‘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
dawgsfan05
October 28th, 2012
12:50 am
BullyDawg
I really dont find a player on any team suffering the kind of injury that Marcus Lattimore suffered today a laughing manner. It is obvious you have never stepped on the field and played whether being rec ball, hs, college or so on.
Bamafan
October 28th, 2012
12:52 am
Dawgs are for real.. florida had their chance. GA vs Bama in the dome!!
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:53 am
Enter your comments here
Bamafan
October 28th, 2012
12:54 am
SC is not in it. any questions??
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:54 am
Thanks Jarvis.
Gators Choked
October 28th, 2012
12:56 am
Man I am bummed as a gator fan. dawgs did good. congrats
Marcus Lattimore will make a good cab driver
October 28th, 2012
12:58 am
Dawgs RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SC is out of it
October 28th, 2012
1:00 am
thats good marcus!!
Cobb Dawg
October 28th, 2012
1:07 am
East Cobb 12, maybe you can watch us play for the SEC championship. Since USCe will never get there.
ugaJWhiskey
October 28th, 2012
1:16 am
I remember last week, Georgia hateroade fans saying Mark Richt should yell crazy like Muschump does in his games to motivate players. Do they still think that now?
LakeDawg
October 28th, 2012
2:03 am
Finally, the Dawgs play with some passion and intensity. Great win. Biggest in 7 years.
yarddawg
October 28th, 2012
2:20 am
Okay, truth be told, I let the Dawgs out!
Real Dawg Fan
October 28th, 2012
2:49 am
How about the onside kick that wasn’t.? That was a great call at a great time, they were no where ready for that.
No haters tonight…..GO DAWGS
‘Hurricane Jarvis’ sweeps through Florida’s offense for 17-9 Georgia win – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | football.sportreports.tk
October 28th, 2012
3:38 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Techfan
October 28th, 2012
3:45 am
For the first time in my life, I was actuallly bored watching a college football game. I mentioned it to my wife and she said the same thing. If there ever was a game tht neither team deserved to win, this was it. So the team with the weakest SEC schedule will probably win the East. Go figure.
RJM1
October 28th, 2012
3:48 am
Well done, Dawgs!
And accolades to Shawn Williams, who ignited a fire in this team that had been missing for wayyyyy too long!
st simons
October 28th, 2012
4:15 am
(((((((((((( 14 times for 132 yards )))))))))))) hahahahahahahaha
HungHeavyNHuge/Bama
October 28th, 2012
4:26 am
I wonder do the Dawgs feel that after seeing all their descrepancies,do they really think they have a chance vs. Bama? Bama Offense can’t be stopped and Bama’s D can stop Georgia’s. Do u think there’s a possibility to beat Bama with no QB? Nitwits,they STOP THE RUN WITH 7 MEN!!!! Nobody on Georgia football team requires a double team,nor can beat Bama DB’s one on one as they destroy opposition QBs and RBs. Gurshall won’t see 20 carries combined,due to Bama’s scoring and the need to score. Their safeties basically play Centerfield and guard against deep balls and screen plays. Nobody runs on Bama,so what make’s Georgia think that they can?
Does Georgia have an elite O-Line? Does Georgia have elite WR’s? Does Georgia have elite D-Line? Does Georgia have elite DB’s (other than Rambo and how can either him or Williams come up to stop the run when McCarron (who doesn’t throw picks) throws over the top?)?
Bama’s O-Line is the best in Football,capable RB’s,a stable of playmaking WR’s,and a QB that doesn’t make mistakes. They’re led and will be prepared by the Greatest Coaches in Football and have the squad has Championship pedigree. Dawgs are overmatched in everyway possible,ur classic David vs. Goliath match-up….hopefully Richt got a huge slingshot,cuz by the look of things…He surely do not.
