For all the pre-game media given to Todd Grantham, the former Georgia-turned-Louisville defensive coordinator, and the matchup of Louisville’s rush defense against Georgia’s rushing attack, Dominick Sanders was the one who stole the defensive show.
The freshman Georgia defensive back intercepted two passes to match a school bowl record and nearly came up with another in the 37-14 victory against Louisville on Tuesday night. Damian Swann chipped in with a third interception with 9:33 to go to help Georgia’s secondary thwart any upset hopes by Louisville.
Sanders became the sixth Bulldog to pick off two passes in a bowl and first since Swann had two interceptions against Nebraska in the 2013 Capital One Bowl.
“That kid made me proud,” Swann, a senior, said of Sanders, a freshman. “I’m sad that I only get to play one year with him but I love that kid to death.”
Sanders just continued to do what he has all season – overachieve. His two interceptions against Louisville were one more than his season total of one, which came against Missouri.
Sanders was a three-star recruit from Tucker High and the least heralded of the standout defensive backs in Georgia’s incoming class. But he’s the one who started every game of the season — at cornerback, free safety and nickel back.
On Tuesday night, his biggest task was giving safety help on Louisville’s talented receiver DeVante Parker. Parker, projected to be an early round pick in the NFL draft, finished with eight catches for 120 yards for his 10th career 100-yard game. But if not for Sanders, he might have had 200. Both of Sanders’ interceptions and nearly a third – which he couldn’t quite corral — came against Parker.
“Parker is a good target,” Sanders said. “But I told myself when that ball gets in the air, I’m the receiver.”
His first pick came over the top late in the second quarter and led to one of the more entertaining interception returns you’ll see. He spun, mostly because he lost his balance, but kept his legs moving for 40 yards until he went down at the Louisville 10 in exhaustion as much as because of the tackle.
Georgia had to settle for a field goal on the ensuing possession but took a 20-7 lead with 3:22 to go in the first half.
“I got kind of dizzy,” Sanders said of his return. “I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew to spin around and keep running. I was getting tired, head leaning back, but I told myself, don’t stop, just keep going.”
Sanders struck again on Louisville’s opening drive of the second half, this time on a gift. Parker tipped the ball and Sanders “just snatched it” he said, at the Georgia 35. That gave Georgia the ball back to help negate a Sony Michel fumble on the previous drive.
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