UPDATED: Georgia struggles vs. Kentucky, but win sets up monumental matchup with Florida
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Florida did its part by taking down South Carolina on Saturday. Georgia followed suit by beating Kentucky, though it didn’t go down like anyone predicted.
Nearly a four-touchdown favorite, the No. 11-ranked Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) found themselves in a street fight with the 1-7 Wildcats. Georgia finally eked out a 29-24 victory, but there was hardly a wild celebration in postgame locker room. Even the tone of the ever-optimistic Mark Richt seemed indifferent and weary.
“You know what, I’m happy with the victory,” Richt said somewhat unconvincingly. “We’re what, 6-1? That’s not bad.”
It’s good enough to set up at SEC Eastern Division showdown next Saturday in Jacksonville. After Saturday’s disparate results — the No. 2-ranked Gators (7-0, 6-0 SEC) thumped No. 7 South Carolina 44-11 in Gainesville — not many will give Georgia a chance in their annual rivalry game next to the St. Johns River. Still, a win over what will be a favored Florida team will put the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat to repeat as SEC champions.
“That’s why you play on Saturdays,” Richt said.
Kentucky was certainly saying that Saturday. Georgia needed a record-setting night from quarterback Aaron Murray, a roughing-the-kicker penalty and an a hotly-contested onsides kick recovery to settle Saturday’s score. The victory wasn’t finalized until the Bulldogs stopped Kentucky’s final pass for a 13-yard gain at the Wildcats’ 30-yard line as time expired.
Aaron Murray’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Lynch – it was his fourth on a record-setting night — made it 29-17 with 7:51 to play, the first time the Bulldogs had been ahead by more than a touchdown all night. Ultimately, that play gave Georgia the cushion it needed to get back to Athens with the victory.
Murray finished with a career-best 427 yards on 30-of-38 passing and now holds the school record for career touchdown passes with 75. David Greene (2001-04) had the previous record with 72.
“I’m not a record guy,” said Murray, who also set the school mark for completion percentage with 30 or more receptions (78.95). “I just want victories. I want championships. That put us another step closer toward achieving those goals. We just have to go out there and keep competing and winning games.”
Said Richt: “A lot of things have to go well to throw the ball like that. You’ve got to be able to protect, to run good routes, to put the ball on the money and catch it. And you have to have a good idea what you’re doing. You have to have some scheme involved in there. I thought everything came together well.”
Murray completed the majority of his passes to wideouts Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell, who finished with nine receptions apiece. King had 188 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a 66-yarder. Mitchell had 103 yards. Marlon Brown dropped what would have been a sure-fire touchdown from 52 yards out in the second quarter.
Despite their struggles running the ball — they managed only 77 yards on 32 attempts — the Bulldogs’ claim their ability to throw the ball gives the offense confidence heading into Saturday’s game against the defensive-minded Gators.
“I think so,” King said. “I think those big guys, our O-L, will take pride in protecting No. 11 and let him get it down field to his boys.”
Florida’s offense might be licking its chops after getting a close look at Georgia’s defense, which continued to give up yardage in huge chunks to the previous hapless Cats. Kentucky, which came into the game 13th in the 14-team SEC in total offense, gained 329 yards, 198 of it in the first half . The Wildcats converted 4-of-7 third downs in the first half, all on runs, and finished 6-of-14.
“hey ran the ball on third-and-10 or so a lot and we let them run for first downs,” defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “We need to stop that in the zone that we have if we play physical. Obviously we’re going to address that. I didn’t think we played the third-down runs well and we need to clean that up.”
The game was still in the balance when Georgia’s Connor Norman recovered on onsides kick attempt by Kentucky with 3:59 to play to thwart the final upset attempt. It was a bang-bang p[lay as Kentucky’s kicker Joe Mansour hesitated to pounce on the ball as it slowly rolled 10 yards. Norman dove in under Mansour, a LaGrange native, just as he went down.
“Connor was heads up to go in there and snatch it and convince the refs it was his,” Richt said.
The Bulldogs were able to knock out three first downs after that and ended its possession at the Kentucky 16 when tight end dropped what would have been a first-down catch at the Wildcats 1.
