was Georgia’s ninth loss in its last 11 tries against Top 10 opponents.
While there certainly was no shame in losing to team ranked among the five best teams in America, the fact that it was the Bulldogs’ were coming off a losing season and have been trending downward was more problematic. It was Georgia’s 13th loss in its last 27 games under Richt. No. 12 and SEC East favorite South Carolina comes to Athens next week.
“I don’t think there’s any deflation,” said Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin, who stood up and addressed the team after the game. “We were competitive. We know we’re a good team and we know we can bounce back from this adversity. Boise State is not just a good team. They’re a great team and they deserved to win that game. But SEC starts next week and we know what we’ve got to correct.”
In the end, Georgia just didn’t have an answer for Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore. The Heisman Trophy candidate, who is on pace to become the winningest quarterback in college football history, proved unstoppable for the last two and a half quarters of play. He finished with 261 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-34 passing and was never sacked.
“He’s a very good player so he knows where to go with the ball and when to go there,” Richt said. “They protected him well, too. He rarely got knocked down. . . . We didn’t get enough pressure on him.”
Twenty-one of Boise’s points came in a 12-minute stretch that started with 48 seconds left in the second quarter and ended with the Broncos ahead 28-7 with three minutes remaining in the third.
Conversely, Georgia was not at all sharp on offense. The Bulldogs tried to execute a newly-implemented, no-huddle offense and struggled to make sight adjustments from the press box. They committed three penalties on their first offensive possession and never seemed to get into sync.
Quarterback Aaron Murray was 16-of-29 passing for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Orson Charles led the Bulldogs with six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. True freshman wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who started the game at flanker, caught a 51 yard TD pass and finsihed with three for 64 yards.
But the much anticipated debut of tailback Isaiah Crowell was anticlimatic from the beginning. He didn’t start the game — junior Richard Samuel did — and found little to no running room behind Georgia’s porous offensive line. Crowell ended up with 63 yards on 15 carries.
“It was tough, it was tough,” Crowell said. “They really ran to the ball well. But it’ll be all right. It was a good experience for all of us. . . . I was real hyped seeing all the fans and support.”
Because Georgia had elected to receive after winning the pregame coin toss, Boise State got the ball to start the second half. And the Broncos knew what to do with it.
They came flying down the field in a hurry-up offense that left the Bulldogs huffing and puffing. Boise negotiated 76 yards in just seven plays when running back Doug Martin scored on a toss-sweep around left end. The drive consumed less than four minutes.
Georgia had a chance to answer, gaining a first down at the Boise 28 on the ensuing possession. But a false-start penalty, followed by a short run, followed by a dropped pass by Tavarres King and sack of Murray left the Bulldogs facing fourth-and-18. Then Blair Walsh’s 54-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
A 49-yard punt return set up yet another short scoring drive for the Broncos that put them ahead 28-7 with 3:10 left in the third, and the outcome was essentially settled.
Georgia would give its fans brief hope when a penalty nullified its punt back to Boise. On fourth and two, Murray hit Orson Charles for a 36-yard touchdown that cut the Broncos’ lead in half with more than a minute left in the third quarter.
But then the game disintegrated into a scoring match and the Bulldogs were too far behind to make up enough ground.
Georgia falls to 9-2 in season openers under coach Richt. It also lost to Oklahoma State in 2009.
Georgia uncharacteristically chose to receive the opening kickoff after winning the opening coin toss and proceeded to have a horrible first possession. After Boise’s line-drive kickoff forced Brandon Boykin to take a knee for a touchback, the Bulldogs were flagged for three penalties – two false starts by tackle Justin Anderson and a delay of game on fourth down — and lost a total of 10 yards before having to punt.
Neither team registered a first down through the game’s first four possessions. But the Bulldogs finally registered a big one on the second play of their third offensive possession.
Brandon Boykin, lining up in the slot left, took a handoff on a reverse right and took it 80 yards for the Bulldogs’ first score of the season. It was the first time in Boykin’s Bulldog career that the senior cornerback had ever played on offense.
