UPDATED: UGA now one win away from SEC title game with 37-10 victory over Ole Miss
ATHENS — One win away.
That’s how far the Georgia Bulldogs are from returning to the SEC Championship game. They got one step closer to it Saturday with a harder-than-it-looked 37-10 win over Ole Miss on homecoming at Sanford Stadium.
To get all the way to the Georgia Dome — where they lost to LSU in the championship game a year ago — the Bulldogs will have to do what it has often had to do when it was in position to win a conference title. It will have to go through Auburn.
The No. 6 Bulldogs (8-1, 6-1 SEC) will repeat as SEC Eastern Division champions if they can beat their oldest rival next weekend in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers (2-7, 0-6), who won the national championship just two years ago, are still looking for their first conference win of season.
Because of what’s on the line next week Saturday on “The Plains,” Georgia’s postgame celebration was short-lived.
“I tried to start the minute the game was over,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I told them right away they needed to get their minds right now; get your jaws set. Auburn’s a fierce rival. They don’t like Georgia and they’re going to play their tails off. Hopefully with what’s on the line they’ll respect that.”
Georgia’s players were listening.
“Auburn is all that’s on our minds,” said freshman tailback Todd Gurley, who recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season (117 on 18 carries). “Now it’s the biggest game. That’s the one we’ve got to have.”
Said senior receiver Tavarres King:“This league is insane; the athletes are all so good,”“Anybody can slip up on anybody any day. We won’t overlook anybody.”
Saturday provided a good lesson to that end as it took the Bulldogs a while to get going against Ole Miss (5-4, 2-3 SEC) Georgia actually trailed for all but the final three seconds of the first half. That’s when the game turned on a scintillating touchdown pass from Aaron Murray to King.
Georgia faced third-and-20 at its 40-yard line after Murray had been sacked on back-to-back plays. They were sack numbers four and five in the first half and it appeared the Bulldogs would be satisfied with trailing by three at the half.
They weren’t. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo called for deep routes down each sideline. After pump-faking to the left side, which moved the Ole Miss safety, Murray evaded pressure and ran to the right. He found King running free behind Ole Miss cornerback inside the Rebels’ 20 and delivered a strike.
“I just threw my hand up and gave Murray a hooty-hoo and he saw me,” King said. “It was one of those plays where we just saw each other, our eyes connected and he made a great play.”
That and Marshall Morgan’s extra point gave the Bulldogs a 14-10 lead as it left the field for intermission. The Bulldogs did so with the knowledge it would receive the second-half kickoff. They took full advantage, scoring on their next two offensive possessions and that was pretty much that.
“It was good to get 14 points in a row; it was crucial,” Richt said. “I thought Ole Miss out-played us in the first half. We out-scored them but they out-played us.”
Murray also had a 66-yard touchdown pass to Marlon Brown earlier in the second quarter and was pretty much unstoppable from then until the Bulldogs took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. By then they led 30-10.
It was another huge day for Aaron Murray, who passed for 384 yards and 4 TDs, almost all of it coming in the second and third quarters. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
It was a nice rebound for Murray, who had three interceptions in last week’s win over Florida. The junior from Tampa finished the night with 384 yards and four touchdowns on 21-of-28 passing. Already the school record-holder, he now has 80 career TD passes, which is sixth in SEC history.
“I’m a little sore, but nothing that a good ice bath won’t take care of,” said Murray, who was hit several other times in addition to the sacks. “You always feel better after a big win like this.”
Murray didn’t want to waste much time talking about Saturday’s game. He was already focused on next week.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” he said. “It’s at their place. Anytime you play away, it’s always a challenge. It’s going to be a love environment and it’s a big-time rivalry game. We know they’re going to be ready to go and we to be, too.”
The Bulldogs’ defense that was the story of the second half. They limited Ole Miss to just 55 yards after halftime and actually out-scored the Rebels’ 2-0 from the 11:45 mark of the second quarter on. That was thanks to a safety by linebacker Alec Ogletree, who also had an interception, a sack and led Georgia with 11 tackles. Ole Miss had three turnovers and managed just 46 yards on 29 rushes.
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Ogletree said. “We made adjustments to shut them down. It was great.”
