Opt-outs and all, Georgia (somehow) finds a way to sprint into offseason with momentum
Georgia 24, Cincinnati 21. Just like we all drew it up.
For the record, I pegged this Peach Bowl as a fluid offensive performance by both teams but felt that it would be close for all 60 minutes. And it was close, even though neither offense was as fluid as I thought.
Did the better team win? That’s for the reader to decide. But this was a fun contest that kept fans of both teams sticking around until the end and national voices from every corner of Twitter talking about how overrated the SEC was outside of Alabama.
(Of course, Northwestern’s handling of Auburn in the Citrus Bowl may have had a little to do with that point, though. But back to the Peach Bowl.)
Sure, Georgia showed its flaws throughout the afternoon. The untimely penalties were an issue and killed a couple of drives. The running game was far from effective against a respectable Cincinnati defensive front that showed well against an offensive line missing Ben Cleveland and Trey Hill. JT Daniels was perhaps a bit too aggressive throwing the ball.
And Kirby Smart’s decision to punt the ball on 4th-and-3 at Georgia’s 43 with less than 3 minutes left? Well, that was a choice. Fortunately for him, he got bailed out.
But Georgia, even without stars like DJ Daniel, Eric Stokes, Monty Rice, and others, found a way to win. It’s what good teams do, instead of explaining why they didn’t win if they end up losing. Not that we’ve seen any other SEC coaches do that this week, though.
The Dawgs could have been forgiven if they fell apart after Jerome Ford’s 79-yard touchdown on the 2nd play of scrimmage of the 2nd half — the longest run play allowed by any UGA team in over 17 years. Or after Daniels fumbled on the next drive with his team in the red zone. Or after its next 2 drives ended in a turnover on downs and a punt, respectively.
Let’s be honest. Georgia didn’t give a strong account of itself coming out of the locker room. But it overcame adversity while leaning on a familiar path to success: a stingy defense.
After Ford’s run, the Bearcats’ drive chart went like this: punt, punt, fumble, punt, punt, punt, safety. They gained just 17 yards the rest of the way while, most importantly, being shut out.
Meanwhile, the Dawgs needed a pick-me-up from an offense that wasn’t exactly answering the bell itself. Granted, Daniels went for 392 yards and the always highlight-reel-ready George Pickens rattled off 135 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches. But Georgia didn’t do nearly enough with the great field position its defense provided.
They ended up getting just enough of them in the end.
And Jack Podlesny went from “the guy who replaced Rodrigo Blankenship” to Georgia legend after Luke Fickell likely outsmarted himself on 3rd-and-short, his Bearcats needing just 2 yards to seal a signature win for the AAC program.
Hats off to Cincinnati, by the way. Fickell has an outstanding program, one that’s not going anywhere for a while. Desmond Ridder’s a gamer, using his legs to extend plays and keep the Dawgs defense on its toes before it eventually was able to adjust. Its own defense did its part in neutralizing Georgia’s rushing attack.
But one team had to win, and on this day, it was Georgia.
And it had to be Azeez Ojulari in the middle of things, he of the 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles and a player who was reportedly opting out of the Peach Bowl until, well, those reports were ultimately proven wrong. The next time he’ll be playing is in an NFL stadium while being paid good money to do so.
And while it didn’t quite chase away all of Georgia’s bad memories of Mercedes-Benz Stadium — this will forever be the home of 2nd-and-26, after all — it’s a great way to end a weird 2020 campaign as optimism will be the word for 2021.
The Dawgs weren’t able to stack up to the Alabamas and Floridas of the SEC this season and it cost them a shot at the College Football Playoff. We know things will probably hold true to form on defense for the most part next year despite the loss in production, but with a healthy quiver of receivers, plenty of depth in the running game, and a refreshed, refocused Daniels holding the reins, there’s no reason to think that this group won’t find itself in Atlanta as the SEC East champion in early December with at least a fighter’s chance at being a Playoff team.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad way for Georgia to start 2021. And in 364 days, the Dawgs hope they’re ending 2021 as a Playoff team.
Defense deserves a steak dinner. Oline looked like caca.
Congrats to the Dawgs for a comeback win over a damm good team. Don’t underestimate what this win means as far as momentum going into next year. It was huge.
That is Georgia’s scratched record…next year, next year, next year, next year.
Bleaux me. LSU is a dumpster fire now and for the forseeable future. LMAO.
Last national championship for LSU. 2019.
Last national championship for UGA. 1980.
LSU is straight trash and Florida is only a step above it. You guys finished with 4 loses(3 in a row to end the season) but at least you beat UGA. That is the goal for the gators now a days right? Idiot.
Geaux Long–Arik Gilbert is going to be getting laid by young ladies in Athens in a few months. You may have felt on top of the world in 19, but have fun being unranked next few years. Nature Gator, got out to nature for the next few seasons to get over UGA beating you down in 21 and beyond. Responses?