Kentucky had time only to get off one desperation pass, which it completed to no avail at its own 30. The plan was for some sort of hook-and-lateral, but Georgia’s Shawn Williams was on Kentucky’s La’Rod King too fast and wrapped him up before King could get rid of it.
“Well, I don’t live in ‘almost,’” said Kentucky coach Joke Phillips, who drops to 12-21 as the Wildcats’ coach. “At the end of the year, we don’t say we almost win. The records say wins and losses. This was a loss.”
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555 comments Add your comment
Dawg89
October 21st, 2012
1:07 pm
Spurrier opened the back door. Now the question is: Can Richt slip in?
GwinnettDad
October 21st, 2012
1:09 pm
@LakeDawg – well said. Very well said.
AZDawg
October 21st, 2012
1:10 pm
FLA DAWG – You forgot to mention…I believe Auburn also got a turd in the punch bowl….Willie Vanillie Martinez…Boy does that bring back night mares….
Dawg89
October 21st, 2012
1:10 pm
I cna’t believe they used their trick punt play on Kentucy. Should have saved it for FU. I think the refs got it wrong on the penalty. It looked good to me. Looked like the back judge threw the flag, not the line judge. Seems sketchy.
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2012
1:13 pm
Tide Roll – I would like to point out that our short and squatty center from a private school may not be able to block anybody, but he can roll the snap on the ground back to a QB in the shotgun as well as any center in the country. You must admit that is quite a talent.
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2012
1:15 pm
Dawg89 – I agree on both counts. On the replay, there was no movement. The announcers tried to say it must have been too many in the backfield, but the back judge would not be in position to make that call.
CGD..
October 21st, 2012
1:16 pm
6-2 aint bad? heh heh heh
The Truth About Dawgs
October 21st, 2012
1:18 pm
@Crack in your Rose Colored Glasses
Just admit your jealousy. It will save you a lot of unnecessary typing.
Dawg89
October 21st, 2012
1:22 pm
Dawg Tired, I thought they were saying not enough men on the line. Either call is bogus. With only one wideout (who was on the line), and two guys in the backfield, I just don’t see what was wrong. I bet Richt will seek clarification on it this week.
Still, I can’t believe they wasted that play on Kentucky.
Footballrules
October 21st, 2012
1:23 pm
A bad call by the officials is how Dogs won. That was clearly not running in to the kicker. He was PUSHED into the kicker and had no time to stop himself. He was trying to stop but clearly the replay showed he was shoved into the kicker. That bad call resulted in the keeping the Dogs’ drive alive and that touchdown was the difference in the game. 11th ranked team squeaks by in a bad call and will probably go up in the ranks. (Shakes head)
ga gator
October 21st, 2012
1:26 pm
I expected to be 5-2 at this poing and figured UGA to be 5-1. I was wrong about my Gators and pretty close on UGA. I knew that our Defense would be stout and the Offense; well I just was not sure. Actually I am still not sure about our Offense. What I am sure about is Muschamp might have been Foley’s best hire of many he has made. Florida fans being typical Florida fans were ready to throw Will under the bus after last year, but just did not realize what kicking 11 players off the team will do to your depth.
This Saturday, we find ourselves favored over UGA and we will find out in my opinion if we are legit. Not because of not having as good as talent as Georgia, but because we will see if Will continues to pull the right strings in getting this team to play up to potential. For us to win, we must continue to play physical and smart. Not making bad turnovers and more importantly, not reverting to back to the pre 90’s when we used to get to full of ourselves. Leave it to our fans as they are certainly good at doing that. I feel that Muschamp will have them ready and as a diciple of Saban, have them playing only one week at a time. For UGA to win, it will have to fall on Murray and his receivers shoulders as I do not believe UGA’s O line will be able to open up enough holes for the backs to run. Not ready for a prediction yet; will wait till later in the week to see how the week progresses this.
‘
I do believe this; Mark Richt needs to win to save his job.
Dawg89
October 21st, 2012
1:30 pm
I’m tired of hearing “disciple of Saban”. It’s just one letter off from “disciple of satan”. I read last week that his name is being mentioned for a NFL job. I hope he takes it. So does every other team in the SEC.