After exchanging punts again, Boise answered the score. Taking over at their own 42, the Broncos drove the 58 yards in just five plays, scoring on Moore’s 17-yard pass to wide open freshman Matt Miller over the middle. Miller got the start because sophomore Gerald Boldewijn was suspended for the game. The PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Georgia was in position to re-take the lead when it reached the Boise 26 on the ensuing possession. But on fourth-and-1, Richt decided to go for the first down. But Samuel was stopped for a loss by Shea McClellin on the dive at right tackle. McClellin was unblocked on a missed assignment by tight end Orson Charles.
The teams exchanged turnovers shortly thereafter. Boise had driven to Georgia’s 26 in four plays when Branden Smith intercepted a Kellen Moore pass near the 15-yard line. But Georgia gave it right back.
On third-and-three at its own 25, Murray attempted to go deep to true freshman Malcolm Mitchell down the left sideline. Mitchell was tightly covered by defensive back Jerrell Gavins, who had inside position and intercepted the pass.
This time the Broncos made Georgia pay. They drove 51 yards in seven plays to score on Moore’s 12-yard pass to tight end Kyle Eflaw. The Bulldogs had a busted coverage on the play, with just three defenders trying to cover four receivers on Boise’s right. The score came with just 48 seconds remaining in the half.
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435 comments Add your comment
Redneck Bill from Trailerville
September 4th, 2011
12:04 am
Well, I have an obnoxious neighbor who loves to invite a lot of friends over on Georgia game nights and whoop it up with them around midnight. You won’t believe how quiet it is in my neighborhood.
Capital Dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:04 am
Hey Tereshinski, that is one heckuva S&C program ya got there in Athens. Our guy are huffing & puffing, and Boise State is smiling. I don’t think we won the line of scrimmage this game either, do you?
a-son-sir
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
Just lost to a better team. What many of you don’t understand is that Boise is a very good team. SEC east is still winnable which means the SEC is still winnable. Don’t go jumping off any bridges just yet mutts.
secfan00
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
Dawgs…Did not see fire from team. Why dont we see coaches chewing butt! Dawg crap is all over the place!!!
Mark Richt Farewell Tour
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
GATORS WON 41- FAU 3
Fire Mark Richt
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
South Carolina-42 UGA-10 it will only get worse!
meandog
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
In the end, it was just was a matter of white boy Mormons beating our butts. Maybe Richt ought to check out Joseph Smith on his next mission?
joe taxpayer
September 4th, 2011
12:05 am
I just glad that Bosie was missing 3 starters.
no dog
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
dog fans been complaining about your OC calling a draw on 3rd and 15….he surely did it tonight. But your first score was off a “gimmick”…is that the Georgia way?
LakeDawg
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
If I had been AD, I would have fired CMR last year. But I really wanted him to succeed, because I like him and a coaching change means a two year transition. I was hoping all the off-season talk was legit, but I was taking a wait and see attitude, because I began thinking…”If CMR didn’t have a clue last year, why is it going to be different this year?” The writing is finally on the wall. UGA will always underachieve under CMR.
iw
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
UGA was out coached and outplayed. Little heart… Mitchell and Boykin looked good, no one else. Bobo has to be at the top of the list of worst OCs. As predictable a play caller as there is.
Ike
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
Hire Coach Rich Rodriguez, and bring in the Mad Scientist as the Offensive Coordinator. Put the defense on notice. I love CMR, but he’s not making it happen. There’s too much talent and too much pride here.
bald dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
looks like bosie state still wont have a win over a quality opponett at the end of the year!! GA offense looker worse than them ugly uniforms. how did we get to this???
Sopwith Camel
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
Maybe it wasn’t how UGA played that lost the game……….you KNOW that when a certain Mr. You-Know-Who (sportswriter for the AJC) picks UGA to win that it amounts to the kiss of death and their losing is a sure thing!
Richt's Butt Cut
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
Time to clean house… I wish we could get the Boise coach…
Allchrome
September 4th, 2011
12:07 am
Boise won’t make it to the big game! beat a down sec team and TCU already, lost computers say NO… Strength of schedule will work against them bet….
just the truth
September 4th, 2011
12:07 am
Football is just as much a mental sport as physical one. Keep taking underachievers in the classroom and try to hide them as football players. UGA was out witted by a far superior mental team !!
