GT/Tulane/UGA/Vandy Timeline

With both Tech and Georgia kicking off at 3:30, there was a lot of channel changing going on. Here are my notes from both games, detailing the events chronologically. When Virginia threatened Notre Dame we added that game to our rotation.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson threw few risky passes. But no need to against App State. Several passes are off the mark. But the only adjective the announcer knows is “GREAT!” On fourth and goal App State suffers two straight delay of game penalties and has to kick a field goal. The Tigers trounce, 41-10. Not exactly a Heisman worthy performance.

Tulane punts. Tech scores on third and goal. 7-0.

Vandy punts. I’m sorry, but their cheerleaders look like tramps in all black. Two Bulldog incompletions. UGA punts. False start. Danielson knows: “The dropback offense won’t work for Vandy.” – an indictment of the Vandy QB. “Last year they couldn’t score.” UGA late hit – targeting – gives Vandy a first down after an incompletion, and Carter is thrown out of the game. Carter runs off the field waving, surely deep in Richt’s dawghouse. But Danielson thought the call questionable. Clemson also had a player thrown out for targeting. Floyd sack.

Tulane drives. GT defense bends but doesn’t break. Justin jitterbugs for a first down. Much more exciting than Watson. Skov another first down. Pass completion for a first down. The quarter ends.

Vandy punts. Verne speaks the truth: you can’t read or see Vandy’s numbers. Chubb breaks off a 68 yard  run. Another Lambert incompletion. Time out before the field goal to avoid a delay of game.

Skov somersaults into the end zone. 14-0 Tech.

Vandy incompletion, forcing another punt. The SEC didn’t seem thrilled with Vandy’s unis, and quickly granted UGA’s request to wear red. The Dawgs will also wear red in Jacksonville and against Tech.  Isaiah McKenzie returns the punt 77 yards for a touchdown, the third in his career.     

Tulane drops a snap and has a punt blocked. Justin’s run made it 21-0. The GT defense is going to spend a lot of time on the field.

A very questionable Leonard Floyd personal foul blesses Vandy with a first down. The Commodores are gaining confidence, but they don’t have a passing game. They convert on third and short. The first quarter ends. UGA up 7-0.

Tech sacks the QB, but BJ Davis makes a big catch for a first down. GT isn’t tackling well. Could hurt them next week in South Bend. Rob Kelly 14 yard run. Terrible pass defense results in a 44 yard touchdown completion. Green Wave cuts it to 21-7.

Vandy 49 yard field goal. Vandy down 7-3. Chubb powers, Vandy jumps offsides. But another Lambert incompletion forces another Colin Barber punt.

At the same time a Justin Thomas incompletion forces a GT punt. Looked like pass interference could’ve been called. Must be military appreciation day. Tech sacks the Tulane QB, falling on and injuring the legs of a Tulane lineman. Then a illegal motion penalty on Tulane.

Vandy punts after two incompletions, and McKenzie is hard to tackle on his 16 yard return. Chubb reels off three straight long runs, but holding negates the third one. Lambert lets one float, and Vandy drops an interception. Back on the ground, Sony Michel skips through the line for a 31 yard touchdown run. 14-3 Dawgs.

Two Thomas passes, the second to Searcy for a touchdown, and Tech leads 28-7 at the half.

The Vandy QB hesitates, and is sacked. After a run a rare completion gives the Dores a first down. Then another two incompletions, both almost intercepted. QB escapes and makes an easy throw for a first down, then another incompletion on a poor throw. Dawgs stuff the run and force a field goal. Vandy’s kicker looks like the one actor Ron Silver played in the 1977 movie Semi-Tough, starring Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson. The lead is cut to 14-6.

Bryce Ramsey in the game for UGA. He promptly throws two incompletions, one almost a long gainer. The punt hit a Vandy blocker, but the refs missed the call. UGA again stuffs the run and calls time. UGA is called for interference on an uncatchable ball. Incompletion. Completion Vandy is driving down the field with mirrors. How lucky the QB is to not have an interception. Three straight dropped passes, and the field goal doinks off the post. Announcer Gary Danielson was right – Vandy should’ve called a draw to get closer for the kick. Still 14-6 at the half.

Boston College blows out Howard, but so did App State. Auburn needs overtime to beat Jacksonville State. Louisville loses to Houston. They’re gonna be hungry Thursday night against Clemson.

Tech takes the second half kickoff and reels off two quick first downs, then scores on a 45 yard run by redshirt freshman Lynch. GT up 35-7.

