Clemson's Loss - Big Win Over Missouri, Vaults Georgia Bulldogs To No. 3 In AP Poll

Dawgs Defense Has An Off-Day But Offense Racks Up 53 Points. Florida Next On Oct. 28

  • Sunday, October 15, 2017
  • special report
Although the first-half was a bit shaky, Bulldogs' fans had much to cheer about Saturday.
Although the first-half was a bit shaky, Bulldogs' fans had much to cheer about Saturday.
photo by Red and Black website

Following Clemson's loss, the Georgia Bulldogs moved up a notch to No. 3 in the coaches poll behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Penn State. Clemson dropped to No. 8.

In Georgia’s 53-28 win over Missouri on Saturday, it was Georgia’s passing game that did the heavy lifting, as quarterback Jake Fromm connected with his receivers all night en route to a total of 326 passing yards, a season-high for the Bulldogs.

As a whole, the Georgia offense had a field day on homecoming weekend, rolling up 696 yards of offense and 53 points.

But the passing game bailed out the early struggles of Georgia’s run game. Georgia’s air attack, on the other hand, racked up 142 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter of play.

  In the first quarter, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Brian Herrien combined for 15 rushing yards.

 After the game, head coach Kirby Smart said an effective passing game is needed to be successful on offense in the Southeastern Conference.

“You’re not going to walk out there and just have success running it in this league; it’s hard to do,” Smart said. “You got to be able to throw and catch the ball, which we did better tonight.”

The passing game got going on Georgia’s first drive, when Fromm completed a 28-yard pass to Terry Godwin on third-and-eight to pick up a first down. It was the first of nine third-downs Fromm converted through the air Saturday night.

Fromm, a true freshman who took over the starting quarterback job after sophomore Jacob Eason went down with a knee injury on Sept. 2, had a career game against the Tigers, adding two touchdowns to his 326 passing yards.

With Fromm now seven games into his Georgia career and the Bulldogs are 7-0, Smart said he has continued to see growth from Fromm.

“I see a little more confidence, making good decisions,” Smart said. “He understands the game… He sees coverages well.” Smart also acknowledged the interception Fromm threw in the first quarter, which Missouri later turned into a touchdown.“He made a mistake,” Smart said. “He made a poor decision, but quarterbacks are going to make those.”

After Georgia’s victory, Fromm’s teammate on the other side of the ball, linebacker Roquan Smith, said he’s not surprised at the ability Fromm has displayed this season.

“Way before the guy was even a starter, I knew he was a natural-born leader,” Smith said. “First days, he got up here, he was like calm and everything, watching film just like a veteran.”

Often relegated to a blocking role for Georgia’s running backs, the receivers enjoyed a night as a premier part of the offense on Saturday. The receivers saw 26 targets, the second highest number of any game this season.

The Missouri game was a chance for the receivers to showcase their abilities like never before, Smart said.

“[The receivers], they make those plays in practice. They get the opportunity to,” Smart said. “They stepped up tonight and made them.”

Javon Wims led the Bulldogs with 95 yards on five catches, a career-best for the senior. Sophomore Mecole Hardman had 71 yards, also a career-high, and a touchdown to go with a 35-yard touchdown run he scored in the first quarter.

Junior Terry Godwin, Georgia’s leading receiver with 327 yards so far in 2017, was forced to leave the game in the first half with a rib injury. But before Godwin left, he contributed 42 yards on four catches.

Coming into the game against Georgia, Missouri was ranked 109th in the country in passing defense, allowing over 250 yards a game, according to the NCAA. But Smart said Georgia’s offensive game plan was not to rely on the passing game but rather try for a balance between running and throwing.

“The intent is to be balanced,” Smart said. “To be balanced, you got to run and throw it. We’ve had some games where we didn’t have to do that.”

Blankenship is perfect in kicking four field goals

After going 4-for-4 on field goals, finishing perfect on extra points and booting seven touchbacks in No. 4 Georgia’s 53-28 win over Missouri Saturday night, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship said he was simply doing his job.

