Colorado-Georgia Notes
October 02, 2010 | Football
QUICKLY Colorado evened the series with Georgia at 1-1 (no future games scheduled), and is now 3-9-1 vs. SEC teams (1-1 in Boulder) ... The Buffs are 3-1 for the first time since 2008, also the last time they won back-to-back games (opening the year 3-0) ... UB Matt Bahr, a converted offensive tackle (last spring) scored his first career touchdown on CU's opening drive ... it was also the first points CU has scored this year on its opening drive in four games ... Georgia's field goal on its first possession also marked the first opponent points this year on their opening drive ... TB Brian Lockridge made his third career start; the other two were on the road, boat at Kansas State (2007, 2009) ... CB Jalil Brown made his second interception of the season in the second quarter, the fifth of his career (the other was against CSU) ... WR Will Jefferson (1-46 receiving), came in with three catches for 16 yards, and had six for 45 his freshman year ... CU extended its streak to 24 consecutive games with at least one sack ... The fourth quarter drive where CU missed a 52-yard field goal attempt was 15 plays for 45 yards (10-for-13) in plus territory, but consumed 8:53 off the clock ... Georgia averaged an astonishing 10.6 yards on first down plays (317 yards on 30 plays), but managed just 92 yards on 29 second/third down plays (3.2 per) ... CU was flagged for a season-low three penalties (two special teams, one on the defense); it was a team low since being called for two at Nebraska on Nov. 28, 2008 ... Dan Hawkins' staffs are now 9-3 after bye weeks (3-3 at Colorado).
200 BACK-TO-BACK The Buffs rushed for 235 yards as a team tonight, and coupled with the 252 against Hawai'i, have now rushed for 200-plus yards in back-to-back games (after going 19 straight games under 200) for the first time since 2006, when the Buffs did it twice (Baylor/Texas Tech, Kansas State/Iowa State). Dan Hawkins' teams are now 40-1 in his career when rushing for 200 or more yards (8-1 at Colorado).
FOURTH TIME, er game, THE CHARM The Buffs did not have a single forced fumble in their first three games, but had two tonight; DE Josh Hartigan had one in the third quarter when he sacked Aaron Murray, and OLB B.J. Beatty had the other with 1:55 that may have saved the game.
TB RODNEY STEWART (19-149, 1 TD) The CU junior had his 10th career 100-yard game (second in a row, second this year), and is now tied for the seventh most in school history with three other players (Hugh Charles, Merwin Hodel and Cortlen Johnson). The 149 yards are the second most in his career (2008: 166 vs. West Virginia). With 1,828 yards, he has crept close to CU's top 20; he is 22nd all-time, on the heels of Byron White (21st, 1,864) and Bob Stransky (1,868). His 65-yard run in the third quarter was the longest rush by a CU player since Charles had a 74-yard TD run at Oklahoma State on Oct. 1, 2005. He also converted on one 3rd-&-1 and one 4th-&-1, and is now 7-for-7 in such situations this season (and 18-of-20 in his career).
QB TYLER HANSEN (20-13-1, 158, 1 TD) Hansen moved up two notches into 13th place in all-time passing yards with 2,436; he passed Zack Jordan (2,287) and Bernie McCall (2,332). His 39-yard run on that first CU drive was the longest rush by a CU quarterback since Bernard Jackson's 62-yard TD run against Kansas State on Nov. 4, 2006.
WR SCOTTY McKNIGHT (2-21, 0 TD) He extended his regular season streak to 40 games with at least one reception (every game of his career, 41 including postseason); that is an active player best in the NCAA.
COLORADO INJURIES TB Brian Lockridge (ankle sprain in first half), returned to play on it. No other significant injuries reported or expected.
