Non-Offensive Touchdowns Prove to be the Difference for UGA

COLUMBIA, MO—Jake Fromm was very grateful after Georgia’s win today. Not because UGA got the win, but because of the two non-offensive touchdowns scored in a 14-point victory.

Going into halftime Georgia led 20-7. Yet not a single point came by the hands of a UGA offensive player. Just think about that. Georgia’s best offensive players through the first two quarters were Rodrigo Blankenship Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes. Not Fromm, D’Andre Swift or Mecole Hardman.

That’s a bit worrisome even if you are up 13 points. The last time Georgia scored two non-offensive touchdowns in a game was in three years ago, so UGA couldn’t rely on that kind of production for the second half, much less the rest of the season. So walking into that locker room, the offense knew they had gotten bailed out, and they more than appreciated it.

“It’s a blessing to have great athletes and great football players and a program that puts so much emphasis on special teams and turnovers on defense,” Fromm said. “I’m really thankful they made those plays.”

Kirby Smart did not share that same sentiment. He was glad that his defensive and special team units stepped up when needed, sure. Yet he was more displeased with the offense than he was thankful for the others helping them out. There were a lot of issues he had with how they performed, but for Smart, it all came down to one thing.

“Execute,” said Smart when talking about the halftime message to the offense. “It wasn’t the things we weren’t doing weren’t right. We weren’t executing a lot of them.”

For the defense though, they didn’t feel like the offense was letting them down. They know they’ll be in a similar boat someday, maybe even someday soon. Like when you help out a friend. You don’t ask for compensation or for something in return. You just trust that friend will get you back sometime.

“Whenever the offense isn’t doing good, we’re there to pick them up,” Deandre Baker said. “Whenever the defense isn’t doing good, the offense is there to pick them up. It works vice versa. We work for each other.”

And in the second half, the offense worked for the defense. Missouri’s offense was starting to find more of a groove and put up 22 points in the latter half of the game. Fromm and co. responded. After starting 6-of-14 for 66 yards and an interception, the sophomore signal caller completed seven of his nine passes for three touchdowns and 194 yards.

It wasn’t a great look for Georgia, but they got their act together later on offensively. They got their one get-out-of-jail-free card, and they know they likely won’t get another one. At least not one worth 14 points.