Momentum was either team’s to take in the first half. The two teams combined for four turnovers in five plays midway through the second quarter. The series began with Georgia’s Keith Marshall fumbling on a run around left end. The fumble was caused by Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, a redshirt freshman from Grayson.
The Rebels took over at the Georgia 31, but gave the ball back on the very next play. It’d probably be more accurate to say the Bulldogs took it. After catching a pass deep in Georgia territory, Ole Miss receiver Vince Sanders was swarmed by Bulldogs. Safety Bacarri Rambo ripped the ball loose and cornerback Damian Swann scooped it up and returned it 53 yards to the Mississippi 30.
But the Bulldogs could only keep possession for one play. On the second, tailback Todd Gurley broke off right tackle for a 13-yard gain. But once again Nkemdiche forced the ball loose and the Rebels recovered at their own 12.
Then Ole Miss gave it right back again. Scrambling right under heavy pressure, the Ole Miss quarterback hurled a long pass high over the middle of the field. Linebacker Alec Ogletree rose high for the leaping interception and Georgia took over on offense again, this time at its own 49.
Ultimately the hot-potato exchange didn’t lead to anything. Georgia eventually went for a first down on fourth-and-two at the Ole Miss 43 and failed to complete a pass to Malcolm Mitchell. Then the Rebels had to punt the ball back on downs after the next possession, setting up the nine-play, 84-yard drive for the Bulldogs to take the lead.
Georgia found itself on its heels in the early going, falling behind 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to tight end Jamal Mosely.
The Rebels took the opening kickoff and quickly drove down to the Bulldogs’ 11-yard line, mainly on the merits of Wallace’s 51-yard pass to Ferbia Allen. Allen was left wide open running down the sideline after safety Shawn Williams dove for the interception but missed it.
But the Bulldogs’ bowed in the red zone and stopped Ole Miss for a six-yard loss on third down. The Rebels settled for a 34-yard field goal from Bryson Rose and a 3-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
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192 comments Add your comment
01HAWK
November 4th, 2012
11:11 am
UGA will not be in the BCS game.
You laid a big fat egg versus South Carolina by the tune of 35-7. You will not be able to overcome that, The voters will not forget hat game as much as you would like for them to.
UGA is not even in the BCS Championship talk. Just another year at UGA with CRYSTAL.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
11:33 am
dawg2000
November 4th, 2012
10:52 am
The main difference in our graduates and Tech’s graduates is that ours don’t stare at people’s shoes when having a conversation.
______________________
Good line–and a pretty accurate summation.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
11:36 am
01HAWK
November 4th, 2012
11:11 am
UGA is not even in the BCS Championship talk. Just another year at UGA with CRYSTAL.
___________________
WITH crystal?
And how is that we will have that crystal if we’re “not even in the BCS Championship talk?
Dolt.
disaster in Columbia
November 4th, 2012
11:42 am
No one in the national media even mentions UGA as a Natchamp possibility. The debacle at SC, along with the ESPN commentary calling out Richt and Company buried the dawgs. SC screwed the dawgs in 2007, and did it again in 2012. Sad but true.
dawg2000
November 4th, 2012
11:45 am
I agree that with 4 undefeated teams the dawgs are not being mentioned right now. However, anytime you are 5th in the BCS rankings, you are relevant. If teams slip up, the dawgs will then be mentioned.
OrlandoDawg
November 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
LSU exposed Bama….Murray will pick them apart! Go Dawgs!
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
Just a wild guess but, the slim to none chance that UGA could get a shot at the NC game went down the tubes with Bama winning last night and the other undefeateds winning as well. They might all be over the hump except for Bama. I suspect the match ups will be undefeated and all we can do is knock Bama out of it. Which I hope we do. I like the match up. The Georgia Defense has finally put it together
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:07 pm
All we had to do was beat SC to be in the conversation and serious contention. We didn’t and we ain’t. OR, KState and ND likely won’t lose now. They are all good teams
dawg2000
November 4th, 2012
12:12 pm
This happens almost every year and as we close the season there will not be 4 undefeated teams. They just discussed this on espn as well. I don’t think the dawgs will have a shot either but Bama winning actually kept us alive. Our only shot to be even considered would be to knock off number 1 Bama at the sec championship. However, let’s just get past auburn first. That game will tougher than people think.