Dawg89
October 21st, 2012
1:31 pm
Footballrules, bad calls are a part of football. You must know that. If you eliminated all bad calls yesterday, the win-loss ledger would look different in a lot of games. Bad calls are a part of every sport.
Colin
October 21st, 2012
1:33 pm
As a Gator fan, I think the game will be close.
He Hate Gator
October 21st, 2012
1:41 pm
The pollsters were certainly impressed with Ga’s win as they dropped to 12th….
kennesaw gator
October 21st, 2012
1:44 pm
Well, I’m glad UGA has finally found it’s level of competition: it’s clearly the best team in the lower tier of the SEC east.
Next, the dawgs get to see how the BIG boys do it.
You UGA fans better stock up on your Preparation H – you are gonna need it on the long ride home from Jacksonville.
DawgDump
October 21st, 2012
1:47 pm
Undisciplined, under-coached talent. Why do our players continue to talk trash when the defense can barely stop a high school level running game? How many yards did UK get while running up the middle? I thought UGA was supposed to have an unmovable defensive front? A win is a win but everybody must admit that there is something internal going wrong at UGA. I did not see anything last night that would lead me to believe that UGA has any chance of even keeping it close with UF. I really hate being negative about my beloved Dawgs but the facts are facts. Like everyone has heard before, stats don’t lie!
HUMBUG
October 21st, 2012
1:52 pm
I am afraid that we saw the real Dawgs in the South Carolina game. They are barely beating the weak teams but have no chance against the good teams. Next week we will get a second chance to see them get whomped good..
Dawg Pounded
October 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
I have been a loyal Dawgs fan since 1974. I even have the Georgia “G” tattooed on my right arm(yes really). But its my belief that CMR doesn’t have the fire or desire to coach this team anymore. It shows in the teams play and recruiting in my opinion. Plus he’s way to loyal to his “underling” coaches as well. It took him forever to realize that Willie Martinez wasn’t the man for the job.
Enter…Todd Gratham. A fiery coach and defensive mind that the Georgia Brass put a collar on because he was to fiery. Mike Bobo with his 5.7 kids is absolutely clueless when it comes to calling plays and abandons offensive schemes to quickly. If I see the wide receiver screen on more time I’m gonna throw up.
The truth is…we have 6 wins against teams with losing records giving the “Richt Disciples” false hope. In other words….YOU’RE LIVING A LIE if you thing this team is an upper echelon team. At best they are a mediocre 2nd level team. Thats like being the smartest person in a special ed class(no offense meant here, just a comparison). After last night I was looking for a good sander and a bottle Crown so I could numb myself while I sand this G tattoo off my arm.
I keep getting blasted by the “Koolaid Drinkers” saying don’t bash CMR he’s a good man. CMR being a good man ain’t in question. So I asked this…Were Saban, Miles, Spurrier, & Meyer hired by their schools because they were good men? Changes need to made or we’ll continue to “woller” in mediocrity. ‘Nuff said…. AND Go Dawgs !
CGD..
October 21st, 2012
2:07 pm
Oh the Humanity!!
mars=lifetime dawg
October 21st, 2012
2:07 pm
Hooray, another ‘monumental’ game ahead. With our coaching and leadership, that translates to an embarassing blowout for us. Mark Richt is happy to be 6-1, but then he is the one who masterminded the scheduling against preschool acadamies for us to beat up on. Anything that presents a challenge, our Dawgs respond by laying down, expose their bellies, and pee a little. That’s what they have been taught. I wish Mr. Richt a long, successful, and happy life wherever he goes, just as long as he goes. If he decides to stay and tough it out, then I pray for Divine Intervention.
Dawg Pounded
October 21st, 2012
2:07 pm
Oh the Huge Manatee !!!
Cackalacky
October 21st, 2012
2:10 pm
Florida 63, Georgia 13
Rob in Chapel Hill
October 21st, 2012
2:10 pm
A road win in the SEC – I will darn sure take it. No, it wasn’t exactly pretty, but I wouldn’t call it ugly, either. It was incomplete, inconsistent, not fully satisfying. But I don’t think you can call a win in which the QB has a record day “ugly.”
