Post Game Review: No. 4 Georgia 19, Texas A&M 13

The A&M running game struggled mightily as the Aggies fell to No. 4 Georgia at Sanford Stadium, 19-13, on Saturday afternoon in a physical grudge match. The Aggie ground game combined for a -1 yard rushing total in the loss to the Bulldogs.

The first quarter was a defensive battle as the two teams combined for just 50 yards in a rainy first stanza that included six punts. The Bulldogs amassed just 11 yards in the opening quarter but were the first team on the scoreboard as Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship nailed a 41-yard field goal with 8:22 remaining.

The Aggies were unable to penetrate the Bulldog defensive front, rushing seven times for just a single yard, and Georgia held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Early in the second, Quartney Davis returned a punt 20 yards to set the A&M offense up at the Georgia 35-yard line. The Aggies’ drive was hindered by a delay of game that made a 3rd-and-5 at the Georgia 15-yard line a 3rd-and-10. Mond then targeted Davis but was unsuccessful and the Aggies settled for a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 with 13:29 remaining in the first half. 

Braden Mann tackled Georgia returner Brian Herrien to end his 41-yard return to their own 46-yard line. A pair of D’Andre Swift runs set the table for Rodrigo Blankenship to convert a 49-yard field goal to give Georgia a 6-3 lead. 

TexAgs

The A&M run game amassed -1 rushing yards on 20 carries. 

The Georgia defense forced the Aggies into a quick, three-and-out. After completing just one-of-six passes in the first quarter, Jake Fromm found his rhythm in the middle of the second as the rain let up and marched the Bulldogs down the field. Fromm connected with George Pickens for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and Georgia held a 13-3 lead at the half.

The Aggies’ opening drive of the second half resulted in a fumble as Jalen Wydermyer fought for a first down, giving Georgia the ball at the A&M 18-yard line. The A&M defense forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 37-yard field goal that was converted by Blankenship, pushing the lead to 16-3.

With the running game ineffective, the A&M offense used seven consecutive passing plays to march down the field. Seth Small then kicked a 35-yard field goal to close the A&M deficit to 16-6 with 4:14 left in the third quarter. 

The Bulldogs started off their next drive with a 41-yard completion from Jake Fromm to George Pickens to quickly put them in field goal range. After three unsuccessful running plays, Blankenship made his fourth field goal of the afternoon to give his team a 19-6 lead. 

The Aggies put together their longest drive of the game on the next possession, a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that did not include a single running play. Kellen Mond connected with Jhamon Ausbon who muscled his way into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. 

The A&M offense failed to score on their next possession and wasn’t able to get a crucial stop to get the ball back as Georgia worked the clock to clinch the 19-13 win. 

RUMBLED: Defensive coordinator Mike Elko put together a strong scheme that included several blitz-heavy packages, and his unit executed about as well as you could have asked them to on the road against the No. 4 team in the country. Buddy Johnson, who has been one of the most consistent players on the Aggie defense, was again a leader in an effort that held Georgia to under 100 net yards on the ground and forced the Bulldogs to settle for field goals. 

STUMBLED: After rushing for a season-high 319 yards in last week’s win over South Carolina, the A&M running game looked like a shell of itself, finishing the afternoon with -1 total yards on 20 carries. The Aggies, who leaned heavily on the ground game in the first half, accumulated -9 yards on 14 carries before the intermission and were stuffed again in the second half. The A&M offensive line was thoroughly dominated by the Bulldog front all afternoon, and Isaiah Spiller took too long to penetrate the running lanes in the few instances they were open. 

UNSUNG HERO: DeMarvin Leal and Buddy Johnson headlined the defensive effort, however, Leon O’Neal came up with some huge tackles at pivotal points in the game. O’Neal, who has had an up-and-down season, was flying around throughout the afternoon and made a few big-time plays. The sophomore safety, who sometimes struggles with trying to do too much in search of the big play, was very sound on the run defense and in coverage over the top. 

KEY STAT: A&M rushing yards: -1. This one was obvious; you just can’t have negative rushing yards and expect to win against the No. 4 team in the country. The lack of offensive balance allowed the Georgia front to penetrate an A&M offensive line that already had its hands full. The result was Kellen Mond being forced to rely almost exclusively on his receivers on crossing routes. All things considered, Mond and company found success that way in the second half, but the lack of offensive balance was ultimately A&M’s downfall. It’s also worth noting that the Aggies had four false starts, two of which came at very costly times. 

Scoring summary 

First-quarter: 

UGA: 8:22 - Rodrigo Blankenship 41-yard field goal. Drive: Six plays, 23 yards. TOP: 2:44
Georgia 3, Texas A&M 0.`

Second-quarter: 

A&M: 13:29 - Seth Small 37-yard field goal. Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards. TOP: 3:17.
Texas A&M 3, Georgia 3. 

UGA: 11:36 - Rodrigo Blankenship 49-yard field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards. TOP: 1:47.
Georgia 6, Texas A&M 3. 

UGA: 6:44 - Jake Fromm 16-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens. (Blankenship Kick Good). Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards. TOP: 2:46.
Georgia 13, Texas A&M 3. 

Third-quarter:

UGA: 11:59 -  Rodrigo Blankenship 37-yard field goal. Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard. TOP: 0:57.
Georgia 16, Texas A&M 3.

A&M: 4:14 - Seth Small 35-yard field goal. Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards. TOP: 2:00.
Georgia 16, Texas A&M 6. 

Fourth-quarter: 

UGA: 14:56 - Rodrigo Blankenship 31-yard field goal. Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards. TOP: 4:18.
Georgia 19, Texas A&M 6. 

A&M: 11:16 - Kellen Mond connects with Jhamon Ausbon for a 19-yard touchdown. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 3:40.
Georgia 19, Texas A&M 13.