After a year of torture, the bragging rights for this rivalry shifted back to Georgia. And the Dawgs did this by going back to doing what they do best: running the football.
Washaun Ealey and Caleb King combined to rush for 349 yards against Georgia Tech's "Swiss Cheese" defense. King also accounted for two touchdowns on runs of six yards and 75 yards.
Georgia started off quickly. After getting the opening kickoff, they drove down the field and scored a touchdown after 10 plays, all of them runs. Tech was unable to score until the start of the second quarter, when Scott Blair connected on a 42 yard field goal. The Dawgs added three points on a 42 yard Blair Walsh field goal. Joe Cox then extended the lead to 17-3 with a completion to Michael Moore.
After halftime, the Jackets' triple option offense finally broke loose (partially). Josh Nesbitt completed a screen pass that Demaryius Thomas took in for a touchdown. On the next play from scrimmage, Caleb King broke loose for his 75 yard touchdown run to make the lead 24-7. Jonathan Dwyer added a running touchdown and Blair Walsh kicked another field goal before the end of the third quarter.
Georgia extended their lead to 30-17 with an early 4th-quarter field goal. After Tech scored again, Blair Walsh hooked the game-sealing field goal. However, the Jackets' last drive ended when Demaryius Thomas dropped an easy pass on fourth down.
The injuries were definitely on Georgia's side. Tech's defenders "dropped like flies" in the first half, with multiple defensive players and an offensive lineman leaving the game. Josh Nesbitt was then taken to the locker room late in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He wouldn't fully return until the third quarter. In between, Jaybo Shaw helped out the Dawgs' defense.
In a game where most Georgia fans didn't care or were conceding defeat before it even started, the Dawgs came out on top in their biggest win of the season. Mark Richt's team corrected many of their season-long problems, including turnovers (only one turnover - Tech had two), the play calling (going back to what we do best - running), and penalties (just five).
Georgia's defense finally stepped up and stopped an offense. They held Tech 109 yards below their season rushing average, which is an incredible accomplishment for a defensive coordinator who was expected to resign after the game. However, some of the credit for this has to go to our offense for controlling the ball and keeping the Jackets' offense off the field.
Now we finally get to think about a bowl game. More on bowl projections coming tomorrow or Tuesday. GREAT WIN DAWGS!!!