JRW7
September 4th, 2011
12:07 am
UGA 5 star players got WHUPPED by BOISE ST 2 star players. CMR got outcoached again!!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 4th, 2011
12:07 am
From reading these comments on this blog it appears that there were several people who actually thought that Georgia had a chance at beating Boise State……NOT!!!!! Up next…South Carolina…And they won’t beat South Carolina either!!!!!
rincon dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:07 am
the fact of the matter is that boise regrouped at halftime and made adjustmens. Thats called coaching. CMR just did nothing but stand there and rub his fingers through his hair. Coaching its all coaching.
ATLER (RAMBLIN WRECK)
September 4th, 2011
12:08 am
How about those bees baby!!!!!!!
ALL the WAY?
September 4th, 2011
12:08 am
Dang,
Well,ah,i don’t know what to say, really i don’t. i like Richt but i am tired of loosing.
o-line was a joke, where was the offense?
but i still hate Ga tech, and we will at least beat them and coastal Carolina…….
Garry Owen
September 4th, 2011
12:08 am
Lack of discipline! Lack of discipline to play the game. Lack of discipline to stay out of trouble with the law. Take the athletic scholorships and give them to deserving academic students!
sandyspringsjacket
September 4th, 2011
12:08 am
What time does the dream team play.
Nice Uniforms Mighty Morfin Rangers, played like them too.
Bigger, faster, stronger = 14 point lose,
Wellno NC this year and afternext week no SEC championshipo either
Can’t wait until Nov 26.
Hairy Dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
I have stuck with CMR but not any more. If he is going to let bozo call draw plays on 3rd and 16 then its time to look for a new coach. This was awfull.
rbrax
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
Pitiful. Never has a coach done so little with so much. Our play calling is, well, sad, and how do we lose the battle on both sides of the line. Bulldawg football is in a bad, bad place, and it is clear Richt is not the man to turn it around. McGarity, time to put out the feelers for an entirely new staff. (And no, this is not being a fair weather fan, but is based entire upon the our results over the past couple of seasons.)
While I’m at it, never again mess with the uniform. Just an embarrassment.
Hairy Perry
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
Offensive line was pathetic tonight. Aaron Murry has yet to prove himself to be a winner. I am losing confidence that this kid is going to be any kind of a true leader for this team. I realy hope I’m wrong on this one.
Monkey Says
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
We should not judge a team after one game. BUT! My comments will be directed to many of you UGA fans who knowingly after 4 seasons of poor play( you were ranked no.1 at one point) came on these blogs and spouted off how good UGA was going to be with this “Dream Team” and getting rid of players who had issues.
The one thing you folks failed to connect to is the coaching staff( and not Mark Richt) are just not very good coaches. With the exception of Todd Grantham there is not a single coach on your staff that is actually hirable by another top 20 school.
So I will wait and save my “told you so’s” till later and if you do not get it now then you need to get on some medication that allows rational thinking.
Now you have USC coming into town. Many of you called Garcia all kind of names and proudly stated that you would be 2-0 after the first two games. In reality, you will more than likely 2-3 after the first five game. If you finish 6-6 thank your lucky stars that Kentucky, Auburn, Ole Miss,Vandy and Coastal Carolina are just horrible teams and you will get wins in those games. But now Tennessee is going to give you trouble, MSU is loaded, Florida is Florida.
Be thankful for 7-5 or 6-6.
The TRUTH!!!!
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
A F’N embarrassment. CMR HAS TO GO! This team has some talent… some…. but CMR ruins it. And by CMR, I mean Mike Bozo too. I’m embarrassed to be a UGA fan for the first time in my life…. I predicted this b/c this team is no different than the one that lost to UCF and Colorado. I’m sick of losing. I’m sick of being able to predict this team and see the same blank expressions for a coach that is lost. I love the Dawgs too much to swear off watching them, but I promise that I’m done caring if we lose again until RICHT IS GONE. I will not go watch a game in person again while CMR is there. I am done buying UGA merchandise, but I’ll watch…. because I love my Dawgs. I don’t love a coach without a clue.
