Dawgs Win 27-13
By Danny Bishop
FOOTBALL
Freshman RB Isaiah Crowell rushed for a career-high 147 yards on a career-high 30 carries versus the Rebels. This was his second game over 100 yards after racking up 118 on #12 South Carolina. The 30 attempts was the most by a Dawg since Knowshon Moreno had 33 vs. Florida in 2007. Today, Georgia had a season-high 56 rushing attempts, the second most under Mark Richt (the most was 57 in the 51-7 rout of Ga. Tech in 2002). The Dawgs tallied 207 yards on the ground while the Rebels were limited to 34 yards on 26 carries.
Georgia scored on a 99-yard, eight-play drive that took 4:00 to give the Dawgs a 17-0 lead in the second quarter. TE Orson Charles hauled in a two-yard touchdown from redshirt sophomore QB Aaron Murray to give Georgia the longest drive in the SEC this season. This is the longest scoring drive for Georgia since the Dawgs had a 99-yard touchdown drive versus Central Michigan in 2008.
Senior PK Blair Walsh connected on a 36-yard field goal in the opening quarter to give the Dawgs a 3-0 edge. However, he had a pair misses from more than 40 yarder after going wide from 46 in the fourth period and 48 yards in the third quarter. Walsh was 14-for-17 from 40 to 49 yards coming into the game. In the fourth quarter, he missed a 35-yarder and then made a 43-yarder. For his career, he is 60-for-78. This season, Walsh is 5-for-10.
Murray made a one-yard scoring plunge late in the first quarter. Murray’s second rushing touchdown of the season came at the end of a seven-play, 53-yard drive that lasted 3:27. Murray also completed the longest pass of his career after connecting on a 69-yard strike to freshman Malcom Mitchell. His previous longest was a 66-yard touchdown to senior Kris Durham versus Georgia Tech in 2010.
Murray finished the day 17-for-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Following his first touchdown pass to Charles, Murray connected with senior TE Aron White for a 35-yard touchdown pass at the 2:38 mark in the second quarter.
Junior FS Bacarri Rambo had his team-leading third interception of the year at the 4:00 mark in the second quarter. Rambo returned the pick 26 yards and the Dawgs scored three plays later. Rambo has now had at least one pick in all three games he has played in this season. Georgia has converted eight turnovers this season in 24 points. Rambo added another interception, team-leading fourth late in the fourth quarter. Georgia just about ran out the clock with a 27-13 lead under a minute. Rambo becomes the first Dawg to have a two-interception day since Darryl Gamble tied an NCAA record with two INT-returns for a TD by a linebacker against LSU in 2008. Murray bounced a pass off Charles and Ole Miss intercepted it early in the second quarter. The Rebels were unable to score and punted four plays later. Opponents have scored 28 points off of six Dawg miscues.
Georgia posted a 27-13 road win for its ninth straight victory over the Rebels in the series. Georgia now leads the series 31-12-1 including 10-5 in Oxford. The Dawgs are 35-10 in an opponent’s home stadium.
In a matchup of the two top punters in the SEC and among the best in the country, Dawg senior Drew Butler averaged 55.2 yards in his four punts. That average ranks in a tie for third best in school history, matching what he did against Arkansas in 2009. Ole Miss punter Tyler Campbell punted nine times for 50.8 yards today.
Ole Miss’ Nickolas Brassell had an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter. The last time an opponent ran a punt back for a touchdown was Arkansas’ Marvin Jackson’s 74-yard return during the 2001 season.
Junior ILB Mike Gilliard led the Dawg defense with seven tackles while freshman ILB Amarlo Herrera added six.
Junior Shawn Williams returned to his starting spot at SS after starting at ILB versus Coastal Carolina last week. Freshman Amarlo Herrera made his second career start at ILB. Also, junior Sanders Commings returned to CB after getting the nod at SS last week. On offense, sophomore Kenarious Gates returned to action at RG after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Also of note, freshman receiver Chris Conley played for the first time in his career during the second quarter.
Georgia’s captains on Saturday are junior TE Orson Charles, redshirt sophomore QB Aaron Murray, senior DE Abry Jones and junior SS Shawn Williams.
Up next, the Dawgs (2-2, 1-1 SEC) return home to host Mississippi State (1-2, 0-2 SEC) in Sanford Stadium. FOX Sports South will televise it at 12 noon.