Top Plays of the Kirby Smart Era (Round 2, Matchup #3)
As Kirby Smart prepares for the start of his eighth season at Georgia’s helm, UGASports wants to determine the Bulldogs’ top plays thus far during the head coach’s successful tenure in Athens. For each matchup in a bracket-style tournament, UGASports staff argue for/against Georgia’s top plays since the start of the 2016 season. Subscribers vote for the top or the best of the two plays—and the play that gets the most votes moves onto the next round.
For the third matchup of the second round, we counter Ohio State’s missed field goal which gave Georgia a victory in last season’s Peach Bowl; vs. Christopher Smith’s interception return for a touchdown which highlighted the Bulldogs’ season-opening victory over Clemson in 2021. VOTE HERE.
#1 seed—Big Miss by Buckeyes (2022 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Ohio State)
With Ohio State trailing Georgia by a single point with eight seconds remaining in last season’s Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes’ Noah Ruggles lined up to attempt a 50-yard game-winning field goal. The sixth-year placekicker was 17 of 19 on the season kicking field goals prior to his attempt in the final seconds. Nevertheless, Ruggles’ try missed badly to the left—and at the stroke of midnight—securing the Bulldogs’ place in the national championship game against Texas Christian.
PAUL: Christopher Smith's interception return for a touchdown helped win a regular-season game, whereas the missed field goal helped continue a dynasty. Sure, the play (the missed kick) wasn’t made by a Bulldogs player, but it still was a huge play in the history of Georgia football. When the replays are shown years from now, which of these two plays will be shown over and over again? The answer is the missed field goal.
#2 seed—Smith Steals the Show (2021 vs. Clemson)
Late in the second quarter of the 2021 season opener, Georgia and Clemson were engaged in a scoreless defensive struggle, yet the Tigers had reached the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line. On third down and 4, quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei was intercepted by safety Christopher Smith, who had slipped in front of intended receiver Justyn Ross to steal the errant pass. Smith made a sharp cut and headed down the left sideline, needing only to distance himself from Uiagalelei to complete a 74-yard touchdown return. Smith’s score gave Georgia a 7-0 lead en route to a 10-3 upset victory to begin what would be a national championship campaign.
PATRICK: I still say it can be argued that Ruggles’ miss should not even be considered a “top play” since no Georgia player really had anything to do with the execution of the play or its result. Christopher Smith’s long interception return for a score was the catalyst for the upset victory over Clemson, marking the beginning of the Bulldogs’ first national championship run in 41 years. On the other hand, the other play perhaps shouldn’t even be in the conversation in the first place.
Your vote helps decide the Bulldogs’ top play of the Kirby Smart era. VOTE HERE.