Dawg Fan Serving Overseas
October 28th, 2012
4:46 am
Just as I said to everyone that was questioning our team and coaches earlier in the week – they still had to play the game. We went out and played our butts off! We just cannot let the next two games be trap games for us. We play defense like we did today over the next three games we can win. Regardless of Murray & Co. ….. We control our future…. Go get em’ Dawgs!
Bobo is Royalty
October 28th, 2012
5:39 am
Hate to say it but Bobo may not be our problem…I’ve been on his back for 3 years but now I’ve figured it out! It’s a Aaron Murray problem. Let’s hope he doesn’t want to come back next year.
Hairy Dawg
October 28th, 2012
6:04 am
I told yall that Dawgs would whip Gaytors. Muschump dumps in his pants for big games. Coach Richt knows how to beat Muschump like he a Zook. Now that we won East and shows how to own it. We need to start scouting Bammer cause that will be a war.
Go Dawgs!
Neutral
October 28th, 2012
6:50 am
UGa just accomplished something that Les
Miles and Steve Spurrier failed to do this season.
Where are all the NEGATIVE bloggers now? Go Dawgs!
RedandBlackDAWG
October 28th, 2012
6:55 am
Techfan
October 28th, 2012
3:45 am
If you were bored watching the UGA-UF game you must have been comatose watching GT get wiped out then. Maybe UGA can peak your excitement a little when your sorry team comes to Athens in a few weeks and plays a team from a real conference. It is pretty bad when a fan of another team comments about a game, that GT can’t even imagine being competitive in and knowing that your team still has to play this boring old UGA team in a few weeks.
GatorsforRicht
October 28th, 2012
7:03 am
Wonder how much Richt and the dogs paid the refs, they were getting gifts all day. We could not beat the dogs and them both, too bad the dogs had to cheat to win.
dale morphy
October 28th, 2012
7:13 am
I really don’t get those saying we were “lucky” to win this game. I thought the Dawgs won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball and special teams was a tie. We did lose in the arena of penalties, but don’t tell me the refs “gave” us the game with that iffy holding call on the game winning drive: #1 it WAS holding, he got there before the ball did, #2 there were several eggregious holding calls against the Gators that the refs no-called in the 4th quarter, go back and watch. As I saw it, it was a close game and the better team prevailed. Georgia seemed well prepared and well motivated, Kudos to the coaches and team leaders on this one. I thought Bobo called a good but not great game: good mix of run and pass, some different looks at the line to throw off the blitz.
Murray was simply horrible, especially since his line manned up and gave him time to throw. Go back and watch the game, his problem was his mechanics. He never seemed to get his shoulders right and his feet set, it was like he was expecting Clowney to clobber him at any time again: as a result he ended up throwing alot of passes from this weird pseudo side arm angle, aka Tony Romo, with the same terrible results. His form has to be perfect to achieve good results due to his tiny hands. He also struggled throwing the ball over the middle, probably because he couldn’t see over the line of scrimmage. Credit the coaching staff for realizing what was going on and dialing up out routes and timing routes so Murray could have a chance. Looking down the road, if UGA does end up playing Bama in the ATL, Bobo MUST design roll out plays for Murray, or it will be USC all over again.
Go Dawgs!
tell me again
October 28th, 2012
7:21 am
I really like my lizard skin slippers this morning – compliments of the UGA D! Aaron Murray – get out the check book and buy those boys steak and shrimp at the local Outback – they saved your bacon! But, I will not be totally negativer – last week you saved their bacon……it’s a team effort! GO DAWGS!
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:22 am
GatorsforRicht; I’m out try’n tofill my quota, gator hunt’n sure is sweet tonight boys, there were no zebras throw’n a flag at me tagg’n another gator. I need JJ( Jarvis) as my shooter, oh my, I see GfR on my bait line, Tag’em JJ! Love me some gator hunt’n.