“It’s my job to hit as many touchbacks as I can and try and make all my field goals that they send me out there for,” Blankenship said.

Heading into Saturday night’s matchup, the sophomore kicker had made 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts, good enough for second in the SEC. But Blankenship ran into trouble early in terms of touchbacks, failing to reach the end zone on two of his first four kickoffs.

Blankenship’s first kickoff was 10 yards short of the goal line and was returned for 38 yards by Missouri.

“My mind just wasn’t right, wasn’t where it needed to be,” Blankenship said.

But Blankenship said his teammates kept him focused and encouraged during his early slump. Starting with a kickoff with seven minutes left to go in the second quarter, Blankenship reeled off five straight touchbacks.

“He did a good job responding,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “He found his groove and kicked a couple balls deep right, and we changed some things and mixed it up for him.”

Blankenship was also perfect on field goals on the night, knocking in all four attempts, including a 43-yarder. His four made field goals against Missouri ties his career best from the Kentucky game last season.

Blankenship has faced a tough road to solidify himself as Georgia’s starting kicker. After taking over kicking duties partway through the 2016 season, Blankenship faced offseason competition from graduate transfer David Marvin.

It wasn’t until after Georgia’s victory over Notre Dame on Sept. 9 that it was announced Blankenship would be placed on scholarship.

But Smart said the adversity Blankenship faced has made him into the reliable kicking forced he has become for the Bulldogs.

“I think [Blankenship] is a product of competition,” Smart said. “He’s been in really tough competition. He’s got a lot of pressure on him. He puts a lot of pressure on himself, all offseason.

Former defensive back turned receiver has breakout game

This time last year, Mecole Hardman was a defensive back. He had never played as a receiver until this year. His 2017 season, up until Saturday, had been speckled with dropped balls that landed in his hands.

But against Missouri, just about everything was clicking for Hardman.

“It's been there,” Hardman said. “I've just got to take advantage of opportunities that I get and I did that today.”

The receiver accounted for one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown against the Tigers, and the touchdown reception came on a 59-yard pass from Jake Fromm.

Hardman finished the day with just one carry and two receptions. But each time he touched the ball on offense, Hardman picked up at least a first down. His touchdown on the ground was the product of a 35-yard carry, and his only non-scoring offensive touch was a 12-yard reception.

“Mecole is electrifying,” defensive back J.R. Reed said. “I'm glad he's on our side.”

Before Saturday, Hardman never had a game where he tallied more than 27 receiving yards. In fact, in Georgia’s first six games, Hardman accumulated 58 yards total, meaning his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter single handedly doubled his season receiving yards.

Hardman said he’s still transitioning into his new role, but he doesn’t doubt his ability when it comes to making plays on offense.

“I feel like if I get in space, I don't feel like I can be caught,” Hardman said. “That's how you're supposed to think as a runner. I was confident in my speed and when I get in open field, I think I can do what most people can do in open field and not get caught.”

That’s exactly what Hardman did on his 35-yard carry that resulted in a touchdown.

In Saturday’s game, Hardman showed off all the ways he can make plays. He can run the ball, and he can catch the ball. Plus, he’s been a key player on kickoff returns, especially against Missouri. He averaged 22 yards in his three returns.

And despite being a newcomer on this side of the ball, Hardman proved on Saturday that he can contribute on offense.

“You guys got to see him with some speed, some burst, some get open and really run,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “Mecole is a very attentive player that is passionate about the game. I love the way he approaches each practice and the way he works. I hope that gives him a little confidence so he continues to grow.”

Georgia is off Oct. 22, then plays Florida on Oct. 28

“My concern is, can we get better?” coach Kirby Smart said. “The past doesn’t determine the future. Our past success or wins will not determine what happens in the future. The only thing that will determine the future is how we work and how we prepare and as long as these kids buy into that and they don’t get tired of hearing that message and they don’t start believing all of your (media) messages then I think they’ll be OK.”


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