Who knows. LSU’s championship from last year may be annulled if they find out the program was hiding multiple sexual assualt crimes committed by players. Good luck with Coach zer-O and his massive buyout.
UGA’s 1980 title might be nullified if Herschel Walker keeps sucking on Trump’s little thumb.
Nature Gator brings politics into it? Wow. Trump is a di*k but at least he’s not a socialist pu$$y.
U gotta stop injecting so much bleach if u actually think Biden is a socialist.
Did anyone wake up Sleepy Joe to tell him he somehow got elected? Joe Biden doesn’t know what state he’s in or who is wife is much less what is best for this country. What a joke that a 78 year old man who is rapidly mentally decaying was the best the Dims could put forward.
Nature Gator is a 5star ahole
Can LSU say next year or is it next decade now?
UGA knows all about next decade…like 4 next decades in a row.
Nature Turd, how many decades did it take for LSU to win a NC. And we really can’t count that fake NC under Les Myles when LSU lost to Arkansas and Kentucky. What a f’in joke.
Struck a nerve maybe? Dawgs are just that. Just for curiosity’s sake, which school has won the most championships in the last 20 years after Bama. That’s right! The same dumpster fire the GA just can’t seem to beat lately.
Certainly can’t beat the ladies like those tigers do.
Don’t throw stones boss.
We won a NY6 bowl today beating a top 10 team. LSU fans show up talking trash when your program just cratered fastest in CFB history. You’ve got a dumb clown for a coach who got lucky. He’s Chizik 2.0 but with a Malzahn buyout. LSU administrators are digging deep to get rid of Coach zer-O with cause and no buyout. Probably will happen.
Hate to break it to you but LSU is a few steps below being a dumpster fire. Coach zero will be fired within 2 years because LSU is back to being who they usually are.
And we’ll keep saying it. Because we love and support our team.
F’ing MORONS…LSWho, UF, UT, AU, and the rest of the SEC, everyone besides the king (BAMA)…stfu!! “1980” blah, blah, blah…44 wins and 4 top 10 finishes the last 4 years, not to mention the 75% win per year with CRicht prior to Kirby ‘00-‘15! Would any of you trade that for your dismal programs (besides Bama and maybe LSU)? F… no if you’re being honest. Kiss this Dawgs ass you delusional psychopaths!
Read your own post and rethink who the psychopath is.
Congrats on the recent nat’l title*
*pending NCAA rulings
Congrats! A super fun game to watch! The only players who totally failed for UGA were the guys who tried to douse Kirby!
Looking forward already to getting back to Jacksonville next year and teeing it up as we have done in so many normal years.
Regardless who won, at least both teams actually deserved to be playing a NY6 game.
Because Cincinnati LOST to a team with only 75% of their starters it is the end of SEC dominance. Hmmm. Not sure I follow
Who used the word ‘dominance?’ I would say this, Cincinnati gave Georgia more competition than some of their SEC opponents this year. And, pop, please, no excuses about players being out. Both teams had players not suited up.
Cincy was missing several starters as well. Not just UGA.
I watched like an early spring game. With all the starters opting out it was nice to see the back ups get a big win. Several times I had not even heard of guys making plays on the field.
Cincinnati looks like a nice team but these games are somewhat unfair for the group of 5 teams. Win against a power program’s second team and you get no credit, but lose and you gain no respect because nobody believed you would win in the first place.
Good luck to the Bearcats next year. Georgia’s future looks bright.
Yeah, the Bullpuppies are always looking ahead to next year. Or back to 1980.
(sorry, couldn’t resist) :- ))
I’d consider being more humble; especially when the only way you can go is down when you’re on top.
1980 was special. Next time will be even better.
Great win for UGA and good way to end the season. Cincinnati played hard and represented the AAC (and G5) very well.
Proud of this team. They overcame a lot to get this win over a good team. Losing multiple starters takes a toll. It really showed on the O-line, but they found a way.
Cincy was missing their center and their RT was tossed. They were also missing their best DB. And they had several other players out with COVID.
Their RT getting tossed was all on him though…that was a completely boneheaded move on his part.
LT, not right, was “tossed” for targeting/unsportsmanlike play. UGA was out 10 starters. Nice try. We still have enough talent and coaching to SHOW up and win. Y’all?
Natur, you’re a homer.
Congrats to the Dawgs. Cincy is a good team. I like GA next year already for the SEC east.
i wonder when griffith and adams and sentel will start the conversation about if vandargriff is going to be the answer for the dogs next year since daniels does not seem to be trevor strong
the media says this vandargriff can power clean big weight and i think daniels is not very strong and also vandargriff seems to be able to run like trevor at clemson
we are lucky to have smart come for recruiting purposes but in this 5th year he is not saban equal
what was the reason trevor was not picked over fields for the dogs if anyone knows what was in smarts mind
something must get serious if we are going to beat alabama since it appears we will face them each year for some time
What are you talking about?
Daniels didn’t a good game today. He threw a pic and lost a fumble when he wasn’t protecting the ball. But he still threw for close to 400 yards and drove the team down for the winning field goal. That last drive tells me more about the kid than his mistakes earlier in the game.
