Georgia football defeats Oklahoma in dramatic fashion in the Rose Bowl

Georgia football defeated Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl 54-48 in double-overtime to advance to the National Championship Game in Atlanta.

The game was stressful. The hearts of the Bulldog Nation were pounding out of our chests. Tensions were high and nerves were shot. But in the end, it was Georgia football taking the huge sigh of relief when Sony Michel turned the corner for his game winning touchdown in the second overtime.

That touchdown provided a moment that fans will never forget. It’s a highlight that fans and the production crew will replay over and over again. And it’s an immediate favorite in the minds of many in the Bulldog Nation.

But to that point, the best word to describe how Georgia fans felt about the Rose Bowl was doubt. the defense, which was one of the best in the nation, allowed Oklahoma to score 31 points and rack up 300 yards in the first half. They just couldn’t stop the Sooners.

To the Sooners credit, they came in with an excellent game plan. They banked on Georgia focusing on Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Baker Mayfield. And they were right. Instead, Oklahoma gave us a heavy dose of Rodney Anderson.

Their tailback carried the ball 26 times for 201 yards. Besides Anderson, the Sooners called a lot of screens and shorter passes. Georgia came in prepared to play a gunslinger. Instead, they had to deal with smash-mouth running and tunnel screens. An almost SEC-like approach to the offense.

On the other side, Georgia’s plan of conserving Nick Chubb and Sony Michel for the fourth quarter almost proved costly. Besides Michel’s 75-yard touchdown run and Georgia’s more pass-heavy first touchdown drive, the offense was stagnant. That allowed Oklahoma to take a 31-14 lead with six seconds left in the first half. They were going to halftime with a three-score lead.

And then the forgotten play of the game happened. To try to run the clock, Oklahoma called up a squib kick. The kick went straight to Tae Crowder, one of the blockers on Georgia’s front line. He stopped the ball, caught it, and gave Georgia the ball right across midfield.

That led to a Rodrigo Blankenship field goal. From 55 yards out, Blankenship set a personal and Rose Bowl record. But more importantly, he cut the score to 31-17 at halftime. Just two scores instead of three.

Oh how the smallest things can turn the momentum. Blankenship continued to spearhead the momentum change with his kickoff to open the second half. Instead of a touchback, he kicked a high, returnable ball. The coverage team did the rest and shut down the return at the 14-yard line. The defense took over with a stop in just three plays.

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But following a pitiful punt by Oklahoma and a great return by Mecole Hardman, Chubb only needed one play. From midfield, Chubb plowed through Oklahoma defenders for a first down, and then ran an extra 40 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, it was a one-score game.

Later in the third quarter, Sony Michel struck again with his third touchdown of the game, this time a 38-yard run. That tied the game. The comeback was complete. Now Georgia just had to take the lead and hold it. They got the first part right.

To open the fourth quarter, Georgia finally forced Mayfield to make a mistake. And of all the players, it was safety Dominick Sanders who capitalized with an interception and a return down to four-yard line. Two plays later, Fromm hit Javon Wims in the end zone for a touchdown to take a 38-31 lead.

Oklahoma didn’t go away though. A few possessions later, Mayfield finally led a drive with his legs and arm. No Anderson, no screens. The Mayfield we all expected. He led the Sooners to the end zone for a game tying touchdown. Then disaster struck. Trying to answer, Michel fumbled and Oklahoma’s Stephen Parker ran the ball 46 yards to the end zone to flip the lead again.

But Georgia didn’t stay down. On a drive that began at the Bulldog’s 41-yard line with 3:15 left on the clock, Fromm completed three of is four passes to lead the Dawgs downfield. The Chubb took a direct snap to the end zone for a game tying touchdown. That set up overtime with the score at 45-45.

Both defenses came up strong in the first overtime to forced field goals. So going into the second overtime the game was tied 48-48. The Sooners opened the second overtime, but again, Georgia’s defense dominated. Oklahoma lined up for another field goal. And again, another senior stepped up. Lorenzo Carter got a hand up and blocked a field goal to prevent a score.

All Georgia needed was a field goal to win. Michel, wanting to erase the memory of that fumble had other plans. Lining up in the wild dawg formation, Sony ran to his left and found a gap in the defense. He cut up field as he’s done so many times.

If you’ve watched as much Georgia football as I have, you knew what was going to happen as soon as he cut up field. Michel had space, he’s always had speed. On that play, he got six. The most important six of the night. The six to win. Six points to bring Georgia back to Atlanta and on the verge of a National Championship. No extra point necessary. Georgia had done it.

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Thanks to 222 total yards and four touchdowns by Michel; 146 yards and two touchdowns by Chubb; 210 passing yards and two touchdowns by Fromm; 73 receiving yards and a touchdown by Wims; a near pick-six by Sanders; a clutch catch on a squib kick by Crowder; great kicking by Blankenship and Niazalek; a blocked field goal by Carter; and a lot of sacks by the defense.

Thanks to the seniors who returned, Georgia defeated Oklahoma in maybe the greatest game in school history. The Bulldogs are heading back to Atlanta to play Alabama, arguably the college football kings of Atlanta. A National Championship is on the line. But for now, us fans can just enjoy the football masterpiece that we just witnessed.

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