Time’s running out for Massaquoi at UGA

Athens — Determined to squeeze the most out of his waning weeks as a Georgia football player, Mohamed Massaquoi has caught 13 passes for 303 yards in the past two games.

But none of those catches tell you as much about the senior split end as a tackle he made.

Remember Florida cornerback Joe Haden’s interception of a Matthew Stafford pass intended for A.J. Green? Remember Haden’s 88-yard return of the interception? Remember who tackled him at the Georgia 1-yard line?

Massaquoi.

Having run a pass route on the other side of the field, Massaquoi reversed course after Haden’s interception and sprinted toward the opposite corner of the opposite end zone, finally bringing the Gator down one yard short of a touchdown. From snap to tackle, Massaquoi probably covered close to 150 yards on the play.

“Everybody was running, but Mohamed was really running,” Georgia coach Mark Richt recalled. “That is just one example of a guy who cares — and cares all the time.”

Massaquoi arrived in Athens four years ago as a hotshot recruit from Charlotte. Saturday at Auburn, he’ll play his final SEC game. Later this month, he’ll play his final game in Sanford Stadium vs. Georgia Tech. Then he’ll play in a bowl game and be gone.

“The time is running down,” Massaquoi said. “I’m just trying to play hard and enjoy my last chances to suit up for Georgia so I won’t regret anything.”

Overshadowed much of this season by the freshman receiver he mentors — Green — Massaquoi appears to have saved his best for last.

Twice in the past two games, he has set new career highs in receiving yardage. In the Nov. 1 loss to Florida, he caught five passes for 112 yards. Then, in last week’s win at Kentucky, he caught eight passes for 191 yards — the most yards by any receiver in an SEC game this season.

But statistics tend to miss the larger point about Massaquoi. Like his tackle of Haden, his resilience in the fourth quarter of the Kentucky game was revealing.

Uncharacteristically, Massaquoi twice fumbled the ball away after catches, putting the Dogs in danger of defeat. But rather than sulking or stewing, he redeemed himself with a 78-yard catch-and-run that set up the winning touchdown.

“Things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to,” Massaquoi said. “But if you keep fighting, you never know what might happen. Just keep fighting through.”

Massaquoi’s recent performances have lifted his season totals to 41 catches for 669 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. His average of 66.9 receiving yards per game is third best in the SEC, behind teammate Green (80.6) and LSU’s Brandon LaFell (71.8).

Green says that without Massaquoi’s guidance he might not be playing, let alone leading the league. And Massaquoi, who has caught a pass in 31 consecutive games, seems to find as much satisfaction in the start of Green’s Georgia career as in the finish of his own.

“Time flies by so fast; you better enjoy the journey and everything that comes with it,” Massaquoi said. “The older guys tell you that. Then you start telling the younger guys the same thing.”