WakeUp
November 4th, 2012
12:17 pm
Nobody is mentioning you guys as National title contenders because it would be nonsense. Let’s go down the list:
First half trouble against Buffalo,
Needing the 4th quarter to put away a bad Missouri team,
First half trouble against Florida Atlantic,
Barely beating a bad Tennessee team,
Getting embarrased by an overrated South Carolina team,
Escaping against an abysmal Kentucky team,
Turning 6 TO into just 17 points against Florida,
and than yet again having first half trouble against at best an average Ole Miss team
Some of you are decent enough to admit that this is not your year, but the rest of you are just funny. Murray will pick apart Alabama’s defense? That’s just plain funny.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:17 pm
dawg2000
We would have to blow Bama out in the SEGCG for even a slight consideration. A close Georgia win in the title game might still send Bama back to the title game if the others all have one loss. Lsu winning last night was IMHO, our best hope
Cdpridg
November 4th, 2012
12:19 pm
Dawgs are positioned nicely…hair away last night from moving up to 3. TCB….play and defeat a undefeated Natl Champion and see where things stand. Dawgs are om
N the outside…but very very worthy of championship aspirations at the highest level of college football!
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:20 pm
Wakeup is a bitter old troll. Likely a Nerd fan
Wakeup, the only game that keeps us out of the BCSNC is the SC game. Those others were wins and all that matters. idiot
WakeUp
November 4th, 2012
12:22 pm
Not a Tech fan, but nice try. And if you’ve been watching college football for the past 20 seasons, you would realize that “just wins” don’t get you into the national championship. You’re a good football team. Nothing more. Quit acting like somebody pissed in your cereal.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:29 pm
Who’s you team Wakeup?
I’m not mad or bitter and nobody has wet my Postoasties. It’s common sense. The voters and computers have us at #5 & 6. Obviously all your useless stats don’t change that, does it? Those useless stats might bother you but, you have no vote, do you?
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:32 pm
The only thing that keeps UGA out is the loss at SC, not TOs in the FL game, not a half against FL ATL or barely beating a weak TN team. The loss at SC is the only reason we are not ranked higher and actually in the NC convo. You making shyte up, doesn’t make it true. Idiot
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
12:44 pm
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
Just a wild guess but, the slim to none chance that UGA could get a shot at the NC game went down the tubes with Bama winning last night and the other undefeateds winning as well. They might all be over the hump except for Bama. I suspect the match ups will be undefeated and all we can do is knock Bama out of it. Which I hope we do. I like the match up. The Georgia Defense has finally put it together
____________________
I disagree with you on this one, ARdawg. The ONLY hope–and granted, it’s a razor-thin one–for UGA to get to the NC is to beat an undefeated and No 1-ranked Bama, which couldn’t have happened w/o their win last night. This, of course, assumes that both teams win out during the regular season. I just don’t think the BCS can ignore a one-loss SEC team that has beaten BOTH the No. 1 and the No. 2 teams.
I do agree with you, though, that at least a couple of those undefeateds will have to lose.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
12:46 pm
dawg2000
November 4th, 2012
12:12 pm
This happens almost every year and as we close the season there will not be 4 undefeated teams. They just discussed this on espn as well. I don’t think the dawgs will have a shot either but Bama winning actually kept us alive. Our only shot to be even considered would be to knock off number 1 Bama at the sec championship. However, let’s just get past auburn first. That game will tougher than people think.
__________________
Co-sign.
