Black tops Red on G-Day

Those were among the highlights of Georgia’s G-Day spring intra-squad football game, won by the Black team 18-11 over the Red team Saturday afternoon in Sanford Stadium.

“I think we all feel positive about who we are, what we are about and what we can do this fall,” starting quarterback Aaron Murray said after the game, which completed Georgia’s spring practice.

Murray completed 12 of 17 passes for 122 yards for the Black team, which trailed 11-10 when LeMay entered the game midway through the fourth quarter. The freshman from North Carolina completed three passes for 38 yards on a 10-play, 75-yard drive, which was capped by tailback Ken Malcome’s 12-yard touchdown run. Murray then returned to the field to throw a two-point conversion pass to walk-on receiver Taylor Bradberry.

On defense, the Black team got big contributions from linebacker Chase Vasser, who had a game-high seven tackles; nose guard Geathers, who completed a strong spring by making four tackles, including two for losses, and forcing a fumble; and safety Norman, who emerged from anonymity with five tackles, an interception and three pass breakups at an injury-depleted position.

The victory means a steak-and-lobster dinner for the Black team, which wore white jerseys, while the Red team will dine on beanie-weenies.

And with spring practice done, the countdown commences toward the arrival this summer of Georgia’s much-celebrated recruiting class, the start of preseason practice in August and the Sept. 3 season opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome.

One notable dimension of the G-Day game was the Black team’s prominent use of Smith, primarily a defensive back, on offense. Smith, who has been used infrequently on offense the past two seasons, caught two passes, including a 28-yard touchdown from Murray, and ran twice for 11 yards.

Does that portend an expanded offensive role for Smith in the fall?

“We used him today because we didn’t have too many receivers,” Murray said, “but he definitely made a case to get some more balls.”

“I try to tell Coach [Mark] Richt every day that we’d love to have [Smith on offense],” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “But it’s a tough situation; he has had an outstanding spring at [cornerback].”

Richt said he wants to continue to incorporate Smith into the offense in the fall — and cornerback Brandon Boykin, too, for that matter, he added.

A player sure to be big part of the offense, tight end Orson Charles, caught four passes for 41 yards, including a 13-yarder from LeMay to set up Malcome’s winning touchdown.

Richt said that, in his mind, Charles was the team’s overall MVP for spring practice.

“The thing I love the most about Orson is how hard he practices every day,” Richt said. “The last guy I can remember who gave that kind of effort every play, every day, was [David] Pollack.”

Etc.

Matthew Stafford defeated three other former UGA quarterbacks — D.J. Shockley, David Greene and Eric Zeier — in a halftime passing-skills competition. ... Thirteen players missed G-Day because of injuries, including, as expected, tailback Washaun Ealey (hamstring). ... Boykin did not play because of a concussion that sidelined him from the last few practices of spring. ... Carlton Thomas was the day’s leading rusher with 48 yards on 13 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run that briefly put the Red team ahead in the fourth quarter. But Thomas also lost two fumbles. ... Hutson Mason, Georgia’s No. 2 quarterback, completed eight of 16 passes for 109 yards for the Red team, and walk-on Parker Welch completed five of 10 for 71 yards. . . . Announced attendance was 43,117. ... Incoming tailback Isaiah Crowell will wear No. 1 when he arrives — the same number as Smith. Richt said both can wear the same number as long as they’re not in the game at the same time.