Stafford: Green is a candid dude with some ups . . . | Sports by the Numbers UGA's Blog

Georgia vs. Kentucky

Saturday, November 8, 2008 - Lexington, Kentucky

Final: 42-38

I will be the first to admit it - when Georgia was the preseason #1, the games I circled on my calendar, the ones I expected to be great, or that were of great significance, did not include Georgia at Kentucky. Oh well . . . this season has been anything but predictable, which this weekend proved yet again. Penn State's loss on Saturday opened the door for Florida to win out and claim a berth in the BCS title game, which stings, because that same scenario could easily belong to the Bulldogs right now. Well, every Georgia game is still meaningful, and the game against Kentucky, as it turned out, was one of the most exciting of the season. Here are some of the numbers that tell the story . . .

2 The number of fourth quarter fumbles (2) Georgia lost vs. UK on Saturday. After UK scored a touchdown with 13:38 remaining to take a 38-35 lead, Mohamed Massaquoi coughed the ball up on consecutive possessions. Massaquoi would have lost a lot of sleep over Saturday's game except . . .

77 On Georgia's next possession Massaquoi caught a Matt Stafford pass that was good for (77) yards and set up a first-and-goal at the UK seven yard line. Knowshon Moreno got the ball inside the five on the next play, but then Matt Stafford was sacked and the Bulldogs faced a third-and-goal from the 11 . . .

139 Stafford was 17 for 27 passing vs. UK, but he had completions that went for 34, 42, 46, and 78 yards - an average of (13.9) yards per attempt on the day. Only two of his completions went to freshman sensation A.J. Green - but as Stafford was scrambling on third-and-goal, and nearly sacked, it was Green who he found for the winning score. It was no ordinary catch. Green leaped high into the air, surrounded by three UK defenders, and came down with the ball. Stafford said afterwards about Green, "He's a candid dude with some ups. He went up and caught it, and he was so calm and cool."

163 The number of all-purpose yards (163) for Knowshon Moreno. He ran the ball 22 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns - and he also caught three passes for 40 yards. With 1,113 yards rushing on the season, Moreno is not only the leading rusher in the SEC, but he is the first Georgia player since Herschel Walker to surpass 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

288 The playing weight (288 lbs) of Georgia sophomore DE Demarcus Dobbs, who after preserving Georgia's victory by snagging a Randall Cobb pass with one outstretched hand, said, "I told myself it's time to make a play. Some of the coaches say I have the best hands on the team." Okay, I'd like to know exactly which coaches say that . . . and if they keep a straight face or not. Seriously though, the play of the game was A.J. Green's catch . . . at least until Dobbs made his interception with :51 left on the clock and UK on Georgia's 13 yard line.

376 The number of yards (376) passing for Matt Stafford. His career high total included eight receptions, 191 yards, and a touchdown for Mohamed Massaquoi. Stafford found the UK secondary much friendlier than the Gators secondary was a week earlier. He tossed three touchdowns with no picks vs. UK, after tossing three picks with no touchdowns vs. UF.

Game Notes: Georgia gave UK all kinds of chances in the second half. Brian Mimbs had a punt blocked that set up a UK score from Georgia's nine yard line in the third, then at the end of the quarter he muffed a punt that went just 18 yards and set up another UK score with a drive that began at Georgia's 29 yard line. Georgia took the lead again in the fourth, but on the ensuing kickoff Winston Guy returned the ball 96 yards to set up a touchdown from Georgia's four yard line. Then came the two fourth quarter fumbles - and after Georgia regained the lead yet again, a 15 yard face mask penalty negated what would have been a game-winning stop on a fourth-and-two and gave UK quarterback Randall Cobb new life at the Georgia 13 . . . which explains why Dobbs felt it was "time to make a play."

Up Next: Georgia at Auburn (November 15)

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