Tulane snaps the ball over the punter’s head for a safety, making the score 37-7.

Thomas passes off the play fake for a touchdown, and leads 44-7.

Over on ABC Notre Dame trails Virginia 12-14.

Tech’s defense keeps the pressure on the QB, but Tulane strings together a few first down completions until DB DJ White makes a diving interception to end the drive.

Lambert starts the second half and promptly fires an incompletion. Sony Michel, skinny and frail as a freshman, put on the muscle and pounds for his sophomore year. He reverses field and makes an exciting first down, but the talented freshman receiver Godwin is called for a block in the back. Lambert stands too long in the pocket and is hammered, and Georgia is lucky to recover his fumble. Punt.

GT third string QB Matthew Jordan engineers two straight first downs to close the third quarter. Still 44-7.

McCrary’s first errant pass is dropped by Leonard Floyd, but his next pass is thrown right to a UGA defender: interception. Fans in tiny Vanderbilt Stadium have a great view – of a parking deck.

QB Matthew Jordan sprints right, then pulls up and fires deep for a nice touchdown. 51-7 Tech.

Lambert fires two straight first down completions, first to Godwin then to tight end Blazovich. His next pass is tipped, then almost intercepted. With Chubb on the bench with only 12 carries, on third and nine Michel only gains four. Marshal Morgan’s 20 yard field goal makes it 17-6.

In Charlottesville the Irish have taken the lead and extended it to 26-14, but the Wahoos make a long gain to close the third quarter. But a key injury to the QB has the faithful worried.

Tech’s backups bend. Tulane drives.

UVA answers, cutting the lead to 26-21.

The Dawgs drive. A Malcomb Mitchell reception. Screen pass to Chubb. On third and ten Lambert threads the needle to McKenzie. First and goal. Chubb left for four. Injury timeout.

Tech holds, and Tulane kicks a field goal.  51-10.

Vandy goes for the fake to Chubb and Lambert strolls in untouched. UGA leads 24-6.

GT quickly responds on a long run by Jordan. 58-10.

The officials try to give Notre Dame a first down but the replay moves the ball back two yards.

Fourth string QB leads Brady Swilling GT down the field. Marcus Allen slices up the middle and tumbles forward into the end zone. My prediction of a closer second game is wrong. 65-10 Tech.

More bad Vandy offense. As a passer McCrary is no Josh Nesbitt. End of the third quarter in Nashville, still 24-6 UGA.

UVA drives, then fumbles.

Swilling rushes for another first down. Tech wins 65-10.

On 3rd & 8 Lambert to Mitchell for a first down, then Chubb for 16 and Mitchell six. But Morgan misses a 41 yard field goal.

UVA holds, gets the ball back, and drives to the 30 with three minutes remaining. A wild fling is almost caught in the end zone. Third and ten. After a penalty Virginia miraculously converts for a first and goal, then scores and goes for two with 1:54 left. 27-26 UVA.

Vandy marches to the UGA three. Incompletion and illegal motion, and McCrary’s fourth down run is stopped on the three.

Virginia fails to convert the two pointer. Led by their a backup QB who’d never played in a game, the Irish march downfield. Some good plays, some bad plays. They have yet to make it into field goal territory.

Vandy scores and goes for two. 24-12 Georgia.

Notre Dame’s QB slings a pass downfield. The receiver makes a great runner catch as he crosses the goal line. With 12 seconds left the Irish regain the lead, and win 34-27.

Thanks to holding by the Vandy O-line, McCrary rolls left and converts the two-pointer, cutting the UGA lead to ten points. 24-14.

Vandy’s pooch kick bounces past the lone Dawg returner, and Vandy recovers for a first and goal. But true to form McCrary throws into triple coverage in the end zone, and Georgia intercepts. Chubb quickly reels off 27 yard run. The Dawgs run off two minutes from the clock before punting, exhausting Vandy’s time outs.

The defense takes away the sideline and McCrary completes three straight before running right down to the UGA 28. But then he makes a terrible throw, and Dominic Sanders picks it off at the 12 and totes it 88 yards to make the score 31-14 with a minute remaining.

After three more incompletions McCrary finds a wide open receiver downfield. But his pass takes the receiver out of bounds, and time expires after the tight end is stopped three yards short of the end zone. Final score 31-14.

Chubb finished with a pedestrian 128 yards rushing, his ninth straight 100 yard game. But his touchdown streak ends.