‘Hurricane Jarvis’ sweeps through Florida’s offense for 17-9 Georgia win
Georgia's Jarvis Jones comes up with one of his two fumble recoveries against Florida. He also caused two fumbles and recorded 13 tackles and three sacks in his first game back from injury. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
JACKSONVILLE — Never mind all that “soft defense” talk. Georgia had Jarvis Jones back in the lineup.
The Bulldogs’ dynamic outside linebacker, who has missed two games with injuries and been hobbled much of the season’s first half, was feeling good and healthy on Saturday. Just ask Florida, which felt his wrath all night.
The 2011 All-American terrorized the Gators all night, finishing with 13 tackles, three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Jones wasn’t the only reason, but he was a big reason the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs were able to knock off the No. 2 Gators 17-9 Saturday night at EverBank Field.
The victory gives puts the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) into the driver’s seat to repeat as SEC East champions and represent the division in the SEC championship game in the Georgia Dome. Georgia plays host to Ole Miss (5-3, 2-2) next Saturday and closes out the conference slate at Auburn (1-7, 0-6) on Nov. 10. Since the Bulldogs now own the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Gators need to beat Missouri next week and have Georgia lose one of its final two.
“All we’ve done is give ourselves a chance to play Ole Miss and have it mean something,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
It was only fitting that Jones would make the play of the game. With the Bulldogs’ clinging to an eight-point lead in the final minutes, Florida tight end Jordan Reed hauled in a pass and was running inside the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line. But Jones hadn’t given up on the play. Catching Reed from behind, Jones tomahawked the football loose and it bounded into the end zone. There, cornerback Sanders Commings jumped on the ball and cradled it in the back of the end zone for a touchback.
“I didn’t really realize exactly what Jarvis had done until they told me and I looked at the line,” Richt said. “That’s on a bum ankle and I know his groin’s not really 100 percent yet. He really led for us tonight on the field But he was more vocal than I’ve ever seen him. He really wanted this one badly. I’m just happy he’s a Georgia Bulldog.”
Jones emerged from the locker room later than his teammates, who were being interviewed in a ground-floor concourse. He again had to receive post-game medical treatment. But he spoke humbly about what had just occurred.
“I had a good game, but all of us had a big game,” said the junior from Columbus. “We were clicking on all cylinders. We held the No. 2 team in the nation without a touchdown the whole game. That’s a compliment for us as a defense. I just hope we continue to play this way the rest of the season and keep challenging each other week in and week out.”
Jones’ teammates weren’t as modest in talking about him.
“Jarvis Jones is a beast; that’s a beast right there,” senior linebacker Mike Gilliard said. “He’s a hard worker; he’s a passionate, passionate guy; he loves this sport. He came out here and showed up like we knew he would. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.”
“Jarvis is a great player, an outstanding player, whatever you want to say,” sophomore Malcolm Mitchell said. “To come off an ankle sprain the way he did. That’s not an easy thing to come back from. Then to do what he did, I’d pick him No. 1 in the draft if it was me.”
It was a total defensive effort by the Bulldogs beyond Jones’ play. Georgia held the Gators without a touchdown in this series for the first time since 1988 when coach Vince Dooley’s last team beat them 26-3. Florida had six turnovers – four fumbles and two interceptions – and managed just 266 total yards.
It’s no coincidence that the performance came in the same week that Williams, the senior safety and de facto defensive captain, came out and said the Bulldogs were playing too soft on defense and without the same kind of passion they did the year before. Georgia returned eight starters from last season’s unit, which finished fifth in the nation in total yardage.
“Our guys were very serious about playing with intensity and playing with some physicality,” Richt said. “They had been accused of some things that guys don’t like to be accused of and I think that probably helped motivate them.”
Richt was pretty motivated, too. The Florida series has been one that has dogged his tenure as head coach. Saturday’s win was just his fourth in 12 seasons over the Gators.
A jovial Richt remained on the field for nearly 15 minutes, working his way from the north end of the stadium to the south, giving fans the thumbs-up sign, shaking hands and chatting up hundreds who had come down to the front row.
“You need to enjoy these moments,” Richt explained. “As long as the fans were going to stuck around, I was going to stick around… . When you have a victory like that against a great team and your fanbase is there, I want to stick around and enjoy it with them. I wanted our players to enjoy it and I wanted to enjoy it. We wanted to celebrate.”
