2008 Woodie Awards
No. 1 Bulldogs top Georgia Southern in home opener
Stafford throws for career high
JASON BUTT
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: News
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for a career best in Georgia's opening game as the No. 1 Bulldogs defeated in-state opponent Georgia Southern 45-21 Saturday in Sanford Stadium.
Stafford went 13-21 for a career high 275 yards and threw for two touchdowns.
However, the Dallas, Texas native said he didn't think his performance was as good as it could have been.
"It was good but I missed a bunch of guys," Stafford said. "I had a chance to make some more plays and I didn't. I've got to build off this one, understand what I did wrong and try to get better."
After stopping Georgia Southern on the Eagles' first position, Georgia took the ball and scored in just five plays. Running back Knowshon Moreno capped the drive off with the first of three touchdowns, which was set up when Stafford hit freshman receiver A.J. Green on a 36 yard pass the play before, which got the Bulldogs to Georgia Southern's 2-yard-line.
On its next drive, Georgia jumped out to a 10-0 lead after freshman Blair Walsh made his first collegiate field goal on a 52-yarder.
On Georgia Southern's third possession of the game, Georgia was bit by the injury bug again when senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens went down with a knee injury. Georgia head coach Mark Richt said Owens will probably not play for a while.
When Georgia got the ball back on its third possession, backup quarterback Joe Cox came into the ballgame on a possession that lasted only three plays after freshman running back Richard Samuel fumbled the ball on his first collegiate carry.
After the game, Richt said it was predetermined that Cox would come in on the third series.
In the second quarter, Georgia went up 17-0 when Stafford hit wide receiver Kris Durham on a post pattern that Durham took to the end zone for 61 yards. The touchdown was the first in Durham's career and was a touchdown he predicted he would get.
"I told Matthew before the game, we were at the hotel before the game, and I was like if I get one today it will be on an inside post," Durham said. "And it happened to be that play, so I guess my dream did come true."
Running back Caleb King, who did not take a carry in the first half, ended up being Georgia's leading rusher with 95 yards on 12 carries. King took the majority of the carries in the second half when Moreno left the game after his left hamstring began cramping up.
Down 38-0 in the third quarter, Georgia Southern finally scored in the third quarter when Eagles' quarterback Lee Chapple scored on a 1-yard rush.
Up 38-14 in the fourth quarter, Cox came back into the game for the Bulldogs and threw a touchdown to Green, giving the freshman his first career touchdown at Georgia.
Stafford went 13-21 for a career high 275 yards and threw for two touchdowns.
However, the Dallas, Texas native said he didn't think his performance was as good as it could have been.
"It was good but I missed a bunch of guys," Stafford said. "I had a chance to make some more plays and I didn't. I've got to build off this one, understand what I did wrong and try to get better."
After stopping Georgia Southern on the Eagles' first position, Georgia took the ball and scored in just five plays. Running back Knowshon Moreno capped the drive off with the first of three touchdowns, which was set up when Stafford hit freshman receiver A.J. Green on a 36 yard pass the play before, which got the Bulldogs to Georgia Southern's 2-yard-line.
On its next drive, Georgia jumped out to a 10-0 lead after freshman Blair Walsh made his first collegiate field goal on a 52-yarder.
On Georgia Southern's third possession of the game, Georgia was bit by the injury bug again when senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens went down with a knee injury. Georgia head coach Mark Richt said Owens will probably not play for a while.
When Georgia got the ball back on its third possession, backup quarterback Joe Cox came into the ballgame on a possession that lasted only three plays after freshman running back Richard Samuel fumbled the ball on his first collegiate carry.
After the game, Richt said it was predetermined that Cox would come in on the third series.
In the second quarter, Georgia went up 17-0 when Stafford hit wide receiver Kris Durham on a post pattern that Durham took to the end zone for 61 yards. The touchdown was the first in Durham's career and was a touchdown he predicted he would get.
"I told Matthew before the game, we were at the hotel before the game, and I was like if I get one today it will be on an inside post," Durham said. "And it happened to be that play, so I guess my dream did come true."
Running back Caleb King, who did not take a carry in the first half, ended up being Georgia's leading rusher with 95 yards on 12 carries. King took the majority of the carries in the second half when Moreno left the game after his left hamstring began cramping up.
Down 38-0 in the third quarter, Georgia Southern finally scored in the third quarter when Eagles' quarterback Lee Chapple scored on a 1-yard rush.
Up 38-14 in the fourth quarter, Cox came back into the game for the Bulldogs and threw a touchdown to Green, giving the freshman his first career touchdown at Georgia.
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