Not in the game notes
Georgia goes from one set of Cats to another this upcoming week as they tangle against Auburn Saturday in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
The first meeting took place in 1892 (it was Georgia's 2nd ever game). The game took place on February 20th. Can you imagine tailgating in that weather? Some notable people born in 1892: J.R.R. Tolkien, Oliver Hardy and former strongman Charles Atlas. That first game was played in Atlanta (in fact the first ten were). Also, 59 of the first 62 meetings were neutral site games. Both teams have the advantage in each other's hometowns. But when it is all said and done, the series is tied at 55-55-8 and Georgia is looking for a lead in the series for the first time since 1986.
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But before we talk more on the Auburn game, let me talk a few more things about the last game. Dawg fans were excited that the offense moved the ball and scored. Twenty-seven points is not a lot, but for the Bulldogs it is better than before.
The team also managed 300 yards rushing. Under Mark Richt, that was the fifth time in which Georgia has done that in an SEC game and tenth overall. Here are those times in conference games.
328 yards rushing: 2007 vs. Ole Miss
305 yards rushing: 2014 at Kentucky
304 yards rushing: 2011 vs. Auburn
302 yards rushing: 2012 vs. Vanderbilt
300 yards rushing: 2015 vs. Kentucky
The team didn't throw that much as they went back-and-forth between Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey with a little bit of Wild Dawg as well. In all, the Bulldogs had just 90 yards of passing. Under Richt, Georgia is a perfect 4-0 in games in which they did not reach the century mark through the air and two of those opponents were ranked.
Here are those games.
2009 at #7 Georgia Tech: 76 yards passing
2015 vs. Kentucky: 90 yards passing
2001 at Ole Miss: 93 yards passing
2007 vs. #22 Kentucky: 99 yards passing
Fourteen times under Richt a team has surrendered three or fewer points. Half of those were conference games.
Here are the seven opponents.
Vanderbilt three times (3 in 2004, 0 in 2010, 3 in 2012)
South Carolina one time (0 in 2006)
Auburn one time (0 in 2012)
Missouri one time (0 in 2014)
Kentucky one time (0 in 2015)
Let's move forward again to the Auburn matchup. As I stated Georgia is 55-55-8 all-time against that team from the neighboring state with multiple nicknames. Here are some numbers that illustrate were those wins, losses and ties rank.
Most wins against opponent by Georgia:
Georgia Tech: 64
Auburn Tigers: 55
Auburn Tigers: 55
Kentucky: 55
Vanderbilt: 55
Most losses against opponent by Georgia:
Auburn War Eagles: 55
Florida: 42
Alabama: 38
Georgia Tech: 38
Most ties against opponent by Georgia:
Auburn Plainsmen: 8
Georgia Tech: 5
Alabama: 4
Clemson: 4
Richt has a chance to put up ten wins against an opponent this week against Auburn. It would be the fifth team in which he has done that against in his career.
Kentucky: 13-2 record
Vanderbilt: 13-2 record
Georgia Tech: 12-2 record
Tennessee: 10-5 record
Auburn: 9-5 record
South Carolina: 9-6 record
Dawg fans got to see a little bit of the Wild Dawg offense last week as a few non-quarterbacks received some snaps. While none of them threw the ball, they might down the road. While Richard Appleby happened 40 years ago, here are some non-quarterbacks that threw passes for Georgia under Richt and their stats.
Terrence Edwards: 3-for-3 passing, 42 yards (he was actually 4-for-6 in career including Donnan's days)
Rantavious Wooten: 1-for-2 passing, 42 yards
Thomas Brown: 1-for-1, 9 yards, 1 TD
Todd Gurley: 1-for-1, 50 yards (still the longest pass play in last two seasons)
Mohamed Massaquoi: 0-for-2
Kenny Bailey: 0-for-1
Reggie Brown: 0-for-1
A.J. Bryant: 0-for-1
Damien Gary: 0-for-1
Since Terry Godwin is listed as a wide receiver I was curious who has had the most rushing yards in a game by a non-quarterback for the Dawgs under Richt.
Well, here they are.
Brandon Boykin: 80 yards rushing (2011 vs. Boise State)
Branden Smith: 72 yards rushing (2009 vs. Tennessee Tech)
Branden Smith: 65 yards rushing (2009 vs. South Carolina)
Branden Smith: 58 yards rushing (2011 vs. New Mexico State)
Isaiah McKenzie: 54 yards rushing (2014 vs. Troy)
Branden Smith: 52 yards rushing (2009 vs. Kentucky)
A.J. Green: 40 yards rushing (2010 vs. Colorado)
Reggie Brown: 35 yards rushing (2003 vs. LSU (SEC Championship)
Gordon Ely-Kelso: 34 yards rushing (2005 vs. Kentucky)
Sony Michel was back there as well and he rushed from there and in his normal spot. He rushed for a career-high 165 yards on 24 attempts. He also scored his first touchdown since the Southern game. On the season he has rushed 126 times for 718 yards and five touchdowns. Check out this crazy stat (well at least in terms of yards).
First Half: 58 attempts, 359 yards, 6.2 avg, 3 TD
Second Half: 68 attempts, 359 yards, 5.3 avg, 2 TD
Malcolm Mitchell continues to climb Georgia's receiving records.
Here is where he currently ranks in school history.
159 receptions: 5th
2,102 yards receiving: 7th
15 touchdown receptions: 11th
Children's books written: 1st (I believe)
Mitchell has three career touchdown receptions against Auburn (one in each game played against them). That is the most he has against any single opponent.
Dominick Sanders had two interceptions in last week's game. He is one of two Georgia players to have more than in a game twice under Richt (he also did it against Louisville in the bowl game last season). Sean Jones is the other Bulldog when he had two against Auburn in 2002 and two more against South Carolina in 2003.
Sanders may be approaching a Georgia record as well. This season he has four interceptions and has returned them for 183 yards. For his career he has seven interceptions for 247 yards returned.
Check out these numbers by former Bulldogs.
Most yards on interception returns in a season
189 yards: Eli Maricich in 1948
183 yards: Dominick Sanders in 2015
175 yards: Jake Scott in 1968
Most yards on interception returns in a career
315 yards: Jake Scott
303 yards: Scott Woerner
293 yards: Bacarri Rambo
247 yards: Dominick Sanders
234 yards: Eli Maricich