Dawn of the Dawg
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Reflecting on every exciting Georgia football opening victory under Kirby Smart

ByPayton Wilkerson|
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs leads his team onto the field before their game against the Clemson Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs leads his team onto the field before their game against the Clemson Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Sep 2, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) passes against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) passes against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The second Georgia football opener under Kirby Smart

2017: Georgia beat Appalachian State 31-10

Looking to improve off an eight-win 2016 season, head coach Kirby Smart and his staff hit the recruiting trail hard in the offseason. The Dawgs would end up with the No. 3 ranked recruiting class in 2017 and hauled in some of the most iconic Bulldog players of the last decade. Names in this class included D’andre Swift, Richard LeCounte, and Andrew Thomas.

These players helped set the foundation that Smart has continued to build upon to this day.

I’m not sure Georgia fans were expecting the kind of season the Dawgs would have in Year 2 of Smart. They would win their first SEC Championship since 2005, their first College Football Playoff game, and play in the national championship game for the first time since 1982.

All of this might not have happened without the first game of the season, as they took on the always upset-minded Appalachian State Mountaineers. No upset happened on this day, but an event that would change the course of the season and the next three years occurred in the middle of the first quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason was scrambling to his right to avoid pressure when an App State defender pushed him out of bounds. Eason tweaked his knee as he went to the ground and had to get helped off the field.

Enter Jake Fromm, the true freshman quarterback from Warner Robins. He came out and looked very comfortable running the Georgia offense, and he would lead a touchdown drive as the first quarter was winding down.

On the next drive, Fromm threw a deep ball to Javon Wims, who made an impressive jumping catch for a touchdown. The Dawgs would score again in the first half to take a 21-0 lead, and they continued to cruise en route to a 31-10 victory.

Luckily for Fromm, he had Nick Chubb, and Sony Michel help him on offense. They both combined for 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns. D’Andre Swift also had a few carries in the game.

Fromm would go on to start next week’s game against Notre Dame in South Bend and continued to start every game the rest of the year.

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