‘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
The Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:09 am
Yes, @Tampa Gator, I don’t understand why we don’t throw more on first down. If you watch Alabama’s offense, they throw on first down so much it’s almost predictable. Maybe we’ll see more of that next season when we have Kelvin Taylor for second down.
mt
October 28th, 2012
10:09 am
YOU CAN. IT IS THE RULE. A DT can grab any RB
Grab, he wrapped him up.
mt
October 28th, 2012
10:11 am
Grab, he wrapped him up. Before the ball got there.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:12 am
The Gator…..
It is obvious to me that Driskel had not adapted (he played shotgun all through HS) well to playing under center. His 3, 5, and 7 step drops are not smooth…..and as a result…..he takes way too long to set up and look downfield for receivers. Sacks are the result….especially when people like Jarvis Jones is blitzing. Driskel has a lot of work to do. I still think Brissett may be bettter suited for this offense…..but obviously the Gator coaches do not. But Driskel needs to get better and faster at setting up in the pocket when he drops from the center. He is much more comforable when he throws out of the shotgun…..as in that last drive when he was throwing on first down from the pocket and was picking Georgia apart. When Florida did not do that more in the game is completely beyond me.
gomdawg
October 28th, 2012
10:13 am
TWO GREAT TEAM WITH GREAT DEFENSES WOW WHAT A GAME TURN OVERS WINS GAMES AND GEORGIA CAME UP WITH THE ONES THAT COUNTED . GO DAWGS OLE MISS NEXT
BigDaddyGator
October 28th, 2012
10:14 am
MT, no argument from me on that…GA held us out of the end zone and deserved the win the game. But they certainly didn’t dominate. If Jarvis Jones was wearing orange and blue I’m willing to bet the Gators come out on top.
BigDaddyGator
October 28th, 2012
10:16 am
Joey, my only point was that it was a tight game that could’ve gone either way. I was speaking to some of the more delusional fans on this blog who act like UGA dominated.
Props to UGA…they deserved the win.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:19 am
MT……
HERE IS THE RULE>>>>>READ IT.
“It is pass interference by either team when any player movement beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders the progress of an eligible player of such player’s opportunity to catch the ball.”
GURLEY WAS NOT BEYOND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. WATCH THE REPLAY. ENOUGH.
Layinlow
October 28th, 2012
10:20 am
Great win no doubt. It’s a shame that it takes Richt’s job being on the line in order for us to win a big game. I would be careful not to start guzzling the kool aid just yet. Aaron Murray is an absolute train wreck at QB and we would have lost that game because of him if it wasn’t for our defense creating those big turnovers. And let’s be real here, UF’s offense is nothing to write home about. Now I too am beggining to wonder if bobo is really the problem with the offense. Murray is terrile in big games and bobo probably runs the ball on 3rd long because it’s better than letting the turnover machine loose. Bama is going to killl us.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:20 am
gomdawg…..
You are obviously an intelligent thinking Dawg fan. Welcome aboard.
flatsdawg1
October 28th, 2012
10:22 am
Joey, I think Assistant coach Shawn Williams just got hired this past week which is the biggest reason Dawgs won honestly! Players shouldn’t have to coach honestly.Jarvis was the real catalyst and leader of the defense yesterday since he was playing with a bum ankle and bad groin, and the rest of the D showed they had balls as a result! lol Tampa Gator ,I agree and it is a big if, Bama rocked a good Miss St. team and as usual are a team with no weaknesses. After that game, the way they played on D, the question as a Dawg fan who has watched this D lay an egg the past month leading up to yesterday, this Ole Miss team presents areal challenge honestly. I mean you have two teams, one will be hungry and playing well, (Ole Miss) one pretty desperate(Auburn), so you Gators still have some hope there.
Salty Dawg
October 28th, 2012
10:23 am
@BigDaddyGator
I would agree that as a whole it was a close game, but I would also say that the GA “D” did, in fact, dominate. The only reason it was close is our offense played terrible and Murray again showed that he can’t manage big games. Of course, this was the defense I was anticipating all year and it took someone slapping them in the face to get them fired up. Somebody else needs to call them out each week, because the coaching staff sure doesn’t seem to be able to fire them up.
