For some Georgia fans, the Notre Dame fight song brings back a wave of nostalgia. Interestingly, it also serves as the anthem of Athens Y Camp, albeit with a lyrical twist. “Cheer, cheer for old Athens Y…” echoes a familiar tune for many.
First Quarter: A Rocky Start
Notre Dame won the coin toss, opting to kick, and the game was underway. Gunner Stockton, starting his first game as a Bulldog, took charge. However, Georgia’s opening drive was far from inspiring. A Notre Dame penalty gave them a brief lifeline, but the drive fizzled out when Stockton was sacked, fumbling the ball out of bounds.
Still, the Dawgs showed grit. Stockton connected with Dillon Bell for a huge play that sparked life into the team. Another first down pass to Bell followed by a quick gain from Lovett seemed promising. But at 3rd and 1 on Notre Dame’s 16-yard line, disaster struck—a fumble recovered by the Irish deep in their territory.
Notre Dame’s offense methodically worked its way out of the danger zone. By the end of the first quarter, they were positioned comfortably at their 26-yard line, setting the tone for the next phase of the game.
Second Quarter: Trading Blows
Notre Dame started the second quarter with a punt, giving Georgia possession at their 22-yard line. Stockton wasted no time, hitting Arian Smith with a stunning 66-yard pass. That set up Peyton Woodring for a 41-yard field goal, giving the Dawgs an early lead. The scoreboard read: Georgia 3, Notre Dame 0.
The Irish responded with a balanced ground game and short passes, steadily advancing before settling for a field goal.
Georgia’s next drive started strong, featuring a 21-yard pass to Oscar Delp, but they couldn’t capitalize and ended up punting. Notre Dame mirrored this pattern—short runs and passes—before stalling at their own 44.
Late in the half, Georgia’s offense faltered again, punting the ball back to the Irish, who managed to mount a drive into Bulldog territory. With seconds ticking down, a field goal put Notre Dame ahead 3-6 at halftime. But the real blow came moments later—a Georgia fumble on a sack positioned the Irish for a quick touchdown, sending them into the locker room with a commanding 13-3 lead and momentum firmly in their grasp.
Third Quarter: Fighting Back
Notre Dame started the second half strong, their kickoff return setting them up at the 20-yard line. Georgia looked tentative and unsure, struggling to regain control. After an exchange of punts, the Dawgs took over on their 37. Stockton connected with Lovett for 19 yards.. From Notre Dame’s 32, Stockton found Cash Jones for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 20-10. The Dawgs were alive.
The energy in the stadium was electric. Georgia’s defense stood tall, stopping the Irish on a 4th-and-1 QB sneak, handing the ball back to their offense at midfield. However, Georgia’s next drive faltered after a false start and failed fourth-down attempt, giving the ball back to Notre Dame.
Fourth Quarter: The Final Stretch
Notre Dame opened the fourth quarter with a drive that reached Georgia’s 24. On 4th-and-1, a penalty forced them to settle for a field goal, extending their lead to 23-10 with just under 14 minutes to play.
Georgia needed a spark, and Nate Frazier delivered with a 28-yard run. A pass interference call on 4th-and-13 gave the Dawgs new hope, bringing them to the 14-yard line. But their momentum stalled. On 4th-and-5, Stockton’s pass to Lawson Luckie in the end zone fell incomplete with 9:25 remaining.
The Irish milked the clock expertly, even drawing Georgia offsides with a fake punt to keep their drive alive. Their offensive line dominated, grinding out the final minutes with punishing run plays. As the clock wound down, Notre Dame sealed their victory, hoisting the Sugar Bowl trophy and ending Georgia’s season with a 23-10 win.
It was a tough night for the Dawgs—a game of missed opportunities and costly mistakes—but Spring Drills are right around the corner.
Go Dawgs!!!