One does not have to be a loyal Georgia or Auburn follower to have the Prayer at Jordan-Hare committed to memory.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall sprinting from his own 27-yard line with two fingers sailing in the air above him and members of the Georgia sideline collapsing in disbelief as Ricardo Louis triumphantly stands over the “E” in TIGERS painted on the end zone grass. It was one of the most improbable plays in college football and one of the most unforgettable of the 2013 season.
Mere seconds before Louis crossed the goal line, Marshall approached the line of scrimmage 73-yard from the end zone facing a fourth-and-18. Thirty-six seconds remained in the latest installment of the Deep South’s oldest rivalry.
Marshall flung it. Some 50 yards downfield, Georgia safety Josh Harvey-Clemons tipped the ball into the air as it closed in on the arms of teammate Tray Matthews. Behind them was Louis, the unsuspecting recipient of a gift from the college football gods. As the ball met Louis’ embrace, safety Corey Moore stopped running and watched Auburn take the lead and the game 43-38.
Auburn went on to play for the national championship. Georgia went onto lose in the Gator Bowl. All from one tipped ball.
Just where are the cast members from one of the most memorable scenes of last season?
Tray Matthews
After accumulating 36 total tackles, one interception and a smorgasbord of character issues during his freshman year with the Bulldogs, Matthews left Athens when head coach Mark Richt decided he should no longer be a member of the team. A short time after his dismissal, Matthews announced he would transfer to Auburn with hopes of one day intentionally contributing to the Tigers’ success. The safety cannot play Saturday against Georgia because of NCAA transfer eligibility rules.
Todd Grantham
The Bulldogs finished 2013 at 8-5, capping off a disappointing season with a loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. After directing an underwhelming pass defense that fell to No. 59 in the nation, UGA’s defensive coordinator sought a change of scenery while feeling the wrath of fans calling for his termination. He bounced all the way to Louisville to join head coach Bobby Petrino in January.
Josh Harvey-Clemons
Harvey-Clemons and Matthews shared more in common than position group and recruiting class. The Bulldogs’ third-leading tackler in 2013 got himself into hot water with Richt as well and transferred in February. His relationship with Grantham paid off. It landed him a scholarship at Louisville.
The rest of Bulldogs secondary
Seniors Moore and Damian Swann will be back on the field for the Bulldogs on Saturday, having combined for 62 tackles and four interceptions thus far. Opposite of Swann at strong side cornerback during the Hail Mary was sophomore Shaq Wiggins. He too joined Grantham in Louisville over the offseason.
Nick Marshall
The Auburn quarterback and former Georgia cornerback is coming off a loss to Texas A&M in which he committed two costly fumbles late in last Saturday’s 41-38 upset. The second fumble occurred on a botched snap by center Reese Dismukes and the Tigers fell to 7-2. Marshall arrives in Athens with 1,576 passing yards, 698 rushing yards and 25 all-purpose touchdowns this season. The last time he played in Sanford Stadium was in 2011 as a Bulldog cornerback.
Ricardo Louis
The Auburn wide receiver finished with 131 receiving yards against UGA last year after entering the game with just 160 yards for the year. This season, Louis has 185 yards on 17 catches for the Tigers. His longest reception of 2014 is significantly shorter than his 73-yarder against Georgia last year: 40 yards.
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