For the second time in as many seasons, Georgia was victimized by a fake field goal and, once again, it played a big role in an upset loss.
Georgia led 7-0 with 8:25 remaining in the second quarter when Florida lined up to attempt a 38-yard field goal of their own in the second quarter. The Gators never kicked it.
Florida holder Michael McNeeley — a seldom-used receiver slipped in to hold just for this one play — took the snap and ran through a thin opening at right tackle for a 21-yard touchdown. The point-after tied the game at 7-all with 8:25 to remaining in the second quarter.
“I know I wasn’t really expecting it,” said Swann, who was on the field for the play. “But that’s just how it goes. You always have to be on high-alert for a fake, but that type of fake, with the down and distance, I don’t really think they drew it up thinking they’d score a touchdown. They probably drew it up to get a first down maybe.”
The play was almost an exact replica of the one the Commodores ran to score its first touchdown against Georgia in the second quarter last year in Nashville. The only difference was the holder stood up and handed the ball off to the Vandy kicker, who scored from just three yards out. It was one of four major special teams plays the Commodores executed en route to a 31-27 victory.
“Well, I’m never surprised when somebody tries a fake,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “They executed it well. They saw something we were vulnerable to. They saw it, they called it, they executed it, they did a good job.”
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