Fla alum
October 28th, 2012
10:24 am
1 2 3 4 5 that them gator got dat arse whipped
harold
October 28th, 2012
10:24 am
NOW IT IS UGA vs. BAMA TO SEE WHO PLAYS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. GO UGA.
mt
October 28th, 2012
10:25 am
It is pass interference…
As I said if not pass interference then holding.
You know good and well you can not wrap up a player, impede his movement ,without him ALREADY
have the ball in his possession.
Dawg_Mike
October 28th, 2012
10:26 am
Assistant Coach Shawn Williams:
One more assignment—-Get all the players together in the room and ask them to file by you one at a time. Proceed to get in their faces about trash talking after the whistle. This way we get everyone covered.
You may skip 29, since the next time he talks ___ will be the first.
Fla alum
October 28th, 2012
10:28 am
did anyone really think fla was that good?enough already. Musschump is a whining joke.
Dawg_Mike
October 28th, 2012
10:28 am
If UGA whips Ole Miss and the train wreck on the Plains and gets the prize of playing Bama thats cool. If they beat Bama and K State, Oregon and ND are still undefeated no way UGA goes to NC game. This sure would be the ideal year for the 4 team playoff………….just sayin.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:29 am
For you Dawg fans who think Georgia dominated Florida last night. READ:THINK:REASON
First downs – FLorida 15, Georgia 14
3rd down conversions – Florida 7 out of 16 Georgia 1 out of 10
Total yards – Florida 266 Georgia 273
Passing – Driskel 16-29-2 for 185 yards Murray 12-25-3 for 150 yards
Rushing – Florida 67 Georgia 124
Penalties – Florida 10-95 Georgia 14-132
Turnovers – Florida 6 Georgia 3
Time of possession – Florida 33.41 Georgia 26.19 (even with those 6 turnovers)
What stands out:
All the penalties called by those refs….some of them phantom on both sides.
All the turnovers by the Gators….some forced (3) and some not (3).
Florida last the turnover battle…..and therefore….the game.
Joey
October 28th, 2012
10:32 am
That’s right BigDaddy, it coulda gone either way. Who knows what would happen if we played again?
For that matter, who knows what could happen if we could play SC again, with the D playing as if they cared?
What’s funny (not really) is if UGA wins its last 2 SEC games, and UF wins out, y’all will probably get the Sugar Bowl. I cannot see LSU or us even slowing down Bama, so the Sugar would take a 11-1 UF over a 11-2 UGA.
But lots of football to be played – I hope UF crushes FSU this year – as easy as our schedule is this season, theirs is even easier. The ACC is really bad this season.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:33 am
mt….
I have come to the conclusion that you CANNOT READ. I posted the rule for you. READ IT. They did not call holding. They called pass interference. And you cannot hold behind the line of scrimmage either….if you are on defense. You can blow anyone up behind the line…if you are on defense. Did you ever play football?
North by Southeast
October 28th, 2012
10:36 am
I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong about this one. I didn’t think Ga. had a chance with their sloppy play. It just so happens that Fla. were even sloppier. Seriously, it’s not often that a team can give up 3 INTs, go 1 for 10 on 3rd down, commit 132 yrds. in penalties and still win against the #2 team at this stage in the season. Congrats to Ga. on bumbling your way through the Overrated Bowl.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:36 am
Fla alum…..
If Florida is “not that good”…..then neither is Georgia….because they are about as equal as you can get on the football field.
Joey
October 28th, 2012
10:37 am
Tampa: TD’s – Georgia 2 Florida 0
suck it gaytors
October 28th, 2012
10:39 am
Dawgs rocked the house yesterday!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:42 am
Joey…..
Yep….Murray did not throw a stupid interception in the end zone and your wide receiver did not fumble to ball going into the end zone. Florida had multiple opportunities to score TDs…..but they did not. You are right about that. And Georgia did not lay the ball on the ground inside the 20 for Florida either. Easy to score a TD from there. Not so easy to score from the other 20….ask your QB.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:44 am
Anyway…..