Georgia Postgame Notes: Oct. 2 @ Colorado
Green Electrifies In Return: Junior FLK A.J. Green played for the first time this season after serving a four-game suspension by the NCAA. Green had seven catches for 119 yards - two of which were touchdowns. Green now has five 100-yard receiving games in his career. He touched the ball for the first time on an end-around for 40 yards early in the second quarter. Green's rush set up a 3-yard one-handed touchdown grab as redshirt freshman QB Aaron Murray connected with Green at the 11:08 mark in the second quarter. His second score came on a 39-yard pass from Murray at the 7:53 mark in the second to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 edge. Murray tied his career high with three TD passes. He also had three TD passes against Louisiana in addition to a rushing TD.
Walsh Goes For 2-For-3: Junior PK Blair Walsh drilled a 33-yard field goal with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter and then a 20 yarder with 12:30 left in the game. He missed a 41 yarder as time expired in the half. It was only the second miss of Walsh's career from that range (40 to 49 yards). Walsh is now 9-for-10 on the year and 44-for-55 in his career. He also connected on two PATs and is 104-for-104 in his career.
Boykin Has Longest Return Of The Year: Junior CB Brandon Boykin had one kickoff return for 72 yards midway through the first quarter and finished with two for 97 yards.. His first return set up Walsh's field goal. This total gives him 1,312 kickoff return yards in his career on 50 returns. Boykin is No. 2 on Georgia's all-time list. Gene Washington (1973-76, 71 ret. for 1,637) is the school record holder.
Brown Grabs His First: Sophomore SE Marlon Brown hauled in his first career touchdown on an 8-yard strike from Murray with 10:40 left in the third period. It gave Georgia a 24-14 advantage.
Turnovers: Junior ILB Marcus Dowtin snagged his first career interception of his career with 1:40 left in the half. This was the Bulldogs' fifth INT of the year. Dowtin's INT led to a missed field goal. Georgia has forced six turnovers and converted them into 14 points while its opponents have scored 7 points off seven Bulldog miscues on the year. Georgia's sixth turnover of the year was on a Murray INT earlier in the second period. It was only his third INT of his career. Murray's INT led to Dowtin's pick in the following series. A Caleb King fumble in the fourth ended Georgia's last drive of the contest. King finished with 12 carries for 100 yards.
Starters: Senior RG Chris Davis slid over and started at center against the Buffaloes. Junior C Ben Jones had started 27 consecutive games at center before Saturday's game. Going into the game with Colorado, Jones had the second-most consecutive starts on the team behind senior LT Clint Boling, who started his 30th straight game on Saturday. Jones returned at center in the second half. Sophomore TB Carlton Thomas made his first career start. In addition, freshman Garrison Smith played for the first time this season at DE. Six true freshmen have played for the Bulldogs this season.
UGA-CU Series: Colorado evens the series at1-1 after tonight's 29-27 victory. The Bulldogs drop to 1-4 overall this year. They are now 39-5 in non-conference games under coach Mark Richt.
In Honor Of 'Q': Senior DE Brandon Wood wore #31, rather than his regular #97, in honor of senior safety Quintin Banks. Banks was forced to retire this preseason because of re-occurring knee injuries. He is now a student coach. A different Bulldog senior will wear #31 each game this season.
Injury Report: Freshman OLB T.J. Stripling suffered a right knee injury late in the opening quarter and did not return. Stripling was playing on the Bulldogs' kickoff team. Sophomore CB Branden Smith left the game in the second quarter with a concussion and did not return. Georgia's leading receiver, senior Kris Durham, did not see action due to a stinger that he suffered last week at Mississippi State.
Bulldog Captains: Redshirt freshman CB Blake Sailors, senior SE Kris Durham, senior ILB Akeem Dent and junior PK Blair Walsh were the captains versus the Buffaloes.
Next Week's Opponent: Georgia (1-4, 0-3 SEC) returns to Athens to host Tennessee (2-3, 0-2 SEC) on Oct. 9 at 12:21 p.m. The Bulldogs fell 45-19 to the Volunteers in Knoxville last year, but beat Tennessee 26-14 the last time the teams met in Athens in 2008. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. The Volunteers suffered a 16-14 last-second loss at LSU on Saturday. The Bulldogs are on a four-game losing streak for the first time since 1990 when they dropped their final four games of the year.
