ATHENS — If you were a bored Georgia fan Saturday, chances are you were a happy Georgia fan.
And happiness has been a rare thing for a lot of Bulldogs fans over recent years.
But coming off an an emotional road win over Notre Dame last week, the 13th-ranked Bulldogs, and their fans, had every reason to experience, and expect, a letdown of some kind against FCS Samford at Sanford Stadium.
And in year’s past, that certainly would have been the case. But this Georgia team’s 42-14 domination of the other Bulldogs from Birmingham may be just the statement win coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have been looking for.
A statement win over an FCS opponent. Really?
“We’re making improvements, which is what we want every week,” Smart said. “But, we still have more things that we can improve on. I thought we did a good job of coming out strong and getting a quick lead.”
Last season, Smart’s first in Athens, Georgia followed up a surprising 33-24 win over North Carolina in their opener in the Georgia Dome with a lackluster, and extremely fortunate, 26-24 win over FCS Nicholls State.
And after a disappointing opening drive Saturday to start the game, you could almost see the doubt of the sellout-crowd of 92,746 assembled hanging in the twilight sky over Athens.
But, the newly-crafted defense under Mel Tucker, who came with Smart from Alabama, would not have a repeat performance of last year. The 2017 defense is beginning to show that past expectations are just that, in the past.
The defense forced a Samford offense that came in averaging 38.5 points and 365 yards a game to four consecutive three-and-outs to open the game. Samford managed just 16 yards and no first first downs on nine plays in the first quarter and did not collect its first first down until the 9:46 mark of the second quarter.
“They have confidence in the system,” Smart said of the defense. “They’re playing hard and physical and we haven’t had a lot of injuries. If you play hard, you have a chance. Throw in good players and that makes it easier.”
Nick Chubb, who had not seemed like much of a focal point of the offense during the first two games of the season, was seemingly rediscovered by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. The senior running back rushed for 131 yards and two scores on 16 carries through just under three quarters of work. The 100-yard effort was the 19th of his career, second only to Herschel Walker. The two scores give him 33 for his career, which tied Garrison Hearst for fourth on the school’s all-time list.
But, Smart and Chaney went five-deep on the depth chart in the backfield as all five of the running backs got at least six carries. Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm wasn’t spectacular but made enough plays (8-of-13, 165 yards, 3 TDs) to keep the Samford defense on its heels to allow the Georgia running backs to churn out 284 yards on 54 attempts (5.3 yards a carry). Sony Michel, nursing an ankle injury, did not dress and was the only running back not to get in the game.
“Running back is one of our depth spots,” Smart said. “All the running backs ran the ball hard, they protected the ball, and they protected the quarterback. They ran with great toughness.
“(Freshman) D’Andre (Swift, 9 car., 54 yards, TD) had some nice runs and I still don’t think we’ve seen the best Brian (Herrien, 9 car., 45 yards) has to offer. Jake is a bright kid who knows where to go with the ball. He makes good decisions most of the time and he’s growing up as a player.”
After the opening drive, the Bulldogs proceeded to score on their next four drives into the third quarter. Mecole Hardman snared a 5-yard fade-route pass from Fromm and Chubb’s first touchdown, a 32-yard romp one play after a 47-yard pass from Fromm to Riley Ridley, gave them a 14-0 lead with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
On Georgia’s next possession, Fromm connected with Terry Godwin on a simple crossing route and Godwin split the Samford defense and raced 51 yards for a score and a 21-0 lead. Samford finally broke through Georgia’s defense late in the second quarter when Devin Hodges found T.D. Marshall on a 9-yard scoring pass to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive and trim the lead to 21-7 by halftime.
But, Samford did have a chance to get closer manufacturing a quick late first half drive that ended when Georgia's J.R. Reed blocked a Jordan Weaver 37-yard field goal attempt.
In what looked like a model of his former Alabama teams, Smart and the Bulldogs put the game away with a dominant third quarter. Georgia scored 21 points, sparked by a turnover, a stoppage on downs, and a forced punt by the defense.
When the smoke cleared, the Bulldogs led 42-7. The fans coming expecting another Nicholls State performance began leaving early for the victory parties around Athens.
“We challenged the guys at halftime to come out and take control of the game,” Smart said. “We made a stop, got a turnover, the young quarterback showed he’s growing up, and we cashed in.”
Now, Georgia (3-0, 0-0 SEC East) will turn it’s attention to its SEC home opener against a resurgent Mississippi State team (3-0, 1-0 SEC West) that pummeled LSU 37-7 on Saturday in Starkville.
“(Mississippi State) has a tremendous program. They have a physical team and they have a quarterback (Nick Fitzgerald) that can run and throw,” Smart said. “They make you defend all over the field. It will be an exciting game.”
Georgia fans, however, are probably hoping that next Saturday will be just as boring and this one was.
NOTES: Placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship had seven kickoffs and seven touchbacks in the game. All seven were booming kicks into the back of the end zone. ... Hardman’s TD catch was the first of his career. ... Swift’s 11-yard TD run was the first of his career. ... The 51-yard TD strike from Fromm to Godwin was the longest for each in their careers. Godwin’s 98 yards and 2 TD catches also were career-highs.
SCORING SUMMARY
Samford.....0.....7.....0.....7 -- 14
Georgia.....14.....7....21....0 -- 42
First Quarter
G -- Hardman 5 pass from Fromm (Blankenship kick) 7-0, 3:48
G -- Chubb 32 run (Blankenship kick) 14-0, 1:45
Second Quarter
G -- Godwin 51 pass from Fromm (Blankenship kick) 21-0, 10:32
S -- Marshall 9 pass from Hodges (Weaver kick) 21-7, 5:49
Third Quarter
G -- Chubb 14 run (Blankenship kick) 28-7, 12:19
G -- Godwin 9 pass from Fromm (Blankenship kick) 35-7, 8:33
G -- Swift 11 run (Marvin kick) 42-7, 1:27
Fourth Quarter
S -- McKnight 18 pass from Hodges (Weaver kick) 42-14, 13:49
