‘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.”
GEORGIA-FLORIDA GAME COVERAGE
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601 comments Add your comment
xbot
October 27th, 2012
10:55 pm
Bottom line, UF was exposed as a team with a good defense, but an average to below average offense that couldn’t hold onto the ball when hit in the mouth.
Realism
October 27th, 2012
10:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Left Coast Dawg
October 27th, 2012
10:56 pm
How do you have a WR with 345 yards receiving and still lose a game?
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
10:56 pm
Go Gaytors,
Nothing slur about it. Just because I put Gay in something doesn’t make it a slur. Your team is a slur on the SEC, though. Enjoy…
Prostate Cancer - do you know anyone just diagnosed?
October 27th, 2012
11:01 pm
I was just diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. I am not getting treatment because my genetic results came back that my cancer was slow growing. Thank you Myriad Genetics for developing this test. No need for Surgery or Radiation.
WDE
October 27th, 2012
11:03 pm
For the record the saddest thing I’ve seen in college ball in a long time was seeing Lattimore injured .as a dog fan he has been a torn in our side but what a great player..truly hope he can come back from this issue, and if anyone can he has proven he can
Rick James
October 27th, 2012
11:03 pm
@Go Gators
Also, the horse collar that led to Patton’s broken arm was as blatant a call as I’ve seen in years.
—————————————————————————————————————————
The replay showed clearly that it was not a horse collar tackle.I thought a penalty would be called because he grabbed Patton high like cowboys bulldog cows in a rodeo.Florida has been playing at a high level all season and was due to come out flat and today was the day.You lost,take it like a man.
mt
October 27th, 2012
11:04 pm
Shawn Williams won this game. Defense played up to potential.
GreatDawg36
October 27th, 2012
11:06 pm
I am a huge georgia fan but aaron murray still sucks!!! I will be glad when he’s gone!!!!!
av8rdawg
October 27th, 2012
11:06 pm
Yes we won. We Played with much greater intensity that I love ; however , Can we get some control of the team CMR on the penalty situation. It seems we always seem to lead the nation in personal fouls…WHY ? It’s Ridiculous…
mt
October 27th, 2012
11:07 pm
The Dawgs 49-40-2
WDE
October 27th, 2012
11:07 pm
@GreatDawg36 …I call BS
umyboyBLUE17
October 27th, 2012
11:07 pm
A Horse collar tackle is tackling by grabbing the inside of the shoulder pads there is no rule against tackling around a ball carriers neck, perfectly legal. when the uf d lineman held TG on the attemped screen pass that was a legit call a defender can’t hold anywhere on the field behind the line of scrimmage or otherwise. the refs gave the dawgs nothing, the gators running game was stuffed all day that is why the gators were beaten
GreatDawg36
October 27th, 2012
11:08 pm
Mark Richt is still on the hot seat , in my opinion
Alphare
October 27th, 2012
11:10 pm
UGA’s D looks all mighty against a bad offense with a freshman QB.
Murray looks even worse than that freshman. I was thinking Murray was going to personally hand over the win to FL.
I guess the hurricane bounced the ball to UGA’s favor.
Thomas
October 27th, 2012
11:12 pm
Another good year to tell those Florida Fans they lost and we won! Thanks UGA for giving me the right to brag on Monday morning! GO DAWGS!
mt
October 27th, 2012
11:13 pm
It was a good win, it would have been a better win, if the offense would have played as well as the defense. 3 INT by AM not a lot of third down conversions, but its a win over them Gators, I live in So Ga and I get tired of their gloating, two wins in a row baby will help quite it down some.
rxdawg
October 27th, 2012
11:14 pm
GreatDawg36……Amen brother! Lets see how the rest of the season plays out for the dawgs. As a dawg fan, I am always looking for the next great dissapointment from CMR. I sincerely hope he proves me wrong. GO DAWGS!
WDE
October 27th, 2012
11:15 pm
@GreatDawg36 we don’t care what you and the rest of the troll village think..
slydog
October 27th, 2012
11:18 pm
I knew the wussies would be happy with this win, but it validates none of what they were saying or prognosticating:
This does not validate Mark Richt and his coaching staff as a whole
This win does not validate Mike BoBo
This win does not validate Aaron Murray
Todd Grantham is the only individual whose coaching method was validated today.
