UGA rallies to beat Oklahoma St. ... in practice game

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


ATHENS — This just in: Georgia came from 21 points down to beat Oklahoma State 27-24 in Sanford Stadium on Wednesday.

Not exactly.

In the latest twist to Georgia’s preparations for the Sept. 5 season opener in Stillwater, Okla., a practice game was played between the hedges. On one side, playing as “Georgia”: the Bulldogs’ first- and second-team offensive and defensive units. On the other side, portraying “Oklahoma State”: the Bulldogs’ scout team, consisting of players from the lower rungs of the depth chart who were given roles of impersonating various OSU players.

The coaches spotted the scout team — “Oklahoma State” — a 21-0 lead before play began.

“I think they did that so we would come out and have a different mind-set,” No. 1 quarterback Joe Cox told reporters afterward. “You know, we didn’t want to come up here when y’all ask what the score was and have to say we lost because we couldn’t come back.”

So they came back, outscoring the scout team 27-3 in a half to “win” 27-24.

“We needed this, I think, to get in the feel of playing football again,” defensive tackle Jeff Owens said. “I got jittery when we came out of the locker room and heard the band playing [on the stadium sound system]. I mean, it made you feel like it was an actual game.”

Said Cox: “We definitely had a lot of things we did really well that we can maybe solidify in our game plan. And there were some other things we ran today that maybe we’ll say, ‘Well, that’s not what we want to run.’ ”

In general, Cox admitted, “I don’t really know what to take from it.”

The practice game — actually, it was a half — was closed to the media but here’s what coach Mark Richt took from it: “Overall, my feeling was we weren’t quite ready to beat [the real] Oklahoma State. I’m glad we have 10 more days to prepare.”

Richt said the offense was “erratic” and not as explosive as he’d have liked, although Cox “was sharp running the system.” Richt said there were “a few too many penalties” but some “good, solid tackling.” Redshirt freshman defensive back Makiri Pugh intercepted a pass “at the end to ice the game for Georgia,” Richt reported.


Etc.

● Georgia coaches named captains for the Sept. 5 opener: Cox on offense, Rennie Curran and Jeff Owens on defense and Demarcus Dobbs on special teams.

● Richt said freshmen quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger and receiver Vernon Spellman took turns impersonating Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson for the scout team in the practice game.

● Freshman receiver Rantavious Wooten played the part of OSU star receiver Dez Bryant.

● Starting safeties Reshad Jones and Bryan Evans, who recently returned to practice from hamstring injuries, were held out of the scrimmage as a precaution.

● Georgia won’t practice today and will resume preparing for the real Oklahoma State on Friday.