Moreno returns LSU’s calls

After his 68-yard touchdown run, Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno curled left toward the LSU student section after he reached the end zone. There he gestured to the crowd as if answering a phone call.

It turns out Moreno had been hearing from the Tigers’ fans all week. Somebody leaked Moreno’s cell phone number and — like they did to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow last year — left him messages all week.

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Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com

Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno sprang for a 68-yard touchdown run in third quarter. He hard 163 yards for the game.

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Moreno acknowledged that much but wouldn’t share any other details as to how many or what was said.

“It was a few, but that stuff happens,” he said. “I was just having fun.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt said he heard about it before Saturday’s game but wasn’t too concerned.

“Yeah, I heard about that,” Richt said. “But it’s not a big deal. Just a good college prank, you know.”

With 163 yards rushing, Moreno got the last laugh.

Offensive line gets high marks

Nobody was happier about the Bulldogs’ offense on Saturday than Clint Boling. The sophomore tackle from Atlanta acknowledged that his unit had heard about its inexperience and LSU’s experienced defensive linemen a few too many times.

“We’ve been pretty much hearing it all year, especially this week with how many seniors they have up front,” said Boling, who’s starting at left tackle after starting at right guard and right tackle in previous games. “I think they thought they were pretty much going to come in and beat us up up front. I thought we did a pretty good job of blocking them tonight.”

There were several stalemates but the Bulldogs erased those with big plays at big moments. Georgia was actually out-gained by LSU 497-443 but answered LSU blitzes with long passes, including a 49-yarder for a touchdown to A.J. Green and a 48-yarder to Aron White.

Quarterback Mathew Stafford threw for 249 yards and two TDs with no interceptions and just one sack.

Coach Mark Richt said the line deserves a lot of credit for making that happen.

“Let’s applaud the offensive line,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and say they dominated the game because they probably didn’t. But they fought like mad and gave Matthew enough time to do what he needed.”

Stafford, Richt said, played an outstanding game.

“Matt is really mature,” richt said. “He’s staying in there, focusing downfield and throwing strikes. That’s what he’s got to do to make Georgia better.”

Knowshon Moreno also had several long runs, including a 68-yarder for a touchdown.

Said Moreno of the line: “They’re not rookies anymore. They’ve been in a lot of games now, so they know what they’re doing. That’s what we expect of them and that’s what they expect of each other.”