This article reeks of the old saying “for a fat girl, you don’t sweat much”. Good grief! It wasn’t pretty, but UGA beat an undefeated team ranked ahead of them and without multiple starters. And as for UF being superior,I’d like to see a rematch. Your writers have to lose that Gator bromance; Spurrier and his snarky comments isn’t coming back
@ bronconagurski – Not sure what your actual question is but if you’re asking why Trevor Lawrence didn’t end up at UGA, that’s on Richt/Bobo. TL camped at UGA several times but didn’t get recruited until very late. Same for Deshaun Watson a few years earlier. Listed out the top passing Qb’s in GAHS history.
Passing yards, Career (Minimum 5000)
13,902 – Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville) 2014 – 2017 (Clemson)
13,077 – Deshaun Watson (Gainesville) 2010 – 2013 (Clemson)
12,745 – Jake Fromm (Houston County) 2013 – 2016 (Georgia)
12,119 – Harrison Bailey (Marietta) 2016-2019
10,217 – K’Hari Lane (Macon County) 2013-2016
10,097 – Brock Vandagriff (Prince Avenue Christian) 2017 – 2020 (Georgia)
9,546 – Austin Parker (East Hall) 2015-2017
9,518 – Gunner Stockton (Rabun County) 2018 – 2020 (South Carolina)
9,383 – Bailey Fisher (Rabun County) 2014-2017
9,091 – Stetson Bennett (Pierce County) 2013-2016 (Georgia)
9,062 – Zach Stanford (Metter) 2001 – 2004
9,025 – Johnathan McCrary (Cedar Grove) 2009 – 2012
8,798 – Jonquel Dawson (Martin Luther King) 2008 – 2011
8,743 – Eddie Printz (Lassiter) 2009 – 2012
8,519 – Tyler Queen (North Cobb) 2011 – 2014
8,427 – Drew Little (Henry County) 2005 – 2008
8,281 – Fabian Walker (Americus) 1996 – 1998
8,265 – Hutson Mason (Lassiter) 2007 – 2009 (Georgia)
8,226 – Cedric Johnson (Americus) 2001 – 2004
8,190 – Joseph Mancuso (Union County) 2013 – 2015
8,043 – Nick Marshall (Wilcox County) 2007 – 2010 (Georgia/Auburn)
Looked like Lawrence was a UT fan so his not being at UGA only made sense.
Always gotta throw 2nd and 26 in there. Dude…..it was 3 years ago. Come on…
A big FU to Sydney Hunte for this backhanded article. I don’t even read his $hit now but someone commented on what this clown wrote so I went to read it. F him and the entire SDS staff that are all Gator grads/fans.
“Somehow finds a way to win”? Hunte somehow managed to keep her job another day. What? If it’s not a curb stomp, the winning team only “somehow finds a way to win”? We didn’t score on a bunch of fluke plays. We didn’t sleep walk into bowing up on defense. We didn’t ding a kick off the upright. We took our flawed team, fought hard all 60 minutes, and won against a top 10 team with one of the best defenses in the country.
Congrats georgia. It was a good game and your team found a way to win even without some starters. Cincy is a good squad. I think the Jax game should be very good for the foreseeable future.
Thanks, cm. I also think we’re in for a few years of really good competition. I know the ‘4 loss season’ smack talk is an easy razz. But, you guys made a really nice improvement this year. You earned my respect. Congrats.
What a W!! Dawgs looked done and then pride and talent took over. Thought my Dawgs would not get the ball back after poor decision to punt late. Stevenson makes unreal instinct play and JT brings us down the field. With Pickens, Smith, Burton, Blaylock, Rosemy, Washington, Gilbert, and our backs next year watch out! D should be really fast and physical again plus solid kicking game. Week 1 in Charlotte is going to be epic and rest of schedule is looking very manageable. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
We should all agree that Cincy would have put up a closer fight against Bama than Notre Dame did, group of 5 teams deserve better.
was impressed with them. Still don’t think the AAC is quite on the level that the Pac 12 is (overall talent disparity) but at this rate its getting close. There’s usually at least 1 truly quality top 15 (maybe even top 10) team from there every year. Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, and even Navy have all had some sustained success each year it seems. We should give them more consideration if they produce a playoff contender than a different Go5 conference; I think we can all agree that the AAC is a notch above the MW and a couple notches above the Sun Belt, MAC, and CUSA…
roll on DAWGS!! If CKS continues to get ‘hred guns’ opt outs and seniors are gonna be no more at UGA.
The kick was as PERFECT as any I have ever seen – great snap – great placement – and then a PERFECT contact that started the ball slightly towards the right upright and hooked PERFECTLY to cross the bar dead center of the center support! Oh yeah, the crack about NW over Auburn? We had TWO WINS – Vandy and AUBURN – so no, it wasn’t a “defining” of SEC weakness – it was just a real good NW team vs a mediocre AU team.