Georgia did manage to generate some offense, though it was more timely than prolific. Quarterback Aaron Murray had a season-high three interceptions – all in the first-half after having only four all season – but hooked up with Malcolm Mitchell on a 45-yard touchdown pass with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter that have the Bulldogs some breathing room.
And freshman Todd Gurley provided the Bulldogs just the spark they needed in the run game. He rushed for 118 yards on 27 carries and scored on a 10-yard run, his 11th TD of the season. In all, Georgia eke out just 273 yards.
Williams, for what it’s worth, finished with six tackles and a tackle for loss. Bacarri Rambo and Damian Swann each recorded interception.
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel was sacked five times and was 14-of-26 passing. Mike Gillisee led the Gators with 77 yards rushing.
“I’ve said all season we’re not a team that has a lot of margin of error,” Muschamp said. “Six turnovers, wow, that’s hard to overcome.”
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601 comments Add your comment
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
8:10 am
Must be the Geico lizard talk’n on here or someth’n, some Dawgs must’ve got under his skin, we’ll throw him back, aint got enough meat.
Blunderdawg
October 28th, 2012
8:12 am
First!?
Jim
October 28th, 2012
8:13 am
Great job on Shawn Williams calling out the defense. Now he needs to whip Murray’s a$$ so he will call out the offense, rather than saying it’s ok boys you just don’t get ice cream this week.
GimmeAbreak
October 28th, 2012
8:13 am
WOW! on the edge of my seat the entire game! Where has this D been… and where is the O we have had? Great effort, team. Thank you Jarvis Jones and also thank you Sean Williams for having the ‘nads to call out some teammates!
I hope and pray, against my knowledge of my fellow Dawg fans, that we won’t see too much of the “look out Bama” or “we rule the SEC” bs. The Dawgs won an unbelievable game with unbelievable effort but remember that Ole Miss will not roll over and play dead nor will AU. Chizik’s only hope to stay is to beat UGA
Let’s just get ‘em as we do… 1 at a time.
I have to agree
October 28th, 2012
8:19 am
10 turnovers in one game?
BigDaddyGator
October 28th, 2012
8:20 am
That was a slobberknocker and I give UGA credit for coming out on top. Their D played well and did what they had to do. But the Gators beat the Gators yesterday…too many turnovers and some very untimely penalties.
In spite of all that, we still had a chance in the end. Enjoy this one while you can…Gators are on their way back and we’ll soon get over this little bump in the road and return to dominance over the Mutts.
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
8:25 am
Hey Dawgs will enjoy this one AWHILE we can, a L-O-N-G WHILE, ain’t noth’n said by these li’l Geico’s gonna tarnish this feast.
Louie
October 28th, 2012
8:28 am
The Red and Black, student newspaper put out a full page ad this week on why Florida is going to beat Georgia. It was very upsetting and I just finished hitting their website… I will encourage all of the Bulldog Nation to be heard and not let these idiots running the newspaper get away with this. Michael Adams, needs to shut them down. The ad was paid for by Floridia Fans..Our very own newspaper, paid for by our student fees, even threw us under the bus. I encourage everyone to call the newspaper, the alumni association, and the presidents office… Go to the Red’Black website… check it out..
RedandBlackDAWG
October 28th, 2012
8:28 am
BigDaddyGator
October 28th, 2012
8:20 am
The gators beat the gators yesterday you say? No the DAWGS beat the gators yesterday, and that is how it will reflect on the record and on the scoreboard. UGA wanted the game more, played with more intensity and found out a way to win a tough game. UGA also had freshmen playing the game as well. You need look no further than the young OL and the running backs.
It was a lot more than just a little bump in the road. You fell into a Florida sink hole.
tndawg
October 28th, 2012
8:44 am
GO DAWGS!!! A win is a win. A little sloppy from both teams but it was a game of defense. Georgia came out on top because they were the better team. I must confess, I thought Florida would win. Looks like Ga,`s Swiss cheese defense filled some holes. GO DAWGS!!!
astrouga
October 28th, 2012
8:47 am
Hmm…gator fans…what was that you were saying about your “nasty defense” and the 30+ point victory you were going to have against the dogs? LOL. UGA is 2 out of 3 in the last 3 years, and you had to beat us in OT to win the one. The tide has turned.
And please don’t even try to say that the turnover killed you. Most of your turnovers were forced by our defense. Most of our turnovers were passes that got deflected or were thrown where there was not receiver — hang that on bad decision making by our QB. UGA tried to give this one to you, but you still couldn’t do it.
