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Rapid Reaction: Nick Chubb leads Bulldogs to Belk Bowl victory
By Jason Hall
Published:
Quick thoughts from Georgia’s 37-14 win against Louisville in the 2014 Belk Bowl:
What it means: Even without former offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, the Bulldogs offense played as expected. Georgia jumped out to a 20-7 lead at halftime and held momentum for the remainder of the game. The Bulldogs carry momentum into the 2015 season, finishing with a 10-3 record and avoiding ending the season on a two-game losing streak.
What I liked: Hutson Mason fared well in his final game before leaving in the second quarter. The senior threw for 148 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-15 passing. Mason, who’s worked as a game manager for most of the season, continued to avoid turnovers and take pressure away from the Bulldogs rushing attack.
What I didn’t like: Brice Ramsey struggled in Mason’s absence, despite keeping Georgia ahead in the second half. The freshman threw an interception on his first attempt and recorded for 51 yards on 4-of-9 passing. Granted, Ramsey was not expected to see much playing time in Tuesday’s game, his performance was one of the few flaws in the Bulldogs’ overall performance.
Who’s the man: Nick Chubb. The nation’s best true freshman extended his streak of rushing for more than 100 yards to eight games, recording 269 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries against the nation’s No. 2 overall rushing defense. Chubb is expected to be the SEC’s best running back in 2015 and should make several preseason watch lists.
Key plays: Georgia already had a 10-7 lead before adding to their advantage in the second quarter. Chubb ran for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a comfortable 17-7 lead.
The Bulldogs also decided to keep the freshman back in on their final drive to surpass Garrison Hearst for the fourth highest single-season total in school history. Herschel Walker is the only player ahead of Chubb, holding all three of the top spots.
What’s next: Well the season’s over, so there’s that. But the Bulldogs return to action on Sept. 5 2015 against Louisiana-Monroe.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
