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
Vampire Bill
October 21st, 2012
8:16 am
Richt makes 57 thousand dollars every week. Of course he’s happy with the win. He will always put a positive spin on everything. Something REALLY wrong with that guy.
Tampa Gator
October 21st, 2012
8:19 am
Simply amazing. I came on here this morning, after watching a great Gator victory yesterday, expecting to read about the big game next week that will most likely decide the SEC East…..expecting to read how Georgia is back and how the Dawgs are going to win the SEC again. Nope……JUST FIRE EVERYONE. Your team is ranked in the top 10 in America…..or will be…..and is playing next Saturday for the SEC East title and the right to play Bama in the SEC title game…..and most of you are on here calling for your head coach to be fired. As I said….just amazing! But….if the Dawgs upset Florida….the same people will be back on here posting about how the Dawgs are going to beat Bama and about how they are going to play for the BCS NC. That still could happen…….jezzzz. Florida’s defense is just outstanding. But the Gators offense is very one dimensional. Georgia has a shot Saturday….no doubt…..and they will not play like they did against SC or Kentucky…..believe me. It is going to be a great game……and I hope none of you negative posters will be in JAX. Only real Dawq and Gators fans are allowed..
Uncle Tom
October 21st, 2012
8:20 am
I have the solution. I will bet $100 next week against us no matter what the point spread. Easy cash will help cushion the fall.
Tampa Gator
October 21st, 2012
8:23 am
A lot of “Vampire Energy” Eaters on here for sure…….must be hell to be a Georgia Bulldog fan with your team being only 6-1 and one step away from winning the SEC East title and going to the SEC championship game. FIRE EVERYONE for it. DO IT….NOW. What a sorry bunch of players…..how dare you even show up in JAX next week with that sorry to ten rated team…that sorry 6-1 record….and that sorry coaching staff……and all those sorry players on that team.
RunninWithTheDawgs
October 21st, 2012
8:25 am
The Gators not only took down SC, they made a mess out of them. I have a whole new respect for Will Muschamp. The man coaches with a passion like I’ve never seen on any of our UGA teams. Their defensive secondary will be the toughest that Murray has seen. GO UGA !
WILLIAMS
October 21st, 2012
8:28 am
WHEN ONE SPEAKS OF SPORTS; ANY SPORTS.YOU ARE SPEAKING OF INDIVIDUALS SUPERIOR IN ATHLETIC ABILITIES THAN THEIR FAN BASE.NOT ONE FAN HAS EVER EXPERIENCE STOPPING A 240LB LINEBACKER OR MUCH LESS CATCHING SOMEONE WITH 4.3 SPEED.A PLAYER CANNOT SUMMON UP HIS OR HER ABILITIES ON ANY GIVEN DAY.IT JUST DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY.THAT’S WHY IT’S A TEAM SPORT SO ONE CAN COMPENSATE FOR THE OTHER.IT IS MORE THAN JUST COACHING THAT GOES INTO THE GAMES.WHEN A PLAYER CAN’T PERFORM AT A HIGH LEVEL’THERE’S NOTHING A COACH CAN DO.ENJOY THE GAME.
just my two cents worth
October 21st, 2012
8:29 am
The U in UGA now stands for.
Unbelievably overrated
Under achievers
Un prepaired
Under coached
Useless bunch of narcissistic thugs
This coaching staff may well be the worst in all of college football
Cackalacky Dawg
October 21st, 2012
8:29 am
Jacksonville is going to be really, really ugly next week. I don’t know if I can drink enough adult beverages to get through the game. Maybe passing out and missing the game would be better than watching Richt’s stumblebums get blown out by Muschamp’s wrecking crew.
This is getting really depressing. Maybe some Prozac and Jack would help, but I doubt it.
Do you know that Richt gets paid a third of a million dollars for each of the twelve games. Yes, while we were all agonizing during the game yesterday, Saint Mark got $333,333,333.33. Does that make sense? He gets paid a fortune every game, and his dummy recruits stagger around like they’ve all been hitting those special brownies. Or maybe they’re tired out from beating up their girlfriends.
Why do we rage against the miserably incompetent Richt? Marvelous Marky looks so cool with his great suntan and those über suave sunglasses that cost $250 if they cost a dime. And that salon-coiffed hair.
A laughingstock, that’s what UGA has become, just a symbol of buffoonery and humiliation.
I may just go to a movie and spare myself the misery of watching a real team – Florida – take the dawgs to the woodshed next week. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
Now I just have to see what movies will be playing next weekend.
