Offensive linemen love to get into games like any other players. But Georgia’s Mark Beard wasn’t thrilled about the situation he inherited in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Kenarious Gates was playing the game of his life against Jadeveon Clowney, the most feared pass-rusher in college football. Then Gates got his left leg rolled up on from behind in a pile, and he had to be helped off the field.
With the outcome in the balance and the Bulldogs facing third-and-goal from the 8, Beard then entered the game at left tackle. “Go play ball,” he said was assistant coach Will Friend’s only directive.
“I said a little prayer before I went in,” said Beard, a junior who started two games last season. “I asked the Lord to give me strength and do out there and get the job done. I was real nervous. It was mind-boggling, But I think I did a pretty good job coming off the bench like I did.”
Georgia scored on the following play to forge ahead by 10, and Beard remained in the game until the very end of a thrilling 41-30 victory.
The Bulldogs’ shook up the starting lineup after a disappointing performance in the opener at Clemson. But Gates held off Beard in the competition to start at left tackle and face Clowney. Sophomore John Theus returned Saturday to the first unit at right tackle, where he started 14 games as a freshman last season. And Kolton Houston, who started at right tackle in the opener, started at left guard instead of Dallas Lee.
However, Houston left the game in the second quarter with a left-leg injury and was replaced by Lee, who had started 15 consecutive games. Georgia also had to employ Watts Dantzler for a set of plays. In all, eight offensive linemen played. Clowney ended up with one sack, two tackles for loss and three tackles overall. The Bulldogs finished with 536 yards and 41 points.
“Georgia did awesome today,” Beard said. “We all did what we had to do and it was a team victory.”
Harvey-Clemons makes impact: Josh Harvey-Clemons was among three Georgia players making his first career start Saturday night. Of course, his would have come a week earlier had a disciplinary suspension not sidelined him for the Clemson game.
But the 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore, who plays the “star” position for the Bulldogs, made his presence known against South Carolina. He recovered a game-turning fumble by quarterback Connor Shaw early in the third quarter and finished with five tackles in the game.
He was feeling decidedly better than last week when he was allowed to travel with the team, but was unable to play.
“It hurt me bad because I wasn’t out there to help, especially since we lost. I felt like I let my teammates down. The whole thing was just a big learning experience for me. Now that everything’s behind me, I’m just going to keep getting better.”
The other first-time starters were sophomore wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley and junior defensive end Ray Drew. Scott-Wesley stepped in for Malcolm Mitchell, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the opener, and led the Bulldogs with 116 yards and scored an 85-yard touchdown. Scott-Wesley also returned kickoffs (two for 39 yards). Drew, a junior, had three tackles.
Thanks to Beless: Georgia coach Mark Richt made a point to thank Patrick Beless for his good work the past two games. The walk-on filled in at place-kicker for the Bulldogs while starter Marshall Morgan was sidelined because of a suspension. Beless, a Marist School graduate, was 10-of-10 on extra points and made both his field-goal tries in Morgan's stead.
Beless’s 37-yarder came under considerable pressure. It came midway through the third quarter after Murray was sacked for a 7-yard loss and broke a 24-all tie.
“I just tried to kick it like an extra point,” Beless said. “Every kick you try and hit it the same way every time. Just the same swing. I’m just glad I was able to make it. It was a great hold and snap. Great blocking also.”
Sitting out: The Bulldogs had to play without Jay Rome. The tight end was unable to come back from a sprained left ankle that he aggravated against Clemson. The injury kept him out of preseason camp for more than two weeks. Wide receiver Jonathon Rumph, a junior-college transfer, missed his second game with a hamstring strain.
Gurley rolls on: Sophomore tailback Todd Gurley went over 100 yards early in the third quarter and finished with 132 yards on a career-high 30 carries. That was his 11th 100-yard performance in 16 career games for the Bulldogs. Herschel Walker had 12 100-yard rushing performances in his first 16 games at Georgia in 1980-81.
Etc.: Richt did not have any updated injury information on tailback Keith Marshall or Gates. Marshall was hurt and ran off the field limping at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter. … The Bulldogs were the fourth team in the past 20 years to open the season against two top-10 opponents. Syracuse (2001), Louisiana Tech (1999) and New Mexico State (1994) all went 0-2. … Georgia was tied at the half for the second consecutive game, this time 24-24. The Georgia-Clemson game was tied 21-21 at the half. … The games against Clemson and South Carolina marked the Bulldogs' first back-to-back games against top-10 opponents in 15 years. In October 1998, Georgia defeated No. 6 LSU and a week later lost to No. 5 Tennessee. … SEC Commissioner Mike Slive attended Saturday's game.
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