Cdpridg
November 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
UGA shot is solely defeating soundly a undefeated #1 defending Natl Champion for the greatest conference championship in the nation the SEC. A LSU win last night would keep UGA at 6…Bama would be 5 at worst with UGA still having both in front of them. With Bama winning UGA takes a step up and LSU is done..finished
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
dawgnole
I don’t necessarily disagree with your scenario there. Soundly defeating an undefeated Bama might catapult UGA into it. That’s soundly however. It’s difficult to envision that happening. Couple that with the 3 teams that need to lose. I think the selections would take a 1 loss Bama over an undefeated in a thin loss by Georgia but, wouldn’t take a one loss UGA over those same teams. Quite honestly, rightfully so. We got spanked at SC
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
1:55 pm
ARdawg
November 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
dawgnole
I don’t necessarily disagree with your scenario there. Soundly defeating an undefeated Bama might catapult UGA into it. That’s soundly however. It’s difficult to envision that happening. Couple that with the 3 teams that need to lose. I think the selections would take a 1 loss Bama over an undefeated in a thin loss by Georgia but, wouldn’t take a one loss UGA over those same teams. Quite honestly, rightfully so. We got spanked at SC
__________________
Yeah, that SC no-show killed us–and may be the one we remember the most about this season. I’m still hoping two of those undefeateds falter; it almost happened last night at ND, and with year-end rivalries approaching, there’s still a chance. I don’t see Bama going over UGA if they both have the same records and UGA beats them in the SECCG because we still would have beaten Nos. 1 & 2. Very few teams can claim that in the same season.
As an FSU fan, I’m facing a similar situation. Our schedule’s weak, but we will get a shot at fla–although it probably won’t be enough to beat them. All that separates us from being right in the mix is a one-point loss at NCST. One lousy point. Argh!
Oh well, it’s all speculation and conjecture at this point, but that’s a big part of what makes it fun.
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
2:18 pm
AJ
November 4th, 2012
10:39 am
Bama beat Ole Miss 33 to 14, UGA beat Ole Miss 37 to 10, UGA is better on both sides of the ball.
UGA was favored by 14, but won by 27 points.
Bama will have their first loss soon enough.
And Richt will have his first BCS Championship.
Love this defense. Love this offense.
—–
C’mon man. Y’all need to stop doing this.
It’s stupid determining the outcome of a future game by looking at scores of common opponents.
By your own rationale, the game will be a blow-out in Bama’s favor.
SC beats UGA. LSU beats SC. Bama beats LSU.
Stop the insanity & look forward to the Game.
Tim H.
November 4th, 2012
2:21 pm
UGA should enjoy being #5 as when they play Alabama in the SEC Championship they are going to get slaughtered. Alabama is many levels higher than any team in the SEC East …including Georgia.
LARRY LUKER
November 4th, 2012
2:23 pm
IT MAKES ME LAUGH WHEN I READ SOME TECH SMARTY TALKING ABOUT GA. DAWG,S AND OTHER TEAMS ,AS I REMEMBER WHEN THEY GOT OUT OF THE SEC BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BEAT ANY TEAM IN IT. NOW BEING IN THE ACC WHICH THEY SEEM TO WIN 40% WANT TO TALK ABOUT OTHER TEAMS AND OTHER COACHES. WHY?
jsmooth
November 4th, 2012
2:36 pm
@the shame of UGA:
Typical Yech slant. Do you not remember Reggie Ball, Tyone Sorrells, etc… Do not tell me that GT does not make “special” acceptions for sports athletes. Look at basketball, Kenny Anderson and others like him. All schools make “special” acceptions. Now, in regards to SATs, college and student athletes that actually graduate, show me your facts sir. Tech is a great institution of higher learning and so is UGA. Both require high SATs and/or high ACT scores, as well as, extrememly high GPA’s just to be condiered for admission. Quite a feat to get into any of these two universities!
B-Roll
November 4th, 2012
3:03 pm
One win away? Most could observe that when the golden ticket of schedules was handed to UGA last year, it became incredibly probable. Aside from the win vs UF, Georgia’s wins came against a collection of teams that combine show something in the neighborhood of a 17-37 record. The Dogs did manage to pick up a win, in less than impressive fashion, against the gators but keep reality in perspective. This team may be walking the path that was cleared for them, but they may be just the 5th or 6th best team in the conference. In representing the east, UGA gives the impression that the entire division was weak. This schedule inequality is a real problem and reveals the major problem that expansion caused.
01HAWK
November 4th, 2012
4:53 pm
Hey DAWGHOLE
You know what I meant to say. The BCS wil not be coming to the local WALMART in ATHENS. There is always next year.
KEEP HOPE ALIVE
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
11:36 am
01HAWK
November 4th, 2012
11:11 am
UGA is not even in the BCS Championship talk. Just another year at UGA with CRYSTAL.
___________________
WITH crystal?
And how is that we will have that crystal if we’re “not even in the BCS Championship talk?