Cooper
October 21st, 2012
8:29 am
Cuga….you hit the nail on the head…..preferential treatment for “draft status” players….in this case Ogletree and Rambo…..defense was better before they returned…..other players see the preferential treatment and they just quit…Richt has been doing this for years…treating “draft status” players with kid gloves and special treatment so as not to “mess up” their draft status….it brings down the whole team…that’s the problem on Defense…..Offense is purely this…..we have the softest most poorly recruited and coached offensive line in the SEC….Richt has made the “skill players” the nucleus of our offense….all other bonafide teams have the O-Line the nucleus of their offense….Next week should get Richt fired as it will be like taking sheep to the slaughter….Defense looks like Ray Goff error….Offense looks like Quincy Carter error…..all of our players digress at GA…they are good when they arrive and they are mediocre when they leave….which just tells me one thing….we don’t practice with intensity..and due to that we never improve…players just get softer and softer over a three year period….kind of like socializing a society….bit by bit players become complacent and lose desire…just like Richt….crap…he doesn’t want to be Coach at GA or anywhere else….same thing that happens to all Coaches at GA…….get Rich and become complacent. I’M DONE. Done with it all. Better call Kirby now, cause his boat is ready to sail.
Fred
October 21st, 2012
8:32 am
UGA FANS are the most embarrassing in college football. You fans should be fired!!!
Fred
October 21st, 2012
8:33 am
Also…UGA loses by 3 TD’s next week.
Brian
October 21st, 2012
8:33 am
Gonna have to hit the short dump pass against Florida. Only thing is, Murray never looks for the short pass and the coaches never tell him that pass is there. Cant always go for the home run against the good teams and Murray never looks for it. Got to keep a good defense honest.
Double Zero Eight
October 21st, 2012
8:34 am
The epitome of mediocrity. Georgia is too soft.
The Dawgs will get blown out by Florida and
embarrassed on national t.v. again.
swampdawg
October 21st, 2012
8:35 am
Hey defensive guys, before you start your “thug dancing” after tackling a runner for “only” an eight yard gain, act like you’ve tackled someone before. All that “thug dancing” would make one think you can actually “play defense”. Come on, have some class and just learn to play defense, tackle somebody and then just get back up and get ready for the next play! And what’s with the “no names” on the kickoff team????? The top teams have their really good players on kickoff—why would you put “no names” in that situation when they haven’t even secured a “starting position on the team” on such an important play (the kickoff) in the game?
Wayne
October 21st, 2012
8:36 am
So please someone explain why a coach that has a program packed with talent cannot win or even come close to a national tittle yet in the last 8 tears there have been coaching turnovers at 4 other sec schools and they have won the national title. It’s not like they’ve had 10 years to build a programs. No, they’ve come in and coached the team to theses titles and floridas new coach suddenly looks a lot better than our veteran coach. And for some of you out there, the sec title is so far out of the wimpy dogs reach it ain’t funny. 10 years of mediocrity. We need a big name coach. Period.
rod dog
October 21st, 2012
8:42 am
once again these arm chair stars complain about the game, half of you probably never played the game before so please shut the h-ll up.
SmyrnaGuy
October 21st, 2012
8:43 am
UGA is going to get DRUMMED by UF…….. AGAIN. Well now that deer season has opened, I’ll have better things to do on Saturdays.
Steve
October 21st, 2012
8:49 am
Georgia’s biggest problem , is that some of the moron atheletes they recruit love reading ther own newspaper clippings. You don’t survive in the SEC living on reputation. It’s a get down,grind it out physical league.After watching the SC game and the Kentucky game, it is apparent that we are still getting beat up front offensively and defensively…..play the same way next week and we will leave Jacksonville with another good ass whuppin…..The table is set…all we have to do is win out…..love my Dawgs…but I don’t think they can man up enough to pull it off. I hope after the season ends that CMR takes a long look at his staff and realizes that maybe they read their own clippings too much also…but then again,it all starts at the head …..Selah
Champs
October 21st, 2012
8:53 am
@TampaGator, you don’t get it because you didn’t watch the game closely and you haven’t followed the dogs closely for the last decade plus.I appreciate your chastising of the negative fans, but I’m here to tell you that at this point, the REAL Bulldog fans-who have supported through thick and thin-have had all they can take. Your spin on their current situation looks accurate if you don’t closely follow the team, but one would be clearly delusional (again) to think this team has any chance of beating a good team. I have stood by Richt because there has been no clear cut choice to replace him. However, I am to the point (and I think most UGA fans are) that I am willing to risk going through the uncertainty of change. I hate it for the players, because I know they work harder than anyone who has never been a NCAA student-athlete can imagine. We fans should never get on here and criticise the players. Our coaches are responsible for how the team plays and responds to adversity in all situations. It TRULY is time for Mark Richt and his staff to move on.