Wait till next year for the Georgia vs. Florida game. Gators getting a lot more back than Georgia is. And a lot more coming in right now. Future is bright for the Gators…..and maybe even this year….if Ole Miss can help the Gators out.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:47 am
……I am saying…..maybe the Gators can back their way in as Georgia did last year. But…then again…..Georgia can earn their way in by beating their only remaining challenge in the SEC next week….in Ole Miss. And Ole Miss’ offense is good. Not so good on D. Could be a high scoring game….but the Dawgs have them at home.
But what happens if Ole Miss wins?????? What happens then?????
FIRE RICHT….FIRE BOBO……FIRE GRANTHAN……FIRE MCGARITY. Yep….I can hear it now.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:49 am
Enough said…….enough your win…….only to you Dawg fans who did not want to fire your coach last week….and bragging rights for another year. Your team earned that right for you.
BUT…..GO GATORS….it ain’t over til it’s over.
Dog4Life
October 28th, 2012
10:51 am
We won, Go Dawgs–that is all I got to say. We still have issues to work on, but we just have to focus on one game at a time. Ol Miss, then Auburn, the Ga so, then Tech, and then whoever in the Ga Dome.
I cannot explain Murray or the once again inability of the O to sustain a drive at the end–thank God for penalties whether legitimate or not (there was no true domination of either offense). We almost gave the ball back to Fla with 1:57 secs and a weak punter–so decent field position–having reminded everyone of this blatant commonality called OC and QB, I still believe for whatever reason the D would not be denied–Get ready for Ol Miss and let’s go–to follow up on a comment above I hope UF beats Fla St by 40 and I hope we beat Au and tech by 40. Boy has karma not come down hard on Lowder and the Auburn–couldn’t happen to a better group of scammers:)
suck it gaytors
October 28th, 2012
10:52 am
POOR TAMPA GAYTOR TRYING TO BURN UP THE GA BLOGS THIS AM…….TOO DAMN FUNNY…….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dog4Life
October 28th, 2012
10:54 am
Forgot to say, please forgive my over cautious harbinger of doom–but as Munson used to say, they are bigger, faster, more all Americans etc … how will we compete with them. Dooley was and remains correct a healthy air of humility will help keep the Dawgs focused on the run to Atlanta–if we get cocky and entitled bad things can happen–Ol Miss isn’t that bad and God knows the scammer is trying to save his job on the plains. Go Dawgs (one game at a time).
sportsmom
October 28th, 2012
10:54 am
I think this Georgia team, from the headcoach on down, are nothing but a bunch of “street thugs”. The arrogance that Richt shows on the sidelines and in interviews makes me sick. He needs to head on up to D.C. and see if he can get on in this administration.
DawgBreath
October 28th, 2012
10:54 am
To all the GA naysayers from last week…..SCREW YOU YA BIATCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgBreath
October 28th, 2012
10:55 am
HEY SPORTSMOM,
DONT WATCH IT IF YA DONT LIKE IT……DAWGS ROCKED
woofie
October 28th, 2012
10:57 am
Amen DawgBreath!
The Gator
October 28th, 2012
10:59 am
@mt and @TampaGator, I too was curious about the fatal attempted screen pass holding call. There are actually two relevant NCAA rules that govern this particular play. First,
SECTION 3. Forward Pass
Contact Interference
ARTICLE 9.
a. Either Team A or Team B legally may interfere with opponents behind the neutral zone.
d. Pass interference rules apply only during a down in which a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone.
Based upon this rule, there was no foul. Unfortunately though,
SECTION 3. Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms
Use of Hands or Arms by Defense
ARTICLE 4.
b. Defensive players may not use hands and arms to tackle, hold or otherwise illegally obstruct an opponent other than a runner.
So, even though read option running backs get tackled all the time and no foul is called (probably because the offense is attempting to fool the defense into thinking the running back has the ball), the official’s call was correct… You can’t tackle a running back who clearly does not have the ball.