Mark
October 28th, 2012
8:55 am
Great Win Dawgs
Wish the Gold Dome, Rudy, always over rated midwest version of Michigan, Nooter Dam had to play somebody worth a crap from the south!
mt
October 28th, 2012
8:55 am
DawgsforWillTurncoat, Its great to be a Gator hater
Hey Gators, whose the greatest Gator Haters? Georgia or FSU
mt
October 28th, 2012
9:07 am
Legal Eagle During the 1986 Jan Kemp trial,
Man give me a break,Is this the best you can come up with, something from nearly thirty years ago.
Georgia certainly isn’t the only program that has people that might be questionable about their “smarts”for college.You blaming Vince Dooly is very similar to Obama blaming Bush for all
of our current problems.Your obviously a disgruntled Georgia hater, probably from the Joke By Coke.
dawg4life
October 28th, 2012
9:10 am
Stat of the Night: Jarvis Jones 13 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced int, and made a grown man cry…
mt
October 28th, 2012
9:15 am
Hey Dawg fan, Dig this exuse,Gator say they were flat,Yeah after the Dawgs,knock em flat on their ass.
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
9:17 am
Yeah, all the Gator talk before the game, Here, russled up a pile of crow for ya lizards, enjoy, Gators goin’ to win by 30, sheesh! dang now you chew’n ur own tail this morn’n. You got Popped & Tagged this morn’n, Deal with it!
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
9:18 am
Popped & Tagged Jarvis Jones style!
statesborodawg
October 28th, 2012
9:18 am
Where all the haters that were on here last week. This KOOOLAID TASTE GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREATTTTTTT!!!!!. Ha ha ha Fire Richt we are going to get beat 35-7 bunch of haters
desbil123
October 28th, 2012
9:26 am
NO. ! OR 2 IN NEXT YEAR’S DRAFT .
dawgs fan 4 life
October 28th, 2012
9:26 am
were is beast of the east go dawgs to more games and were back in the dome to shock the nation and beat the tide i think we can do it play with heart is all you have to do.
mt
October 28th, 2012
9:27 am
Anybody see College Footbal Final on ESPN the world wide leader in cheerleading for the Florida Gators?The whole tone of the report on the game was how bad FL was,what was wrong with them,
Only positive about UGA was Jarvis Jones.No Post game press conference with Richt at all, only
with Turncoat. Atleast Turncoat said” they” did what they needed to do and “we” didn’t.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:28 am
Tired from a long trip home last night. Gongrats to the Dawgs….2 out of the last 2. Bragging rights for another year. HELL.
@astrouga
October 28th, 2012
8:47 am
“Hmm…gator fans…what was that you were saying about your “nasty defense”
That was a nasty Gator defense on the field last night. Georgia has one 3rd down conversion out of 10 opportunities. Three interceptions and multiple stops after multiple turnovers by the Florida offense. Georgia offense was unable to do much for most of the night. So…don’t Dawg on the Gator D. Remains one of the best in the country….and they showed it against you offense last night.\
But I do have one complaint about last nights game…….and it is a big one.
RULE: A defensive player can grab or tackle a RB while that RB is behind the line of scrimmage. On the pass to Gurley that was call pass interference against Easley…..Gurley was clearly behind the line of scrimmage when Easley hit him….and as the ball was passing his arms. That call…which does not follow the rule…..was horrible….and without it….Georgia punts and does not score that final TD. There were several phanton calls on the Florida D last night that made no sense according to the rules.
But that said……Florida did not deserve to win the game. Georgia took advantage of the few opportunities given to them……Including your wide receiver NOT fumbling the ball as he went into the end zone…..vs. the Florida receiver forgetting that you have to protect the ball….especially when you are near the end zone.
But it is the Florida offense that cost the Gators the game last night with a stupid pass at the end of the first half and that fumble at the end of the game.
In all honesty…….neither offense played well last night. But Georgia did what it had to do to win the game……and Florida did not.
So….enjoy another year of gloating and bragging…..and ranting.
But……Georgia better be ready to play Ole Miss. Their offense is not Gator offense….but neither is their D. You guys will maul Auburn.
Gongrats…….but that was a painful game to watch last night.
DogFaceblues
October 28th, 2012
9:31 am
When we beat bammy, does that put us in the title game?
Tarryuga
October 28th, 2012
9:32 am
OH MY GOD ALLMIGHTY, WE RIPPED OFF THEIR FACES!!!