That play where Swann got burned was horrifying, and it’s true UK missed some great opportunities like that. But the Dawgs did, too. We got some breaks, like the running into the punter, and they did too, like that reverse-pass thing in which Jenkins tipped the ball but the QB still caught it.
The most important thing CMR and Co. can do this week is somehow have the Dawgs believing that they can and should win, BEFORE they step on the field. They have to go in expecting to play well and to win, period. They cannot start playing and waiting for something good to happen before they believe. I have finally accepted that our D is not that great. They are good at times, and it was frustrating to watch UK move the ball. But that’s partly because fans somehow expected the Dawgs to never even give up a first down, much less three TDs. But I think the D can bow up at important times. Obviously the key is that we HAVE to be clicking on offense. And the O-line will have to play out of their minds! But I believe they will. Go Dawgs!
Lmichael
October 21st, 2012
2:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Lmichael
October 21st, 2012
2:15 pm
The 3 4 defense is not a good defense in college football. I don’t even like it in the pros. I think we need to look at changing to a 4 3
CGD..
October 21st, 2012
2:21 pm
“Mark Richt is 2 wins away from the national championship appearance.”
and 2 beatdowns away from a Greyhound bus stop..
Sammy
October 21st, 2012
2:24 pm
Agree, this one’s big.
We get Jarvis back, Richt owns Muschamp, 1-0 record, stuff 8 in the box and force the edges inside and I like our chances.
UGA controls own destiny now.
All naysayers said SC wouldn’t lose to LSU & UF.
Now saying UGA can’t beat UF.
Heard that last year, and UGA beat UF.
LakeDawg
October 21st, 2012
2:26 pm
Crack in your Rose Colored Glasses@12:44PM
Good point, but that hasn’t stopped other universities that UGA strives to imitate from fielding championship teams, i.e. Texas, Notre Dame, USC from excelling on the field. And make no mistake, the funding used to finance the changes UGA wishes to accomplish are driven by success on the football field. The #1 branding vehicle for UGA is still the football program. While I agree they don’t want to hire a Petrino or Saban (and I agree), there are plenty of potential coaches who also fill the branding requirement.
GwinnettDad
October 21st, 2012
2:26 pm
Florida by 33 over USC. USC by 28 over UGA. Does that make the Gators 61 point favorite over UGA? Probably not! But anybody that has confidence that UGA will win in Jacksonville, where UGA has perpetually look lost, bewildered, incompetent, and leaderless? If you’re favoring UGA, then that G on your Geogia gear should stand for ‘Gullible’. Why Georgia perpetually agrees to play IN Florida every year? Their record there is dismal. Not deciding to play half the games at home has to be one of the most monumentally stupid decisions all-time in college football. Maybe UGA are losers because they enjoy alcohol at that cocktail party more than they enjoy winning!
Charlie Postelwaite
October 21st, 2012
2:29 pm
CMR will not be fired. Even if the Dawgs go 6-6, and loose their Bowl game. Thats what happened in 2010. And was given a new contract after the 2011 season. Remember the embarassment in the SECCG to LSU. And choking the Outback Bowl to Michigan State. Dawgs are 0-10 to ranked teams since 2009. Only the big money donors can make change at UGA football, not us lowly posters, and loyal fans.
mars=lifetime dawg
October 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
I love the Dawgs, but I have no faith…none…. in the incompetent boobs who coach in our program. What is it going to take for you people to get a belly full??? I can’t take another bite!
Mr. Big
October 21st, 2012
2:40 pm
Paul Finebaum said it best when he said UGA was in the worst place as a team it could possibly be, not good enough to be considered real good but not bad enough to be considered real bad, just STUCK. He also said what makes Ga. fans think they have a top tier program and name who was UGA top tier coach. Remember in the 70’s there were plenty of “Dump Dooley” signs around.
Coaching?
October 21st, 2012
2:45 pm
Without a DOUBT, the Bulldogs have more athletes than any current SEC team SO:
IF some current coaches are negligent, fire them now
IF the current staff is overwhelmed, hire some help now
IF the current staff need direction, hire some now
OTHERWISE:
Remove the ego from the coaching staff and do your jobs, the players are!!!
