Georgia Football: Heroes Revealed in the Crucible of Trench Warfare

Enough with your complaining. If you grew up with only the frilly Georgia football experience of the 21st Century, you might want to skip what I have to say.

Now that you have all had a few days to whine and whimper about the “just horrible” Georgia – Missouri contest, take your tiddily winks and go find some kids to play with.

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Despite excelling in high school baseball, track and football, Kenneth Towns came to Athens unannounced to toil in obscurity. The son of Albany Georgia, a senior, did not play his freshman year and is not even granted the honor being a red-shirt junior.

With Reggie Davis hurt on the opening kick-off, Georgia scrimmaged from its own 28 yard line short three of its top five wide receivers and the persistent and reliable Towns pressed into service. His worst fear, and the worst fear of the Bulldog Nation, became real when Greyson Lambert’s pass popped skyward and fell into the hands of Missouri defensive back Ian Simon.

As desperate as the Georgia team, Missouri now had the greatest of opportunities to open the game with a seven-point advantage and give its elite defense a chance secure victory over the last 59 minutes.

Simon tucked the ball at the Georgia 35 and with his own desperation fueling his passion, began a circuitous route to the goal line, leaving all but two Georgia defenders either grasping or gasping for air.

As Simon tracked north to the Missouri sideline, Kenneth Towns tracked with him, never losing contact with the ball carrier and never giving up hope, increasing speed slightly with each step. When Simon turned and began his long sprint to south to the opposite sideline, Towns called his old high school sprinters speed to the fore and avoided human obstacles on his way to save a touchdown.

But Towns would not be fast enough to make the play, not fast enough without a second hero.

Center Brandon Kublanow watched from ringside as the pass over the middle popped in the air. Kublanow had no hope of running down a safety. Ignoring the futility of his situation, Kublanow mirrored the northern sprint and, as Simon’s head swiveled to look south, Kublanow took a linebacker stance, eyed his prey, and sprinted with an angle to save the touchdown. Although a lithe 282 pound center and having the pursuit angle, Kublanow, like Towns, could not catch Simon before he crossed the goal line. Not alone.

But neither player was working alone. Kublanow, though too slow to win the race, was fast enough – and determined enough – to bend Simon’s angle toward the flag. While only succeeding in threatening to make the stop, it was enough to give the speedy Towns an opportunity to catch Simon at the one and, perhaps remembering a little baseball, made sure the ball carrier did not roll past him to allow a score.

While Kublanow’s effort was remarkable, centers receive little glory and Kenneth Towns, on the first play of scrimmage, saved the game and perhaps the season. And with Mark Richt’s potential second consecutive national top five recruiting class watching closely, may have saved the Georgia football program.

Oct 17, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers safety Ian Simon (21) runs with the ball after an interception against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, combined with the defensive heroics that followed, Kenneth Townsend’s play was that big.

While the game was saved, the game still must be won.

The Georgia offense moved in fits and starts all night. Despite dandy punt returns by Terry Godwin, the Dawg offense could not overcome the Missouri defense and the superb Missouri punter Corey Fatony.

Georgia played against the elite Missouri defenders much of the game without its top two running backs and three of its top five wide receivers. And while both receiver Malcolm Mitchell and running back Brendan Douglas had stellar moments, as the third quarter wound down the Georgia offense seemed destined to end the game 3 points short of Missouri.

With four minutes left in the third quarter, Mitchell pulled a double cross on fate and made the play that turned the game in Georgia‘s favor.

After fighting tooth and nail with the splendid Missouri cornerbacks, Mitchell had built a nice line score of catches and yards. But he had failed to provide the winning difference. With Reggie Davis again sidelined, Mitchell sprinted off the field before fourth down only to be waved a reminder that he would have to take Davis gunner spot on the punting team. After a fierce and often frustrating 40 minute struggle, the wide receiver belatedly took his spot at end.

Choosing not to complain about the extra-service or dog the play for a bit of rest, the senior exploded from the line, challenged and beat his blocker, and surprised the punt receiver to create a fumble to change the game. Georgia recovered and drove the remaining yards on the back of Brendon Douglas. The Dawgs took a field goal to tie the game and, after driving for two game winning field goal attempts, converted the second.

And so these Dawgs some call dogs will face the Mighty Gators for a shot at the SEC title in Atlanta.

Of course, yes, a touchdown after Mitchell’s heroics would have been nice, but then all those folks would have missed on accessorizing their Barbies.

Next: Steve Drops off the Key

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