Georgia football countdown to kickoff: 98 days to go

The 2018 Georgia football season begins in 98 days.

Our countdown to the beginning of the 2018 Georgia football season continues. There are now just 98 days until kickoff. And so, today, we’ll honor no. 98 Rodrigo Blankenship. More specifically, the three biggest field goals of his two years as Georgia’s place kicker.

3. Game-winner at Notre Dame

The Bulldogs had a classic defensive performance at South Bend this past season. But Blankenship deserves a lot of praise for that victory. He nailed a 39-yard field goal early to tie the game. But his second field goal was the most important one.

With Notre Dame leading 19-17 with 3:34 left on the clock, Blankenship booted in a 30-yarder to give the Dawgs a 20-19 lead. The defense shut down the Irish the rest of the way to preserve the victory.

2. Game-winner at Kentucky

Blankenship played a huge roll in Georgia’s win over Notre Dame, but the Bulldogs do not beat Kentucky in 2016 without him. He was a perfect four-of-four on field goals, including a game-winning 25-yard field goal as time expired.

Georgia’s offense struggled to get into the end zone all game long. But Blankenship ensured that Georgia stayed in reach of the lead with field goals of 25, 49 and 42 yards throughout the game. His first field goal gave Georgia a 10-7 lead. His second, the 42-yarder, cut the Wildcats lead to 14-13. And his third kick from 49 yards cut Kentucky’s lead down to 21-16.

Sony Michel and Isaac Nauta later gave Georgia a 24-21 lead, but Kentucky tied the game with under three-minutes left. Jacob Eason led a good drive, but Blankenship finished it with a clutch field goal.

1. Record breaker in the Rose Bowl

There might never be a more important field goal which cut a halftime lead down to 31-17. But that summarizes Blankenship’s 55-yard field goal going into the halftime in the Rose Bowl. Georgia’s defense got knocked around the offense just couldn’t keep up in the first half. Oklahoma were heading to halftime with a 31-14 lead. Georgia needed three scores to catch up.

But the Dawgs found a miracle. Tae Crowder caught a squib kick around midfield and immediately hit the ground to keep some time on the clock. Jake Fromm hit Terry Godwin on the sideline to get into field goal range. Then from a record breaking 55 yards away, Blankenship crushed the ball through the uprights to cut the lead to 31-17. Just two scores at halftime.

Next: Georgia needs to make Atlanta their second home

As we all know, Georgia’s offense did catch up and the defense shut Oklahoma down in the third quarter with new momentum. The game later went to overtime where Blankenship made another field goal. Michel hit his walk-off in the second overtime to send Georgia to the National Title Game. But that’s a different second half without Blankenship’s field goal.