LakeDawg
October 21st, 2012
2:52 pm
Paul Finebaum is a tool.
On another subject, while watching the game last night and seeing the DL being pushed around and the LB’s and safeties being outrun to the corner consistently and the overall lack of any toughness or energy, I began to hate coach Richt. That is not a good thing. I think Richt is an extraordinarily good man and like him, but it has gotten to the point that every time I see his emotionless face, while UGA is underperforming, I get angry. It is time for him to go. I don’t want him to end up like Ray Goof, a man I despise to this day.
Keep It Real Dog
October 21st, 2012
2:55 pm
The combined record of the teams we’ve beaten this year is 12-31, ie. a bunch of losers. The one winning team we played, SC, beat us easily. Sorry to say but UGA is/was grossly overrated and all doubt of that fact will be erased next week. Next year will be CMR’s last year.
SKB
October 21st, 2012
3:06 pm
guys.. 6-1 isn’t bad
We lost to a really good Scar team and we will lose to Florida
That is 10-2.. pretty dam good
Richt is a good man and he will retire as Georgia Head Coach in the future after contract runs out.
Coaching
October 21st, 2012
3:09 pm
Who on the starting O and D will be back next year? Most quality players are either seniors and leaving early. If we lose to Florida and one more (aub/gt,ole miss) it is a lost season, no matter what bowl game we go to.
sldkfjs
October 21st, 2012
3:10 pm
It’s just time for Mark Richt to move on. He’s using the millions he makes “coaching” this “team” to fund his personal projects, for which he has much more passion. He needs to do what he loves, which evidently is not coaching UGA football.
The Truth
October 21st, 2012
3:12 pm
With the speed of Todd Gurley and Nick Marshall (Gurshall), why does Bobo continue to run them off tackle? That’s what the fullback is for. It makes no sense to me. He should be running sweeps, maybe some options. Granted Murray isn’t the fastest QB in the world, but surely he can make a pitch. The whole running game to me needs an overhaul or Fire Bobo.
and That’s The Truth
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
Can’t win the big ones, squeak by the sister of Mary, embarrassing at best, woof woof, 2nd tier hr after yr.
Albert
October 21st, 2012
3:36 pm
Enter your comments here
Albert
October 21st, 2012
3:39 pm
I think people should get off the coaches and players back and be thankful to be 6-1. You would think with all theses comments we were 1-6. I think we will give fla all they want next week
Sammy
October 21st, 2012
4:02 pm
The GT Blogger here is so easy to find:
Fire Richt, the defense stinks, blah, blah, blah.
UGA is 6-1 and ranked #11 in Coaches poll.
If we beat Florida & Bama, we going to Miami.
J. Craig
October 21st, 2012
4:22 pm
Are the UGA offensive linemen somehow exempt from the team’s conditioning/nutrition program? They look a little overweight and out of shape to me.
ugab
October 21st, 2012
4:24 pm
This blog is getting full. lol
ugab
October 21st, 2012
4:30 pm
J. Craig, the OL are slow, big, and lazy. The tennessee game, I thought, was the best blocking I have seen in a long time. I guess that was just one game. Now they can’t block anybody. SC just took the life right out of them.??? !!!!????? IDK. We need some coaches. A coach has to demand perfection in order to compete in the SEC. It is a must to be physical. What is going on? Has Grantha even played any 3-4 this season. It appears he has went to a zone, robber, cover crappy D. Willie Martinez is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ugab
October 21st, 2012
4:37 pm
Sorry to break your lil heart Sammy, but Uga is not in the same category a Alabama or Fl. Albama and Fl will play in the SEC championship. Ga’s defense did not show up this year. Defense wins ball games. If the defense played half of what it was suppose to, the offense could of balanced out. There is no balance on the Uga football team. Special teams is still a big mystery. Why are the players letting the ball bounce on a punt so the other team can down it on the one yrd line?? Fair catch the dam ball. WTH.
ugab
October 21st, 2012
4:39 pm
Was Boykin that much of a difference on special teams and Corner?
good article from Macon
October 21st, 2012
4:46 pm
http://www.macon.com/2012/10/20/2220249/florida-is-right-back-on-track.html?fb_action_ids=10151077797357234&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582