Man oh man, that was FUN!!!
GO DAWGS!! Don’t let up!!!!!!!
SIC’EM!!
Mickey Mouse
October 28th, 2012
9:34 am
And here come the excuses from the Gator fans. IT WAS pass interference on Easley…end of story.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:35 am
Troy….
I don’t believe many Gator fans were saying Florida was going to win by 30. Those were mostly Dawg “fans” who hate Richt and were saying Florida was going to win by 30. I know I didn’t. I said the game was a toss up….which is was all night long. Georgia just won the coin toss at the end. Which is how most Georgia vs. Florida games are played. MOST.
Tarryuga
October 28th, 2012
9:35 am
Florida WAS overrated and they proved it!
Tarryuga
October 28th, 2012
9:35 am
Enter your comments here
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:38 am
Mickey Mouse……
No is was not…..go read the rule….and then go watch the replay. It was not. Horrible call. Not an excuse for Georgia winning. But the ref made a terrible call. A DT can put his hands on a RB behind the line of scrimmage….. no matter where the ball is….and the Gurley was behind the line…..go watch for yourself. I have watched the replay of that play several times this morning. I am sure the Gators will file a complaint to the SEC against that ref. That crew was terrrible…..for both sides.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:40 am
Tarryuga……
Florida was overrated…..and I said that on here last week. The offense is just not good enough yet.
Mickey Mouse
October 28th, 2012
9:41 am
Spin it how you want Tampa boy……cry to your jort wearing friends. Gator fans are pathetic!!!
17-9 suck it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:43 am
Dog face……
Georgia better focus on beating Ole Miss. And….NO…..Georgia WILL NOT beat Bama. Bama’s D is better than Florida D…..and Florida’s D allowed Georgia only one 3rd down conversion last night. And Bama’s offense is very good.
mt
October 28th, 2012
9:43 am
…Including your wide receiver NOT fumbling the ball as he went into the end zone
He didn’t just drop the ball, it was a forced fumble, ball stripped by Jarvis Jones.
Also Easley had his arms around Gurley,so if not pass interference, then it could have gone as holding.
mt
October 28th, 2012
9:46 am
..Georgia WILL NOT beat Bama
Oh well they said we wouldn’t beat Florida either,remember this is the SEC strange things can happen.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:46 am
Mickey Mouse….
Nothing to spin about that play. It was the wrong call based on the rule.
And…..as far as using adjectives and stupid comments about Gator fans…….I can tell you is simply this…..there will not be ONE SINGLE GATOR FAN CALLING FOR MUSCHAMP TO BE FIRED THIS WEEK. Can’t say that about Georgia fans last week and even after the win last night….based on what I have read this moring……so….who is pathetic???
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:47 am
mt…..
Florida is NOT Bama. Bama crushed a good MSU team last night…..and from what friends told me…..Bama took it easy on them. They are a machine…..and they are a step above the rest of us in the SEC…..for now.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:50 am
Mt…..
A defensive tackle can tackle a RB anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. Can’t be holding or pass interference. Go study the rule. Now…if he was passed the line….yes….but HE WASN’T. Go watch the replay. HE WASN’T. And the rule clearly stats that call should not have been made…..
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:54 am
Mt….
If Reed had not been holding the ball out like a loaf of bread….it would not have been stripped. That is what I said. That does not take anything away from the great play Jones made. He made a great play on the ball that Reed held out for him. Reed made a terrrible play. That is what I said.
I read above that “Georgia forced” all of Florida’s turnovers…..and all of Murray’s turnovers had nothing to do with the Florida D. YOU SEE AND THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND THINK.
Georgia deserved to win the game last night and Florida deserved to lose…..because Georgia made plays when they needed to make them….and Florida did not. I do not think Georgia is better than Florida. I do not think Florida is better than Georgia. Georgia was just better last night. Period. And they earned it. Enjoy your bragging rights for another year.
The Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:55 am
This is a Gator fan. Bill King is apparently blocking recognized Gator fan IP addresses on his blog. That’s manly. So, on to business:
Congratulations, Dawgs. As usual when you guys manage a win in this series, your defense overachieved as a result of emotional gimmickry. And Grantham did call an unusually good game for him.
Still, your offense performed about as expected. With the Gator’s six turnovers–three of which were unforced–and your defense’s performance, you still could have just as lost the game as won. Alabama will obliterate you if you manage to overcome the unavoidable letdown against Ole Miss. Beating them under the circumstances is by no means a given.
