Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: 74 Days
We are now 74 days away from kickoff to the 2022 College Football season for Georgia when the Bulldogs will take on the Oregon. The Dawgs and Ducks battle could potentially be a top-10 matchup, but even if that’s the case, there will be plenty to live up to as far as season-openers go. Last year’s top-5 showdown between Georgia and Clemson was one that set the tone for the season for the Bulldogs, and it was defined by a 74-yard play that decided the game.
Georgia-Clemson had proven to be a defensive battle early in the contest. Flipping the field position with a decent drive out of the gate, Georgia pinned Clemson back deep in its own territory for the Tigers’ first possession. A Nolan Smith sack put an end to that as DJ Uiagalelei and company went three-and-out.
Then the Bulldogs were the ones going three-and-out. A second sack on third down, this time by Nakobe Dean, and Clemson was punting yet again, going a combined negative 5 yards.
Georgia’s offense didn’t do anything special either. The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie, before Jack Podlesny missed a 35-yard attempt that would have put the Bulldogs on the board first early in the second quarter.
Finally, in the second quarter, Clemson got into Georgia territory for the first time but flamed out. So too did JT Daniels and the Georgia offense before another third down stop by the Dawgs. Only this time, they weren’t the ones getting the ball back. Will Spiers’ punt bounced off the foot of Kendall Milton and was recovered by Clemson. Then things got interesting.
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On 3rd and 4 from the Georgia 26, Uiagalelei took the snap late in the play clock. He fired over the middle to Justyn Ross, but Christopher Smith was ready for it. In yet another big play from the Bulldog defense, Smith returned the ball 74 yards to the house, out-running a diving effort from Uiagelelei to take him down short of the goal line. Touchdown Georgia.
Smith’s touchdown proved to be all the points Georgia would need to win. Both teams added on a field goal in the second half, but the pick-six was the only time either team reached the end zone. The Bulldogs ended the night with seven sacks and allowed just 2 rushing yards because of that.
And as was said in the intro, the win set the tone for the season. Georgia’s defense came through in the clutch when needed most. Against Clemson that meant taking matters into their own hands by both scoring a touchdown and keeping the Tigers out of the end zone. Other games it simply meant stifling the opponent’s offense. The Dawgs’ defense came to play in 2021, and it all started with an outstanding performance in the season opener highlighted by Smith’s memorable 74-yard play.
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Does your blood run Red and Black?
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