Sad, Sad UGA
October 21st, 2012
8:58 am
Never seen so many pi$$ed off dawgs
Red
October 21st, 2012
8:59 am
I love my Dawgs but afraid Florida is going to open a big can of whupa$$ on us. Don’t know how we can fix our defense in one week. Not worried about our offense. Maybe we can just outscore them.
RunninWithTheDawgs
October 21st, 2012
9:00 am
Most of these loudmouths on here doing all the complaining have never been to a college football game. There are some of us out here that actually attend the games and support the team and it’s coaching staff. Untill you actually become a part of Bulldog Nation you are still just an armchair QB, and your opinion doesn’t really matter. GO DAWGS !
'94 UGA Alumnus
October 21st, 2012
9:00 am
My only hope is that we were preparing for FL all last week and ignoring KY. If we get blown out by FL next week Coach Richt will be on the ‘hot seat’ again and rightfully so.
perk
October 21st, 2012
9:01 am
2 plays saved the game: running into the punter and a ‘2-3 Star Recruit’ fallling on the onside kick. Wish we had more 2-3 stars with heart and brains
Vey frustrating team to watch
truedawg881
October 21st, 2012
9:02 am
hey do any of ya haters got tickets seems like the whole fan base seems to love the gators i need 2 tics for the gator game i cant stand you losers when we win next weekend you crabs will be back on here better seee ya hating not prasing go dawgs and real dawg fans
Gator Mike
October 21st, 2012
9:03 am
Each game is based on its own merit. Personally, I am convinced that UGA will show up and make a game of it. No predictions from me, but if the Gators keep the chip on their shoulder based ontheir lousy performance last year, they will be fired up.
I would like thank the DAWG Nation for Will Muschamp. He is a great coach and we love him.
dawginduluth
October 21st, 2012
9:08 am
Ahh, I knew you Richt losers would surface to defend him sooner or later. It’s all the players fault. Richt can’t run the plays for them. The players are pampered narcissists. More BS from the Richt suck-up class. Look, morons, don’t you think that Muschamp, Saban and Milers have the same potential for these issues? Richt can recruit but he can’t turn the his adolescent recruits into men of character with the focus and discipline that is required to win in the SEC, much less the BCS. Richt said they had fun at practice last week. Just what I wanted to hear..made me want to puke. Richt is not a smart, critical thinking coach and he doesn’t know how to mold kids into men. Both required for a successful program. What do these two attributes get you? Look at what Meyer has done in his first year at The OSU. That’s what it gets you. Richt doesn’t have “it” and never will.
No NC with Richt. Never.
'94 UGA Alumnus
October 21st, 2012
9:08 am
Hey Tampa Gator,
Good post and you do bring up some good points. But the only reason we are 6-1 is because of our weak schedule. We have not played well in any game this year except Vandy. You guys get better with every game and we get worse with every game. So if you’ll look past the record then you can see why us Georgia fans are not happy with the product we are putting on the field
RxDawg
October 21st, 2012
9:10 am
Well Florida sure is gonna whip us huh? Another embarassment on national TV is a little easier to swallow when you know it’s coming… but just a little. This has got to be the worst 6-1 team in the history of football. Pathetic boys. You will always have my support, but you’ve lost my faith.
DAWG with two bags still over his head
October 21st, 2012
9:10 am
True Dawg fans want this cycle of being unprepared, outcoached, and out motivated to stop. Supporting the coaching staff has landed us at 0-10 against Top 10 teams and fixing to be 0-11. You blind homers are holding us back and have been holding us back for years. A CMR team can’t win a big game and won’t ever even get into the NC game. The handwritting is very plain. Stop toking with the defense if you think otherwise.
RHall55
October 21st, 2012
9:11 am
UGA ends up losing to FL and a Bowl Game…the rest of the schedule is too easy…will win by a squeaker over AU and GT (still questionable) but next year look for the next losing season for CMR…PUT IT IN THE BANK!!! Tougher schedule and early losses will contribute to that losing season…get a staff in here with some imagination, enthusiasm, and the willingness to work hard every day of the week…not this staff…they all must go…no carryover to the next group of Coaches..hire KS or JG!!
dawginduluth
October 21st, 2012
9:11 am
@RunninWithTheDawgs
I have been to three home games and the Missouri game. Stick it, moron!
Florida Dawg
October 21st, 2012
9:11 am
We need a miracle next week, I live in South Florida and am surrounded by obnoxious Gator fans. Something tells me I’m going to have to turn my phone off next Saturday.