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:27 am
We sure wasn’t hunt’n “soft” on them gators, naw, my shooter JJ was tagg’n em’ right & left, never seen a gator tuck that long tail between his leggs while try’n to crawl away, JJ mashed on ‘em though, got some good eat’n on them lizards tonight!
tell me again
October 28th, 2012
7:27 am
The silence from the Gaytard and Tech posters is deafening – shhhhhhhhh LOL Woo Hoo! It’s a Dawg morning! I’m going to forget who did or didn’t do what and whether or not Richt is all there or half way out and just enjoy the fact that for one, glorious night we beat the despised Gators and finally got it done the way it SHOULD be done – GOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:32 am
All U Dawg Posters are welcome to have some Gator Jerkey on me, I’m fry’n “em up right now, my man JJ brought all heart to the battle & russled up some good gator meat, ya’ll like some? plenty to go around.
tell me again
October 28th, 2012
7:32 am
Gators for Richt – just eat your due desserts and shut up – give us our due for the win – we whipped your butts coming and going. If you can’t be a classy loser then it just proves your not a fan, you’re just a jerk. You can run your mouth before the game all you want, but when it comes time to eat crow – pull up a chair and get your big spoon out because it’s year two of the Muschamp reign and WE WANT YOU TO KEEP MUSCHAMP FOR LIFE LOL — DAWGS FOR MUSCHAMP!!!!!
Louie
October 28th, 2012
7:35 am
What time is it in Gainesville?……It’s 9:17…..LOL
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:36 am
@tell me again(Tma)I’ll make you a pair of those Lizard skin slippers my man, I’ll have Liz sow ‘em up for ya Bud, & a compimentary bag of gator Jerky.
Louie
October 28th, 2012
7:37 am
Anybody hear about a full page ad put in the Red and Black this week?
BAND WAGON BOBBY
October 28th, 2012
7:40 am
LET ME GET SOME OF THAT CROW!!! WE LITERALLY BEAT THE HELL OUT OF UF!! BUT CAN WE SHOW UGAIN NEXT WEEK?
tell me again
October 28th, 2012
7:40 am
Tech Fan – what are those things lying all over the field? Are those body parts off of your team after getting SKANKED by BYU??? LOL Now THAT would be boring ROFL Just hold your water and when we get through with your team this year you can come on here and tell us how boring it was to watch us faceplant your team. TECH SUCKS SO BAD THIS YEAR!!! DAWGS FOR PAUL JOHNSON! PLEASE – give him a contract extension!!!!!
Gator 1
October 28th, 2012
7:40 am
Copied this from GSUN but fitting for us.
We were ranked #23 to start the season and Georgia was ranked in the Top Ten for a reason. They are supposed to be better than us. They have a QB who’s been there for three years and a coach who’s in his 12th season. They’d been under achieving all year while we were overachieving all year. Today, they showed up and we got hit in the mouth. We played like the team with young players who’ve not been in big games before. It sucks that they’ve beaten us two years in row now. That hadn’t happened in a long time. And that sure was nice while it lasted.
But, when you consider where we were a year ago, you still have to be pretty happy with the season so far. And you have to be looking forward to next season even more. When we can get Driskel a bit better at throwing the ball down the field, we should be really good. Think about it. Jarvis Jones and Jadaveon Clowney have been wrecking us the last two weeks. Our version of those two was lost in the spring game. Add Powell to the mix and get JD to throw the ball out of the back of the end zone when we have three points in the bag, and we’ll be pretty tough.
tell me again
October 28th, 2012
7:43 am
Gator jerky……….I’ll have some fried gator tails to go with that…….yummy.
Gator 1
October 28th, 2012
7:45 am
Also Georgia didn’t beat the hell out of anybody, you won a tight game due to lots of penalties. If I were Georgia I would be worried about the state of my program. Your head coach, your defensive coach and your honey boo boo all had to win this game to save their jobs. I believe Florida is in a much better position for the future than the dswgs. Your being out recruited, your top guys on defense are leaving and your still stuck with “Interception Aaron”.
fcoach29
October 28th, 2012
7:45 am
UGA overpowers Florida??? I’m not a Florida fan or a Georgia fan, but overpowers is not what I saw. I saw a headline like, “UGA uses 5 turnovers to shout down Florida”. Is that not a little more appropriate?
