Based on the 42,000 thousand-plus fans in attendance and the ESPN nationally television audience watching at home, Georgia’s G-Day Game Saturday at Sanford Stadium looked to simulate the feel of a real contest, in turn giving a team that replaces some key pieces a semblance of live action. Reserve placekicker Andrew Jensen stepped up big when it counted, nailing a 48-yard field goal to give the Red Team a 6-3 with 2:13 left to play. Carlton Thomas later added a 20-yard touchdown run and the Red Team won 13-3. “We still got a long way to go, we’re still pushing,” Thomas said about the Bulldogs’ spring performance. “But I feel like we accomplished something. That’s another step on the ladder we took today.”
In order to prevent the risk of injury as much as possible the realism was tempered in the actual playing of the game, however, as the game featured four eight minute quarters, quarterbacks were not allowed to be touched, and the only live special teams plays ended once placekicks and punts left the kicker’s foot. Nevertheless, the coaches got something out of the players performing in front of a crowd. “Whether or not we’re on T.V. or not, I think the spring game is a gauge of how they will play when people are watching,” said Georgia head coach Mark Richt.
The Red Team featured primarily the No. 1 offense along with the No. 2 defense, while the Black Team matched the No. 1 defense together with the No. 2 offense. Joe Cox and Zach Mettenberger quarterbacked the Red Team, while Logan Gray and Aaron Murray quarterbacked the Black Team. Cox, who inherits the starting spot from Matthew Stafford, led all passers, completing 9-of-16 attempts for 105 yards. Like the rest of the quarterbacks, his effectiveness and stats were tempered by offensive miscues and dropped passes. “It was one of those things where we get a good drive going and we either have a drop or breakdown,” Cox said. “It’s still spring. You can’t make any inferences about how good our offense is based on the spring game.”
Gray led the Black Team, completing 9-of-13 passes for 91 yards, with Murray hitting on three of his five attempts for 62 yards. Mettenberger was 0-for-3 with an interception. Thanks to his late efforts, Thomas led all rushers with 59 yards on eight carries and the touchdown. Thomas is in a group of ball carriers battling to replace the departed Knowshon Moreno and still believes he has room for improvement. “I still feel like I need some more strength,” he said. “I kind of got stronger over the spring, but I still can get a little stronger, helping me break more of those big plays.”
Caleb King, playing in front of Thomas on the Red Team, gained 22 yards on seven carries. Dontavius Jackson, who was able to return for the last week of spring practice, got his first chance to go against contact in the G-Day Game. He carried three times for one yard for the Black Team. Richt says the running back picture is still up in the air, but it might get clearer or perhaps cloudier come fall, as Richard Samuel is scheduled to return from injury. Samuel was apart of the 15 scholarship and 21 total players unavailable for the scrimmage because of injuries. That includes receiver Kris Durham, who will miss the 2009 season. Offensive tackle Josh Davis may miss part of the regular season.
Defensively, The Black Team’s Justin Houston and Kiante Tripp were the only scholarship ends suited up for the game. Houston made the most of his playing time, tying linebacker turned emergency defensive end Marcus Washington with a game-high three sacks. Linebacker Christian Robinson led the Black Team with five tackles and safety Baccari Rambo and linebacker Nick Williams led the Red Team with five tackles as well. Safety Bryan Evans provided an interception for the Black Team.
Summer workouts now await Georgia, followed by fall practice and then the season opener at Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs will be the Cowboys first opponent in their new Boone Pickens Stadium. “I think we accomplished as much as we could under the circumstances,” Richt said about the conclusion of spring. “Now it’s going to be up to our seniors, our leaders to take us from this point to the first day of practice in August.”
A flag football game between former Bulldog lettermen preceded the G-Day contest. Tailback Garrison Hearst was among the past Georgia players that participated.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