FLs QB Really Sux
October 28th, 2012
10:59 am
His talent level is about equal to an 8th grader
FLs QB Really Sux
October 28th, 2012
11:01 am
Looks like Lee Corso & Kirk Herbstreit are eating crow today too!!!LMAO
Joey
October 28th, 2012
11:02 am
TG, don’t count me among those who want Richt fired – I wrote yesterday morning that Richt deserves to leave on his own terms.
And I’m not gloating about the game – I’ve got too many Gators for friends to do that. It was 2 excellent D’s going at it, with our offense making fewer turnovers. Unusual for y’all – weren’t the Gators +11 on the turnover/take-away ratio?
Back to Richt, maybe he wins the SEC this season and retires – it would be good timing – what with that nasty schedule next year . . .
Jim Day
October 28th, 2012
11:05 am
Jarvis Jones was awesome yesterday. Smack mouth football. The dawgs chewed the Gators up. WOW !! Next????
Vampire Bill
October 28th, 2012
11:05 am
I admit I was wrong in calling for the gators to DESTROY the dawgs. Still a lot of questions about how good the dawgs are but it was a good win. Knock off the Personal fouls though, that’s bush league at any level.
Rainbow Tide Pride
October 28th, 2012
11:07 am
CMR owns Wilt Muschump!
Joey
October 28th, 2012
11:07 am
FLs QB, Herbstreit was really complimentary towards UGA early yesterday on the Game Day show – and said the Dawgs had the talent to beat UF.
I was kinda shocked. I expect the usual from him if UGA should keep winning.
I’m definitely not a Koolaid drinker, but wouldn’t it be something if UGA could figure out a way to win the East, and somehow (longshot I know) beat Bama, and play an old, one-time foe for the BCS Title?
Notre Dame . . .
Mark
October 28th, 2012
11:08 am
Tampa Gator, not sure but I believe it was a holding call.
The Gator
October 28th, 2012
11:14 am
@Joey, your comment about the bowl scenario would be funny if it turns out… Gators in the Sugar at 11-1 and Dawgs in the Capital One at 11-2 after getting blown out by Bama. And if they get there, they will be blown out by Bama.
DawgNation
October 28th, 2012
11:16 am
Tampa gator,
I agree with your interpretation of the pass interference call. The call should have been defensive holding. I reference the rule “Use of Hands or Arms by Defense Artical 4b” which reads “Defensive players may not use hands and arms to tackle, hold or otherwise illegally obstruct an opponent other than a runner.” At the time of the obvious hold Gurley did not have the ball and thus was not a runner and was obstructed. It is also obvious that Gurley was not engaged in blocking the defender which would have made the use of hands and arms to lift or move him legal. The referee did not in my opinion make the correct call but the infraction was made and the penalty yardage would have been the same. This information can be found on page 92 of the NCAA Football 2011 and 2012 Rules and Interpretations. They loss not because of this in any case so please don’t make excuses.
Go Dogs!!
JvilleDawg
October 28th, 2012
11:27 am
Being a man of my word, I’d like to publicly apologize to Coach Mark Richt. Outstanding job getting the Dawgs ready to play. Huge win on so many levels. Now use the rest of the light schedule to get them ready for Bama!
Oh and gator fans I think you can put your 18-4 crap to rest. If you want to use partial series record, then let’s go with 2-0!!! Richt owned Muschamp when he was D-coord at LSU and Auburn and now looks like he’s gonna own him at UF. Get ready we’re about to rip off a few in a row of our own.
Go Dawgs!!!!
gomdawg
October 28th, 2012
11:31 am
SIMPLE A VERY GOOD GAME SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE AND THE OTHER TEAM WINS .
BAD CALLS ON BOTH TEAMS. THE TEAM THAT CAPITOLIZED ON THE MISTAKES WON.
GO DAWGS LET’S BEAT OLE MISS
JvilleDawg
October 28th, 2012
11:32 am
@the Gator are you REALLY that much of a douche that you can’t just accept your team got punked? Regardless of what happens Sugar Bowl or not, You’ve got 364 days to live with the fact that your team got manhandled. deal with it.
Besides your dreams of a Sugar Bowl birth die against FSU. If you guys think you’re gonna win that game your crazy.
The arrogance of gator fans never ceases to amaze me.