Thoughts From the Box: Georgia Defeats Baylor 26-14 to Win Sugar Bowl
New Orleans, LA - While the Bulldogs didn’t have the season that they were hoping for, Kirby Smart’s team ended the 2019 season on a high not after cruising to a solid 26-14 win over Baylor.
The Georgia offense struggled some early on, but quarterback Jake Fromm got into a rhythm in the 2nd quarter, putting up 16 points and giving the Bulldogs a comfortable 19-0 halftime lead.
Fromm can thank his freshman receiver, George Pickens, for a lot of his success. Pickens hauled in 11 passes for 165 yards and 1 touchdown in the first half alone. He helped get the offense get going when Fromm hit him on a 46-yard pass on a flea-flicker. Georgia would settle for a field goal on that drive, but the Bulldog offense really got going from that play on. Pickens would end the night with 12 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown.
The defense more than held their own in the 1st half. They pressured quarterback Charlie Brewer and forced him to go 13/22 for 75 yards and one INT in the first half. He would end the day going 20/20 for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Safety Richard LeCounte came away with the first-half interception, but it was freshman safety Lewis Cine who really shined throughout the game. Cine ended the night with six tackles to go along with solid coverage from his safety spot.
Another defender who had a big night was outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari. The Marietta (GA) native recorded 4.5 total tackles with one sack and a forced fumble. He was constantly in the backfield and wreaked havoc on Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer all night long.
Overall, it was the Georgia defense that stepped up once again. Arguably the best defense in school history, Dan Lanning’s crew held the Bears to just 61 rushing yards on 28 attempts. The defensive line, led by Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and Malik Herring in particular, clogged the interior and stopped the Baylor rushing attack early. That put Baylor in obvious passing downs, and guys like Nolan Smith and Azeez Ojulari were able to tee off and attack the quarterback.
Cornerback D.J Daniel led the Bulldog defense in tackles with 8. Linebacker Monty Rice totaled 5 tackles, and senior linebacker Tae Crowder was carried off the field after the trophy celebration.
Again, the big story of the game was the performance of freshman George Pickens. The freshman from Hoover (GA) won the Sugar Bowl MVP, and gave Georgia fans a glimpse at what could hold for the Bulldog offense next fall.
This was a big win for the Georgia program, and after ending the season with a loss the two previous years, there was lots of celebrating going on after tonight’s win.