Mark Richt UGA Head Coach
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
I am not going anywhere! Mr.Adams loves me! You will bow to the feet of the Great Mark Richt, Bobby Bowden taught me well, it’s just one game, you guys act like we lost to Florida or something!
Now I am going to polish my Hummer, and eat some filet mignon!
Fire Mark Richt!
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Are you kidding me? What Kool Aid are these idiots drinking…? I have been a fan, an alumi…now a father that puts my newborns in UGA baby gear…I will never embarass my kids again, until Mark Richt is GONE! If you still think this guy is “OUR” savior, because he preache’s the Lord…YOU ARE WRONG! Dream Team…BS!!!!!
The University of Georgia will never compete for a National Championship with these Joker Coaches…In case you do not know, Mike Bobo is the dumbest dude I know…Yes, that’s right…”I know..” This guy was cheating on his Accounting Final at Georgia, and you think he can strategize against top 10 defense’s? ….
I will never spend another dollar on this joke of an alma mater!!!!! HORRIBLE TEAM…and University for continuing to let these fruit loops coach them!!!
DONE
antidepressed dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Once you remove the emotion it”s easy to see the discrepency in coaching and preparation, not to mention Boise has umpteen 5th year seniors. They are obviously a better team. When you have a good team of overachievers vs a talented team of chronic underachievers this is what happens. When you throw bad coaching in, you get a blowout. Murray is a really talented quarterback, but a decent high school staff would be able to figure out what Georgia is going to do on offense. Boise knows how to play football and they know how to win – UGA has slowly progressed to the exact opposite over the last 3 years. And I completely agree with the constant 2nd and 10 (or worse with false starts penalties coming in bunches) causing the dawgs as much trouble as quality opponents. Not to mention a complete lack of pressure on defense. Might be a long year, but I can at least take comfort in the fact that the trolls on here have such pathetic lives that mocking and talking trash to georgia fans is all they have to look forward to…..that and the online porn they watch after their mom goes to bed upstairs.
LakeDawg
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Yes, the SEC East is very weak this year and UGA could still win a spot in the Dome, but they’re still underachieving, which is what galls me. I don’t mean under achieving here are there. That happens to every team. I mean consistently under achieving. UGA will probably go 9-3 against this schedule. Not good enough.
pigmons
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
even though as a tech fan I am biased I will say this, UGA was clearly more talented, but they were predictable, those fifty yard passes are just beyond stupid, that and running it up the middle is so dumb, if it is broken, stop doing it, I am no expert, but seriously, I would try something else. the run defense looked better than it did against us, sometimes, but at other times, dreadful pass rush was non existent despite superior size on D-line, you have a 350 lb nt yet nothing on the pass rush
arrowhead1959
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Reverse works early for a TD so we wait until the fourth qtr to run it again with Mitchell; How do you slow down a pass rush? A new invention called a screen pass that Boise certainly knew about;If we ran one all night I didn’t see it; How do you hurry the quarterback? A new invention called a blitz, only called with 30 seconds left; I don’t understand……
Richt's Butt Cut
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Anybody know how Nick Sabans mission trip went? Exactly, Preachers DONT win football games!!!!!
still a dawg fan
September 4th, 2011
12:12 am
Hey Remembering Shockley,
We may be bigger,stronger & faster then Boise but they are better FOOTBALL PLAYERS & Just like what the ESPN announcer said that Ga has very athletic players that are either not very good football players or are poorly coached. It’s going to be a long season.
Muddiver
September 4th, 2011
12:12 am
If this was the best we could come up with after 8 months to prepare next week is really going to be ugly. Screw it. At this point I’d go with hiring Spurrier. It would hurt less than watching my Dawgs sink further into irrelevance.
Hairy Perry
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
SandySprinsJacket,
You can’t wait until Nov. 26th? Why does your mommy give you a toy to make you fell better after Georgia kicks your @ss.
