A look back at what decided the game between Georgia and Georgia Tech.
99 – Georgia put the game out of reach at the start of the fourth quarter with a five play, 99-yard drive. Bennett hit Kenny McIntosh on a wheel route for an 83-yard gain that nearly went the distance if not for a touchdown-saving horse collar tackle that prevented a score. McIntosh ran it in on the very next play to make it 30-7, giving the Dawgs some breathing room after a tense three quarters of play. Georgia will need to sustain long drives and hit some big plays in its remaining games to reach its goal of attaining a second-straight championship.
180 – Georgia gave up only 180 yards of total offense to Tech after allowing 75 yards on Tech’s opening drive. Tech started the game with two 9-yard runs against a Georgia defense that did not look fully engaged when it took the field. On that first drive, Tech converted a 4th and 9 from the Georgia 41-yard line when Zach Gibson hit E.J. Jenkins for a 34-yard gain to the Georgia 7-yard line. Back-up QB Taisun Phommachanh then ran unabated for a 7-yard score. After that point, the Dawgs’ defense looked more like the nation’s best unit, giving up less than 200 yards the rest of the game.
182 – The total number of combined yards rushing and receiving by Kenny McIntosh. McIntosh has quietly become Georgia’s feature back. He rushed for 86 yards on 12 carries (an average of 7.2 yards a carry). McIntosh added two catches for 96 yards. This stellar performance follows a 143-yard rushing game against Kentucky. Look for the 218-pound versatile running back from Ft. Lauderdale to get plenty of touches in the SEC title game against LSU. McIntosh has 654 yards rushing on only 123 attempts this year. He also has hauled in 35 passes for 437 yards, making him one of Georgia’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
18 – The scant number of passing attempts by Stetson Bennett against Tech. Bennett completed 10 of those attempts. Just prior to Bennett’s long connection with McIntosh, Dan Orlovsky, the ex-NFL QB calling the game for ESPN, questioned whether the coaches had lost confidence in the passing game given Georgia’s run-heavy approach against Tech. Georgia ran the ball 41 times on the day. Against Kentucky, Bennett only attempted 19 passes, completing 13 of those attempts for 116 yards. Weather certainly affected the passing game against Kentucky, as the Dawgs were playing in frigid and windy conditions in Lexington. Georgia will likely need to get back to a more varied and balanced offensive attack if it hopes to repeat as National Champs. The return of a fully healthy Adonai Mitchell at the receiver position would certainly help Georgia’s passing game.
253 – The number of yards Georgia generated in the second half against Tech. Georgia outgained Tech 253-69 over the final 30 minutes of the game. “We talk all the time about trying to outscore our opponents in the fourth quarter, and win the fourth quarter every game,” Smart said. “We know the more times we snap it, the more advantage we’ve got.” Georgia produced 407 yards of offense on the day, which is about 90 yards below its season average. With the run game rolling right now, the Dawgs should be in good shape offensively if the passing game can get back to its earlier season form. Georgia’s defense is excellent, but it is not other worldly like last year’s record-setting group. If Georgia can match its season average in yards per game from this point forward, the Dawgs have a great chance to repeat as National Champs.