You should send a thank you card to the league office for your schedule this year; and for the Gator’s schedule.
Sour grapes, you say? Absolutely.
Well, I guess at least some good will come out of this: You’ll be stuck with Mark Richt long enough that Kirby Smart will probably get a head coaching job somewhere else.
flatsdawg1
October 28th, 2012
9:55 am
That was an absolute war yesterday, how many players got hurt in this game (like ten), and as many penalties for balls to the wall play from both teams. Best defensive performance by both teams I’ve seen in a while. Murray kept playing and Jarvis was an absolute beast! Should be in the Heisman talk after yesterday,but somehow the pundits won’t mention him. Sweet victory,and if the Dawgs can play like this the rest of the way, who knows? I don’t know which was harder to watch, the whole game yesterday or the five second clip of Marcus Lattimore, godspeed to you Marcus!
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
9:58 am
flastsdawg1……
Jarvis Jones is the best defensive player in the SEC…..but he has missed too much time this year to be considered for the Heisman…..but if…..and that is a big if…….Georgia beats Bama and goes to the NC game….he will get back into that picture. He was just too quick and too smart for the Gator OL last night. Glad he is headed to the NFL and the Gators do not have to play him anymore.
BigDaddyGator
October 28th, 2012
10:03 am
All you GA fans claiming you crushed the Gators need to put down your crack pipes and sober up.
FL had more passing yards, more 1st downs, won the time of possession battle, and was still in the game with 2 minutes to go in spite of 6 turnovers. GA converted exactly 1 3rd down the entire game.
True, the GA defense played great and Jarvis Jones is an absolute stud. GA won fair and square, but to act as though you dominated the game is just ridiculous. This game was a great hard fought battle that could’ve gone either way.
Can’t wait for next year.
Joey
October 28th, 2012
10:04 am
Yes, Tampa Gator, UF gave the game away with the turnovers, but how many times since 1990 have the Dawgs given the game to the Gators?
Many, many times. Almost did again with the INT after a nice drive to the 11 yd line.
Congrats to the Dawgs, particularly the D, who played with a toughness I haven’t seen in years. Congrats to Coach Grantham and Asst Coach Shawn Williams (haha) who made one of the “plays of the game” somehow stopping the runner on 4th down, just inches short of the line.
Special congrats to Coach Richt for finally beating a highly ranked team – makes me wonder what the hell happened in Columbia? Anyway he is here to stay – I’ll ease up on my criticisms, and shut up about Kirby Smart – til Richt retires anyway.
Go Dawgs!
mt
October 28th, 2012
10:04 am
You can’t wrap up and hold anybody on either side of the line of scrimmage.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:04 am
@The Gator….
That was full of sour grapes….for sure. I don’t Georgia’s defense overachieved last night. They played up to their potential….which they had not done all year. What I do not understand is why Florida continued to run the ball up the middle all last night when Georgia had 8 and 9 up on the line….especially on first and 2nd downs. That just set Driskel and the OL up for failure on 3rd down…..and Jones up for success. It is one thing to line up and run the ball…..but you need a passing game to do it……and Florida refused to pass the ball on first down for most of the night last night…..and failure to do so never losened up the Georgia D….out of the 8 and 9 man fronts. Even Kentucky came out and passed the ball on first down last week. I guess the Florida offensive coaches did not watch that film.
The Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:06 am
Agree that Jarvis Jones played a great game, but IMHO, Brent Pease probably called his worst game. Can’t imagine why we weren’t throwing more screens and quick slants on third and long situations when everybody in the stadium knew they were going to blitz.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:07 am
MT….if a receiver or RB is behind the line of scrimmage…..you can flatten his butt before the ball gets there…..YOU CAN. IT IS THE RULE. A DT can grab any RB gong through the line…as long as it is in the nutural zone….which that was. Go read the rules….then watch the replay.
mt
October 28th, 2012
10:08 am
BigDaddyGator
Were talking defense baby defense, we know our offense sputtered.Of those stats you quoted, no TD’S for Florida.
Joey
October 28th, 2012
10:09 am
BigDaddyGator, come on, you sound like a Techie with that “more passing yards” crap – how about this – UGA had more total yards, and most important, more points.
And I’m sure you Gators never bragged when UGA out-gained UF, but lost – most recently in OT in 2010.