Dolt.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
5:00 pm
01HAWK
November 4th, 2012
4:53 pm
Hey DAWGHOLE
You know what I meant to say. The BCS wil not be coming to the local WALMART in ATHENS. There is always next year.
___________________
I think the problem is that YOU don’t even know what you meant to say. That’s why you come off as a dolt.
JB
November 4th, 2012
5:15 pm
Just like in the Rocky movie where Rocky made that big Russian bleed, we saw Bama bleed last night also. Dawgs match up with them better than LSU. Murray would have to have a great game, but they can be passed on. Our D is better than LSU’s also. Coaching goes to Bama of course.
pinteyroqdm
November 4th, 2012
5:25 pm
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Buzz 2011
November 4th, 2012
5:28 pm
Old Miss win was sweet for Dogs.. In the end it means little as Bama
could spot them 14 points and still rout the Dogs..
SC is a hurting,I suspect
November 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
SC prospects now and in the future:
Minor 2012-2013 bowl games vs. Louisville or Oky State
No Lattimore, bowl season now or forever ….. He will drag his bod to any NFL team that will now have him.
clowned cannot do it all alone in 2013.
SS is looking very,very old
NO SEC titles, now or forever.
mediocrity again, which is where we live anyway
Weak UGA schedule?
November 4th, 2012
6:06 pm
I think not. We were humiliated by SC but could be on verge of winning the EAST. Ranked right now # 5 or 6. If we continue to win, UGA will be rated even higher.
Weak schedule? No, only punk jealousy drives that comment. After all, the media have no respect for Richt and UGA and they STILL RANK US. Fools you haters are. You do not use logic.
RHall55
November 4th, 2012
7:03 pm
UGA does let some good ones get away…Alexander, Minter, Coleman on LSU and Dickson and Hubbard on AL….more to develop down the road…still think Rodney Garner could be more productive…too much in state talent leaves to AL, AU, TN, Clemson, etc!!!
George Stein
November 4th, 2012
7:09 pm
Apparently Marlon Brown’s UGA career is over because of a torn ACL. What a cruel way for it to end. Even this Tech fan will cheer for him on Senior Day. No one deserves to go out like that.
Mike Franklin
November 4th, 2012
8:12 pm
When these Dawgs play well, they may be unbeatable by anyone. But if they and Murray have a PMS game? Don’t ask. We are not consistent… which seems to be a malady this team has suffered for some time now.If we win out and go to Atlanta… and our best team plays Alabama, we could end up in the BCS championship game. But short of that…?
Bitter dawgs fan
November 4th, 2012
10:36 pm
The ga_y turd fans are spueeing hate—-the chicken’s lost twice and are mad
—–bamma trailer tramps known that revenge for blackout is a-coming
———–stop hate-in—–looser’s—forida is the first looser in the east
———–bamma the first looser in the west
——————-UGA SEC CHAMPS
NCDawg
November 4th, 2012
11:46 pm
I think everyone is overlooking the computer rankings strength of schedule component. The only way that the Dawgs get a crack at the BCS title game is by beating a #1 ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship. The computers will tally that more heavily than beating a lesser ranked opponent. If LSU had won the best they would have been ranked was 3rd or 4th. Bama still has to get by Texas A&M and that will not be a cakewalk but all Dawg fans need to pray they win out and remain #1.
The highest the Dawgs could hope to be ranked without the unbeatens falling is 2nd, if they were to beat Bama. Otherwise at least 2 of the remaining unbeatens have to lose for that to even be a possibility. Anything is possible and a convincing win…not a blowout, just a convincing win over Bama would be the only ticket the Dawgs can cash in to ride to Miami. Stranger things have happened you know.
Cal22
November 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
Beat an overrated team and all of a sudden the fairweathers are back. The real question is where will you be after Bama?
Cal22
November 5th, 2012
1:06 pm
—–bamma trailer tramps known that revenge for blackout is a-coming – Bitter dawgs fan
Yes, Georgia has no trailers.
Cal22
November 5th, 2012
1:11 pm
I’m with ‘Weak UGA schedule?” on this one. No way UGA ys schedule is considered weak. 16.666667% of the teams you played were ranked, and you beat 50.000000% of them.
Danny
November 6th, 2012
4:13 am
What a terribly written article.