Georgia Football: The Five Two-Quarterback Seasons
1965: Kirby Moore and Preston Ridlehuber
In 1965, the tandem of sophomore Kirby Moore and senior Preston Ridlehuber lead second year head coach Vince Dooley’s up start Bulldogs to a 6-4 season. The Georgia football program escaped the dismal days of Head Coach Johnny Griffith and began the long climb that peaked in 1980 with a National Championship.
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In 1965, Moore ranked tied at 13 in the SEC in completions with 32, Ridlehuber ranked 15 with 27 completions. Moore ranked ninth in the SEC with 487 passing yards, Ridlehuber 16th with 288.
Injury guided the fortunes of both players. Moore replaced the injured Ridlehuber in the nationally televised tilt with reigning and eventual National Champion Alabama, completing the famed Flea flicker to Pat Hodgson and Bob Taylor to bring Georgia within a point of the Tide. Moore then earned the winning points with a two-point conversion pass completion to Pat Hodgson.
Two weeks later, a healthy Preston Ridlehuber had his date with destiny in Michigan’s Big House. Trailing 6-7 in the fourth quarter with the Dawgs close enough to the Michigan goal for Bobby Etter’s third field goal, Ridlehuber threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Pat Hodgson. With that play, Georgia nailed its feet to the floor of the national football stage and Ridlehuber took his place next to Kirby Moore in the hearts of the Bulldog faithful.
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