This does nothing to change my mind that Mark Richt should lose his job, BoBo can’t call an offensive game against any opponent of substance, and Aaron Murray is an average quarterback. He wasn’t too hyper today; he just sucked and almost gave the game away. Good game for the Bulldawgs and the Dawg Nation and program as a whole. But CMR lovers, you can’t point to one thing where he, his OC, and his QB had anything to do with this ictory today but had everything to do with almost costing them the game. FACTS!!!
WDE
October 27th, 2012
11:18 pm
Hey trolls and morons you do understand we just beat the no. 2 team in the nation….Go Dogs !
mt
October 27th, 2012
11:18 pm
@ GreatDawg36
Mark Richt is still on the hot seat , in my opinion
I agree
I told my cronies at my morning coffee club,who BTW gave the Dawgs no chance, that if Georgia won
that I would not say anything negative about Richt for a week.The Dawgs won and Im glad.
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:19 pm
I will again be sitting on the 50 @ the SECCG. I don’t expect the Dawgs to win this one either. Our QB is not very good. Our D…could be really good. The only thing we would need to do is shut down Alabama… Are you kidding? They have a REAL coach. They don’t make mistakes. I would once again LOVE to see UGA win that game but I don’t fool myself. We’ve had a good year. We’ll probably end up in the top 10 but DANG I would like to see a National Championship…
Incuplex
October 27th, 2012
11:22 pm
Gets this in your head Willy,
You are now 0-6 in this game.
0-6
Even Ray Goff won this game as both a player and coach.
Willy is 0-6.
0-6
mt
October 27th, 2012
11:23 pm
slydog
Shawn Williams was validated,however it is the coaching staff to do what Williams accomphlished,
i am glad he stood up and got a fire lit, if he didn’t I suppose we would have seen the same team we did last week at Kentucky.
SOSDD
October 27th, 2012
11:23 pm
You guys crack me up….you’ll all be back on here next week if we wet the bed, or the week after that…or certainly once Alabama blows us off the field–calling for Richt’s head all over again…man, I love the GA Bulldogs, and the drama that goes with it–but great win, let’s enjoy it…and we want threaten to hang Mark Richt et al for AT LEAST one more week!!!
jonkard dawg
October 27th, 2012
11:24 pm
Don’t get me wrong Fla. played great defense all day long that is why they got 3 intercepts from Arron Murray, but our defense return the favor just that.
Go Dawgs.
Hairy Dwag
October 27th, 2012
11:25 pm
Wow ! My boy’s showed tonight I am proud of each and every one of them. Tonight showed what ” Team” really means. Aaron Murray carried this team when we had no heart or plan. Tonight.( and it was a beautiful night ) our team acheived “team status”. Aaron had a tough night but OUR team refused to lose. Be proud Dawg Nation!
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 27th, 2012
11:26 pm
GreatDawg36….Agreed here too. Much depends on how this team responds after this. CMR seems to get the perfect win at the perfect time to bail him out. I’m all for him to succeed but I want so see some consitantsy before I’m convinced…..Seems as though we’re just good enough to get by, yet not bad enough to fire a coach, yet I still think this sleeping giant can be so much more. This combination is a recipe for “almost”…..With that being said, I’m proud of my Dawgs and am celebrating this victory. They better be emotionaly ready next week or we’ll be talking “fire the coach again”….slippery slope I say
Mark
October 27th, 2012
11:27 pm
@go gaytor, read the rules you bitter dim wit…It was NOT a horse collar…..YOU and them lost. Get over it.
AFDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:29 pm
Go Gators — I don’t think I’ve seen so many excuses. Anyway, it wasn’t a horse collar — he had him by the jersey which is legal. By the way, the Dawgs played physical all night and beat up the gators. UGA out muscled the Gators tonight and it was the difference in the game.
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 27th, 2012
11:30 pm
I hate to admit it but look at the hated Notre Dame if you want to see what the right coaching change can make……wow, it pains me to say that….
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:33 pm
Hey Dawg fans…what was the final score from this year’s GA/FL game?