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:47 am
@gatorsforRicht; JJ was lick’n da’ bone tonight, He feasted, still want more Gator, gatorsforBait.
SEC East
October 28th, 2012
7:48 am
There’s not a team in the SEC East that deserves to be in any title hunt if the game yesterday between Fl. / Ga. was suppose to display the best the East has. Alabama would dismantle and embarrass any team in our East side. RIP East and go back to the basics and start over because the offenses look pathetic
Gator 1
October 28th, 2012
7:48 am
IF you get by Ole Miss and IF you get by Auburn you get this
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban roamed the sideline like a lion stalking a wildebeest. He looked furious. His defense had just given up a touchdown. Now his offense couldn’t run the play quite perfectly. So he fumed. Alabama led Mississippi State, which had entered Saturday unbeaten and ranked No. 11 in the BCS standings, by a score of 38-7. The Crimson Tide offense, composed entirely of backups, was taking a knee to run out the clock.
Before anyone could even ask him afterward, Saban brought up his late-game displeasure. “I know everybody’s probably going to say, ‘Well, you got upset with the backup players.’ I got upset with the backup players because they’re better than that,” Saban said. “They know they’re better than that. They need to play with poise and confidence when they go in the game and compete just like everybody else competes. That’s about being able to execute and do your job. It’s not about shutting anybody out. It’s not about any of that. We’re trying to get our players to play their best in every regard.”
It’s gotta suck to be a dawg fan and beat the number two in the polls only to have your slot taken by K State or Notre Dame
Ha HA
Gator 1
October 28th, 2012
7:53 am
“SwamppeopleTroy” “@gatorsforRicht; JJ was lick’n da’ bone tonight”
Yeah them dawgs lick bones every day, their own and every other one they can get their tongue on.. They also walk around licking other dawgs butts too but if you pay attention when your sniffing around for championships you gotta sniff a little higher than that.
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
7:56 am
Findin’ more gators on here tak’n da’ Bait, Boy,gator hunt’n Ga Dawg style is alot of fun, just pop em’ in da head, there u got gator meat sauteed, put dat’ gator sauce on em’, ya’ll come getcha’ some gator jerky, & we’ll sow up some real gator hyde slippers & boots to go w/ da’ meal.
Gator 1
October 28th, 2012
8:01 am
You talk like one of those “I gots my obama phone” voters. Typical dawg.
John
October 28th, 2012
8:04 am
Murray really stunk it up, but the defensive effort by the entire team was truly amazing.
SwamppeopleTroy
October 28th, 2012
8:05 am
I seen plenty of gators try’n hard lick’n under there tails, so that’s why they crawl low to the ground, noth’n said from a lizard can’t or have any kind affect on the gator hunt, Jarvis popped a few of ‘em, & they couldn’t get away, LOL, gotta love it man. 13 tackles, 2 fumbles caused, 2 fumbles recovered, 3 sacks, yeah, JJ was gator hunt’n last night!
Bobito
October 28th, 2012
8:09 am
Bad offense against an overrated Floridao Team. Defense is still soft. Gonna lose on a letdown against a weak opponent next week.
I have to agree
October 28th, 2012
8:10 am
Florida gave that game away.
and uga is still a penalty and personal foul disaster. i won’t be surprised if ole miss nails uga in athens this week. the uga team that has struggled and laid eggs is still there. rescued this week by florida and the weather.
but uga had 132 yards in penalties.
uga was 1-10 on 3rd down.
murray threw 3 interceptions.
uga averaged 4 plays per drive.
uga first half, a gift TD then the next 4 drives ended in turnovers and then a punt.
second half point, FG, missed FG, punt, punt, TD drive.
prediction… UGA loses to Ole Miss.
this is after all the SEC East.