Georgia football countdown to kickoff: 93 days to go
The 2018 Georgia football season begins in 93 days.
Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott. Many regard it as the greatest play in Georgia football history. Today, it’s the topic of our countdown to kickoff. There are now just 93 days until Georgia begins the season. So it’s only fitting to look back at the 93-yard touchdown pass that propelled Georgia to a no. 1 ranking in 1980.
The play had everything. Game winning touchdown? Check. Yardage? Check. Scrambling quarterback? Check. Rivalry? Check. A lot on the line for Georgia? Check. Pessimistic homer radio announcer? Check.
This one play captured all of the drama of the game. Florida lead the Dawgs 21-20 with 1:35 left on the clock. Georgia took possession at their own seven-yard line. Not ideal field position. Georgia’s first two plays failed to net any yards. So, the Dawgs faced 3rd and 10 from the seven with 1:10 left on the clock. All they need is a field goal and they can’t even pass the 10-yard line.
Georgia needed a big play, not necessarily a touchdown. Just something big to flip the momentum. Belue dropped back into his own end zone but the Gator defense was on him as soon as he crossed the plain. He rolled to his right where he ran a defender right into offensive lineman Nat Hudson, who doesn’t get enough credit for the block he made. He misses and Belue likely gets sacked, possibly for a safety.
Belue continued to scramble, just looking for someone to get open. Lindsay Scott recognized this and ran back to the 25-yard line around the middle of the field. No defenders followed him. Belue spotted his most reliable receiver and slung the ball towards him.
When Scott made the catch, four defenders converged on him. Two in front and two from behind. Scott, facing Belue, turned to his right with seemingly nowhere to go. But that was okay, he picked up the first down. He gave the Dawgs hope. All they needed was a field goal, and Georgia had one of the best kickers in the nation in Rex Robinson.
But the supporting players weren’t finished blocking for the two focal players. Another receiver came in and took out one of the four defenders circling Scott. That gave him the opening to the sideline. Scott took off and turned a first-down into the biggest play of the game. Two defenders seemed to have a good angle on Scott, but they couldn’t reach him.
Scott continued his sprint towards the end zone. Back then, the NCAA was much more lenient with celebrations. The mascot, cheerleaders and fans jumped on Scott. A few players caught up to him. They may have overwhelmed Scott. Herschel Walker and another player had to carry him back to the sidelines.
People know the play, and deservedly so, for Larry Munson’s energetic call of the play. But color commentator Dick Payne jumped in with a good line of his own. “Larry, if you wanted a miracle, you just got one.”
Georgia’s defense responded with a stop of Florida’s offense to preserve the victory. The Associated Press and Coaches placed Georgia no. 1 in their rankings. The Bulldogs remained there through New Year’s Day when the defeated Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
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Georgia was one sack, one incompletion, one tackle away from not winning the 1980 National Championship. But Belue, Scott Hudson and a few others didn’t shy away from the situation. They embraced it and created the greatest play in Georgia football history.
A year later, Belue had an encore performance in Jacksonville. he led a 95-yard drive late in the game to again defeat the Gators 26-21.