Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: 55 Days
Yesterday my esteemed colleague took the time to recognize Georgia’s long snapper, No. 56 William Mote. Well today it’s time to recognize another important specialist in Georgia Football history, Rodrigo Blankenship, who hit a 55 yard field goal in the Bulldogs’ 2018 Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma. Georgia still trailed by two scores at the time of the kick going through the uprights, but it changed the momentum of the game going into halftime, and the Bulldogs were able to come from behind to beat the Sooners in an instant College Football Playoff classic.
It’s easy to see after the kick that Blankenship was fired up. But let’s not forget what went into making that play possible. Tae Crowder knocked down a squib kick and recovered it in Oklahoma territory with six seconds left in the half. Georgia was then able to run one play, rolling Jake Fromm towards the sidelines and completing an out route to Terry Godwin before Kirby Smart called his final timeout of the half with a second still on the clock.
After the half, Georgia forced an Oklahoma three-and-out. Then Nick Chubb scored from 50 yards out on the Bulldogs’ first offensive play to get within seven. Two more forced punts followed by a touchdown, this time from Sony Michel, tied the game. Then Georgia picked off the Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield and returned it to the Oklahoma 4 before taking the lead for the first time in the game. That all happened in the just over 16 minutes of action that followed Blankenship’s field goal.
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In a wild back-and-forth battle, Oklahoma would tie the game and take the lead once again with its own forced turnover. However, as we all know, Georgia tied the game and took it to overtime, ultimately winning in double overtime. None of it would have been possible though without the 55 yard field goal from Rodrigo Blankenship to help Georgia get a little bit of momentum going into the half after a first 30 minutes of football.
Recent Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff Stories
No. 56 – Love for the long snapper
No. 57 – Burton’s big play puts the nail in the coffin against Michigan
No. 58 – Carson Beck’s attempts set the stage for 2023?
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