ATHENS — When Georgia’s football team needed him most, with the SEC East title on the line, Blair Walsh broke out of his slump.
After missing 10 of 23 field-goal attempts previously this season, Walsh made four of four in the first half Saturday to prop up a struggling Georgia offense.
With its running game again decimated by injury and suspension, Georgia scored no touchdowns in the first half — and only one in the game. But Walsh’s four field goals enabled the Bulldogs to build a 12-10 halftime lead en route to a 19-10 division-clinching victory over Kentucky.
“It’s awesome to come through when your team is depending on you,” Walsh said after the game. “These guys work so hard, and it’s awesome to help carry them to the SEC East title.”
Walsh made three field goals from 39 yards and one from 25, and his 39-yarder with 48 seconds left in the first half gave Georgia the lead for good.
“It felt like old times, coming off the field and your team giving you high fives because you made [the kicks] instead of trying to console you [after misses],” Walsh said.
Walsh’s slump had moved Georgia coach Mark Richt to alternate kickers, Walsh and Brandon Bogotay, in the previous two games, a tactic designed to create competition. Richt started Saturday’s game with the same placekicking rotation in place, but abandoned it after Walsh made his first two field-goal attempts and Bogotay missed one (albeit from 52 yards).
“Walsh was extremely hot and was just drilling them,” Richt said, “so I felt like that’s what we ought to do.”
Richt, who continued to alternate Walsh and Bogotay on kickoffs, was noncommittal on how he’ll handle his kickers for the next game, against Georgia Tech.
“How we start out next week, I don’t know," Richt said.
“I’m just fortunate and grateful he let me kick those four today,” Walsh said.
Walsh was successful on 40 of 45 field-goal attempts over the two previous seasons — a track record that made his struggles as a senior this season all the more surprising.
“I think I’d be lying to tell you my confidence wasn’t shaken a little bit [by the slump],” Walsh said. “But I have guys around me that support me, and I’ve been able to lean on them in this process. And I’ve just always believed in my ability and what I’m capable of doing.”
Saturday, in his final game in Sanford Stadium, he reminded the crowd — and his coach — of what he’s capable of doing.
Including the extra point after Georgia’s second-half touchdown, Walsh accounted for 13 of the Bulldogs’ 19 points. He has scored 393 career points, second most in SEC history behind former UGA kicker Billy Bennett’s 409 in 2000-03. Walsh has 72 career field goals and 177 PATs.
Despite what had been a disappointing senior season for him personally, Walsh had no complaints Saturday, walking off the Sanford Stadium field for the last time as SEC East champion.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said. “Best win we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
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