GatorsforRicht
October 27th, 2012
11:33 pm
Oh well, at least I can be glad that even if Georgia wins out they will not make it to the NC game. Between Notre Dame, Oregon, and K State, two will go undefeated so the dogs get left out even if they beat Bama, which won’t happen anyway. You got lucky today, we were flat but we will take back over soon enough.
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 27th, 2012
11:33 pm
AFDawg, forgot to add that too!….We finally out physicalled a team outside Vandy tonight and I was proud to see it!…I wasn’t sure they had it in them and it was on both sides of the ball too!
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:37 pm
GatorsforRicht,
You can claim whatever victory you want. You lost for the 2nd year in a row. FL won’t make it to the SECCG. Have a good night.
Shawn Williams, Captain 2012 Dogs
October 27th, 2012
11:37 pm
Been happy about all week about 36 and his comments. It seems to have worked. Now, somehow, someway we have to calm Aaron down during big games. If not for the D, AM could have lost the game with his mistakes. Finally, can we not get our guys to realize, it’s not the instigator, it’s the
one who reacts to a taunt that gets the penalty. Our continued lack of discipline is just bizarre.
BUT…great win. Thanks Dawgs!!!
GatorsforRicht
October 27th, 2012
11:40 pm
Florida will still finish the year ranked ahead of Ga, after you get blown out by Bama and lose your bowl you drop out of the top 10
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Gators for Richt. You do realize your gators will still be ranked BELOW the Dawgs this years no matter what happens. You’ll get a bowl invitation to the Peach Bowl or the Capital One bowl. UGA just beat the reptiles. Live with it for the next 12 months. I love it… you ,lost ….again.
jw
October 27th, 2012
11:44 pm
Will you DawgNation wishy washers please stop riding your coach – you’ve got a good one – better than Sir Vincent of Dooley at this stage of his coaching career.
How about chilling out and enjoy this ride? – you guys sure do create a lot of unwarranted stress at your institute of football excellence.
Bet the bumble bees would love to have your coach right now!!!!!!!!!!!!
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:47 pm
Gators for Richt, also… do us a a favor. Don’t lose to FL State again this year. It’s really embarrassing to see an SEC team lose to an ACC team.
To the Bulldawg Nation
October 27th, 2012
11:49 pm
You will want your coach to be right back in the hot seat next weekend when you overlook — and lose — to an average Ole Miss team. Stop getting so pumped up about this win. You better wait a little bit before you get back on the bandwagon.
Shawn Williams, Captain 2012 Dogs
October 27th, 2012
11:50 pm
Rick,
A horse collar is grabbing the back of the jersey at the neck, as if your wife eater shirt was grabbed on
the label at the back of the neck. Your guys arms was broken by a tackle around the neck, more of a
running bulldog type move you and your gator boys might see at the Sunday WWE matches.
Shawn Williams, Captain 2012 Dogs
October 27th, 2012
11:51 pm
Enter your comments hereOf course, I meant wife BEATER shirt…
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 27th, 2012
11:51 pm
WITH ALL SAID TODAY, TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA FANS, I AM SADDENED BY THE INJURY TO THEIR SPECIAL PLAYER MARCUS LATTIMORE. HE IS A GREAT TALENT AND I PRAY FOR HIS RECOVERY. I CAN ALSO PUT MY ALLEGIANCES ASIDE AND SAY I’M PROUD OF THE WHAT THE UT PLAYERS DID IN COMING TO HIS SIDE! KUDO’S TO UT AND GODSPEED TO LATTIMORE!
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:52 pm
To the Bulldawg Nation,
You mus be a Gator. You won’t even post your Team on your post. What a joke! Ole Miss? For Homecoming? Wow… how bad would FL look if that happened?
BullyDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:54 pm
fuck u bulldawg naysayeres. come on bitches………..
GDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:56 pm
BullyDawg,
YOu don’t kiss your mother with that mouth do you? that is ridiculous.
marcus lattimore
October 27th, 2012
11:56 pm
dang, i really suck
WDE
October 27th, 2012
11:57 pm
@To the Bulldawg Nation just shut up ur making yourself look silly