Monkey Says
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Capital Dawg
September 4th, 2011
12:04 am
Hey Tereshinski, that is one heckuva S&C program ya got there in Athens. Our guy are huffing & puffing, and Boise State is smiling. I don’t think we won the line of scrimmage this game either, do you?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
What is it going to look like next week when the game is played outside in the heat and humidity?
How many players went down with cramps and injuries due to be tired and out of shape?
dawgster
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Well its obvious that our caoching staff can recruit, but they don’t appear to be able to coach…Thats very hard for me to say, but I just don’t see any improvement especially with our OC….It appears that Olgetree has a broken foot and will be gone…I guess we can further the destruction of Samuel and move him back to Lb…I wish i were wrong, but he’s not a RB, yet may be our best option…Crowell still needs to learn the blocking schemes….
Our O-line problems are basically poor evaluation or coaching of these guys…They are not improving and were completely manhandled by an undersized Boise St team…Am I wrong, or did anyone see Coach Richt do anything on the sideline to fire this team up…I watched the hated gators new HC very animated on the sideline in pumping his team up….Hate to be negative, but extremely, extremely disappointed and sureprised at tonights game, not so much the score, but the way we looked…Our OC has no clue on putting Murray in the right situations and his playcalling just seems lost at times…Of course its not the coaching fault that we can’t get one yard in two plays which could have changed this game…Same problem as last year so who’s at fault….
Sid
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Boise looked like a machine buzzing thru the Dawgs leaving them gasping for air…………in an air conditioned facility. The game wasn’t even as close as the score. Sic em’ barf barf
Topp Dogg
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Give Coach Peterson 4 mil at the end of the year,i said it before enough is enough.
Funny
September 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Whai I love about you ugay fans is all the BS hype you write leading up to the season.
Question : Where were those 2 out of shape tubs of lard nose tackles tonight. Oh, I see, the US surgeon general had the answer earlier in the week. They were concerned about sweating after having their hair straigtened.
cmac22
September 4th, 2011
12:14 am
ugaly is a bad team with overpaid coaches, overhyped players, a predictably bad offense & what will soon be an eroding fan base. McGarity should have steped-up after last season & fired richt. But he didn’t, so another wasted year!! The last time I saw a team that unprepared to play was last December in the Liberty Bowl!! Keep drinking the kool-aid dawg fans … you get what you deserve!!!
bitter PROSTATE GLAND
September 4th, 2011
12:15 am
I WENT TO THE BATH ROOM ONCE————-what 2 minutes of dribble———-kellen moore throws
another TD——————————–what if i had hemoroids————2 td’s
—————————boise st 35—————-clowns from athens———-21
——————recruits vacate commitments—————coming soon
——————-gracia and chickens———66——-power ranger–02
Boise in ATL
September 4th, 2011
12:15 am
Bottom line………………………..
Boise was more athletic that UGA
Boise was more physical than UGA
Boise was better prepared than UGA.
Boise’s Offensive scheme was far superior that UGA’s offensive scheme.
Boise’s play calling was better than UGA’s
That – was a whipping
totally out played, out coached and out classed.
To Brandon Boykin – UGA = ME/team
Boise = TEAM/me
Boise wins in a laugher – game was not close.
UGA Alumnus
September 4th, 2011
12:15 am
Why do Dawg fans suck? We got beat. We need to fix some things. But one of Georgia’s biggest problems is a sorry fan base.
pete
September 4th, 2011
12:15 am
Serious dog fans:……..YOU GOT SLOPED BY A FAR SUPERIOR TEAM IN EVERY POSITION. A COUPLE LUCKY PLAYS AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 35-7.
BOISE WOULD RULE THE SEC EASILY.
Monkey Says
September 4th, 2011
12:15 am
LakeDawg
September 4th, 2011
12:10 am
Yes, the SEC East is very weak this year and UGA could still win a spot in the Dome, but they’re still underachieving, which is what galls me. I don’t mean under achieving here are there. That happens to every team. I mean consistently under achieving. UGA will probably go 9-3 against this schedule. Not good enough
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
You must not have watched USC or Florida play tonight? Florida’s defense is good, offense is average, USC has a wide open multi attack offense and an average defense.
If UGA makes it to the dome, they get run out by LSU or Alabama.