Kweli
October 21st, 2012
9:13 am
UGA fans are jerks!
truedawg881
October 21st, 2012
9:13 am
183 yards total off. for florida s.carolina 4 turnovers great glad it comes down to the dawgs Will will never beat the dawgs cant wait till saturday dawgs will win and will when the sec east
RunninWithTheDawgs
October 21st, 2012
9:21 am
I really don’t see where we struggled against Ky. We went to their house and didn’t give up more than 7 points in any quarter. The real struggle is going to be next week in Jax. against the Gators. They’re gonna try to run the ball down our throat so I hope Jarvis Jones is back and healthy. If we can contain their running game and Murray is as sharp as he was last night good things will happen. I’ll be there in the stands pulling for our Dawgs and whether they win or lose I’ll be in the stands for the rest of the games this year pulling for our Dawgs. That’s what I do. GO DAWGS !
TDawg
October 21st, 2012
9:24 am
I support whomever is coaching my Dawgs thru thick and thin. That said they are supposed to show some evidence that coaching is making us a better team. The defense is a huge mystery. How could this happen? Offense will most likely give up a lot of sacks next week since UF will see that as our weakness. We will do what we always do.
hit a single
October 21st, 2012
9:24 am
Very disappointing performance! You should come out and make a statement in that first defensive series and we let Kentucky drive it down our throats. We lack character when kids can’t get themselves ready to play. When the players can’t get themselves ready it is up to the coaches and I am not sure we have the coaches that can get them ready to play.
Dogs Smell
October 21st, 2012
9:24 am
Georgia fans do you really think you are a BCS team. You’re not ! If not for your schedule you would be just above Tennessee.
TDawg
October 21st, 2012
9:26 am
Drive up to the game Florida Dawg. Bottle of liquor will get you a grilled chicken dinner
Lance
October 21st, 2012
9:26 am
Georgia fans are silly. You act like this program has a history of national a relevance and prominence. Draft Day will be here soon enough. Until then,take your place amongst the Auburns and Clemsons of the world.
John W Holmes
October 21st, 2012
9:29 am
I would just leave tampons at his front door.
Fats G
October 21st, 2012
9:30 am
Some of youse guys posting seem to widh UGA had lost the dm game! Beating Kentucky in Lexngton,KY is not easy,especially after getting our tails handed to us the previous game. Now look. We can make Spurrier CRY IN HIS BEER afteralll……………….Take the East boys………….Take it
Red
October 21st, 2012
9:31 am
Defense was better 2 years ago seems like it has deteriorated.
Georgia Bulldogs (2010-present)
Grantham has installed a 3-4 defense. Despite breakdowns in coverage at times, the Bulldogs ranked 23rd nationally in total defense and 35th in scoring defense (22 points allowed per game). His defense also forced 26 takeaways, over twice as many as Georgia had in 2009 (12), and helped them move from 118th nationally in 2009 to 18th in 2010 in turnover margin.
Georgia’s defense under Grantham finished the 2011 season ranked 3rd nationally in total defense, 7th in pass defense and 9th in rush defense. They also finished 2nd in the SEC in sacks (34), tackles for loss (94) and turnovers forced (29).
Fats G
October 21st, 2012
9:33 am
Murray had over 400 yards passing and 4 touchdown passes. Are youse guys happy about anythings??
Lonnie
October 21st, 2012
9:34 am
Sad I don’t scream or degrade people. I have been a dawg fan since 1976. I know the SEC can be a monster. We have a chance and real fans are cheering our dawgs on to win not hoping we get beat bad so a coach can be fired! And for the whole blog being a good man is a desire for a coach! What I want to see is the dawgs stand up and do it this week as we lay rest to ghosts!!!! Go dawgs.
Mark
October 21st, 2012
9:34 am
I have never been a mark richt fan and you see why. Ga football fans deserve better.
RecruitMuschampNow
October 21st, 2012
9:35 am
I say we bench Rambo and Oaggletree and go back to the big winning at the beginning og the season when Jarvis was eating people.
RecruitMuschampNow
October 21st, 2012
9:35 am
I say we bench Rambo and Oaggletree and go back to the big winning at the beginning og the season when Jarvis was eating people. Bam!
hit a single
October 21st, 2012
9:35 am
Fat G – I hope you are right and we get after those Gators. I just don’t know it we can block them. Bobo better keep them off balance. As far as defense, we need to be brought back to reality. We aren’t the studs we think we are. We have some on D that couldn’t start at Florida the way they are playing.