Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: 69 Days
The Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry is known as “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate,” and there’s certainly no love lost in this in-state clash. The Bulldogs have dominated the Yellow Jackets recently, winning four in a row and 17 of the last 20 including 11 straight at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Today, 69 days away from the Bulldogs’ next game in Atlanta – taking on Oregon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, we take a look at five of the moments from Georgia’s 69 wins over Georgia Tech.
1997
The 1997 edition of Georgia-Georgia Tech remains one of the best finishes in series history.
Georgia started fast with a 54-yard touchdown to Hines Ward before Tech tied it. In the second, Corey Allen scored on a 59-yard strike to make it 14-7 Dawgs. Georgia led 14-10 at the halftime break and 21-10 in the third quarter after another Mike Bobo to Hines Ward score.
However, allowing 14 straight points including a touchdown by Tech to take the lead with 48 seconds left, Georgia found itself trailing 24-21. Then, with 14 seconds left, it appeared the Bulldogs’ chances were done. Bobo’s pass was picked off by a Yellow Jacket defender. A flag on the play negated the mistake though, and gave Bobo and the Bulldogs another chance. With the ball placed on the 8-yard-line, Bobo found Allen again in the corner for the score. The Dawgs would win 27-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Larry Munson described it best.
“Our hearts, they were torn out and bleed, and we stuck ’em back inside. I can’t believe this. We won 27-24, and at the end, we had no business winning this game.”
Munson
2006
Another final drive victory. Another great call from Larry Munson. Wash, rinse, repeat. This time, it was Matthew Stafford leading the Bulldogs from behind.
The No. 15 ranked Yellow Jackets took a 3-0 lead into halftime and watched as Georgia missed an opportunity to tie the game with a missed 27-yard chip shot field goal in the third quarter. Georgia would take a 7-3 lead on a scoop and score but didn’t hold that for long as Tech jumped back on top with a touchdown with 8:50 remaining. That’s what Stafford took over.
He drove Georgia 64 yards in over seven minutes, converting a 3rd and 6 in the red zone with 3:41 on the clock before finding Mohamed Massaquoi in the end zone on 3rd and Goal with 1:45 left in the game to go up 13-12. The two connected on the 2-point conversion to make it 15-12, and the Bulldogs would hold on to close out the win with Kelin Johnson having a huge pass breakup, a sack from Charles Johnson, Quentin Moses and company capped off by an interception from Paul Oliver defending Calvin Johnson.
2009
In 2009, an unranked Georgia team once again upset a ranked Georgia Tech group, this time in the top 10 at No. 7. Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets were 10-2 and headed to the ACC Championship Game, but none of that mattered to the Bulldogs who came into Bobby Dodd Stadium and won 30-24.
Caleb King and Washaun Ealey ran through the Yellow Jacket defense on the first possession, setting the tone for the night. King scored from 6 yards out after a big 35-yard run earlier in the drive by Ealey. In the second quarter, Ealey took one 34 yards, helping Joe Cox and company out to a 17-3 halftime lead. King took one 75 yards on Georgia’s first offensive play of the second half as he and Ealey combined to rush for 343 yards on the night, propelling the Bulldogs to another upset victory.
2013
Georgia was without starting quarterback Aaron Murray in this installment of the rivalry and trailed the host Yellow Jackets 20-0 just before halftime when Hutson Mason got the Bulldogs on the board. Todd Gurley crossed the plane, and in the third quarter, Mason once again threw a touchdown – this time to Michael Bennett – to get Georgia within one score. Tech responded with a touchdown of its own to go up 27-17, but Gurley and the Bulldogs answered and eventually tied the game up at 27 a piece after intercepting Vad Lee to take it to overtime. After both the Yellow Jackets scored in their portion of the first overtime, Gurley did the same in the Georgia half. That sent it to a second overtime, and on the first play, Gurley found his way into the end zone for a fourth and final time on the afternoon as the Bulldogs would breakup Lee’s pass in the end zone on 4th and 5 to win the game.
2021
Georgia and Georgia Tech didn’t get to play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of non-conference football games across the country. It was the first time since 1924 that the two in-state rivals didn’t play each other, even continuing to play during World War II. So, when the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets got back together, there was no holding back. Georgia won 45-0 on the road in a stadium that featured more red and black than navy blue and gold. Stetson Bennett threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns including a pair to Brock Bowers. Meanwhile, the running backs left their mark with a combined 202 rushing yards on 27 carries – an average of 7.5 per carry – as the Bulldogs finished out their first undefeated regular season since 1982 and first 12-0 regular season in program history.
Georgia and Georgia Tech tee it up on November 26th this season, Tech’s first trip to Sanford Stadium since 2018.
Recent Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff Stories
No. 70 – Georgia’s last punt return touchdown sees Mecole Hardman take one 70 yards to the house
No. 72 – 72 passing yards in a top-10 win, 72 tackles for Butkus Award winner
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