Georgia Captures Sugar Bowl Redemption With Win over Baylor

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Georgia captured redemption on New Years Day with a 26-14 win over Baylor to be crowned 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl Champions. Led by MVP wideout George Pickens 12 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown, the Bulldogs took the lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

“I just play football. When I see that guy running full speed, I try literally every option to avoid him,” explained Pickens of the way he plays the game. “I know it looks crazy when I’m trying to leap over people and risking injury, but I mean I’m just playing football.”

Here’s how it all went down at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Wednesday night!

After a bevy of punts, a Baylor interception to get the game started, and less than 60 yards of total combined offense from both teams in the first nine minutes of the game, things got moving a bit. It took a 15-yard facemask call against Baylor to get the ball rolling.

The penalty came following a short pass to the right sideline — this setup the Bulldogs 1st and 10 at their 40. Georgia ran a pitch back, and the defense bit on it, and Fromm connected with Pickens for a 46-yard completion.

The connection set Georgia up in the red zone at the 14-yard line. However, they would have to settle for a 20 yard Roberto Blankenship field goal, which made it 3-0 Dawgs.

In the 2nd quarter, UGA kept the momentum rolling, with an opening quarter scoring drive. From led the Dawgs 85 yards in 8 plays, capping off the drive with a 27 yard TD pass to Pickens in the back left endzone.

Baylor continued to struggle offensively, moving the ball. Their first drive of the second quarter ended quickly with a three and out. Meanwhile, Georgia kept things rolling, with another scoring drive on the ensuing possession adding another Blankenship field goal, this time from 31 yards out.

In desperate need of some type of offensive production, the Bears again got to work. On the first third down of their drive, they were able to pick up the first down. However, a holding call would bring it back, and they would have to regain the necessary yardage. They were successful on the ensuing play.

Then on first down, Charlie Brewer looked to hit Tyquan Thorton deep. However, the defender for UGA on the play was pulling at Thorton’s jersey as he raced downfield. The refs didn’t call it though, and the focus left head coach Matt Rhule momentarily as he reamed into the officials in disagreement. The Bears would punt three plays later.

Georgia continued their offensive attack with a 7-play 71-yard drive, that saw Frommfin Matt Landers for the TD this time. However, they would fail to convert on a 2-pt conversion. As the teams went into the locker rooms at the half, it was all Dawgs, 19-0.

The Bears had accumulated only 97 yards of total offense compared 272 yards from Georgia. Brewer’s interception for was the lone turnover to this point, costing Baylor the turnover margin. UGA led most of the stat lines, other than the number of punts and penalties. Those were all in the Bears favor, with punts 6-3 and penalties 5-1.

In the second half, it was pertinent that Baylor waste no time and strike as fast as they could to make it a game. They did just that, as Brewer conducted an eight-play, 75-yard drive, capping it off with a 12 yard TD pass to Denzel Mims as Baylor got on the board for the first time.

On the ensuing Georgia possession, the Bears defense stood tall and forced a three and out to get the ball back for their offense. However, after getting the ball across midfield, Baylor elected to go for it on a 4th and 4. The result was a sack by Azeez Ojulari, and Charlie Walker recovered it at the Baylor 47 yard line.

Georgia would get stalled out and lineup for a field goal. However, they pulled a fake and converted it. This would lead to a 13-yard rushing TD for Zamir White, as the Bulldogs went up 26-7 with 7:16 left in the 3rd.

The fight was on. Baylor answered the call and threw a punch right back at Georgia. It came in the form of a 75-yard drive that took eight plays, with Brewer finishing it off on a 1 yard rush up the middle for the score. Baylor was down but not out, as they cut the deficit, at 26-14 with 4:10 left in the 3rd.

In the 4th quarter, as the Bears were trying to mount their comeback, Charlie Brewer took off on the run was hit as he stepped out of bounds. Then almost simultaneously, UGA defensive lineman Travon Walker laid into Brewer, and his head hit to the turf violently.

Baylor head coach Matt Rhule gave some insight on Brewer’s incident during post-game.

“They told me as I came in here they were checking his neck, C‑spine. They said he cleared the C‑spine just now. So that’s what they were concerned about, was his neck. Didn’t exhibit any head symptoms. I’m sure they’ll continue to monitor him after this, throughout the night, just to make sure. But there was some concern about his neck and took him off and cleared him from that.”

Walker was called for a late hit 15-yard penalty, and Brewer was taken back to the locker room, nit to return to the field. It was now up to back up quarterback Gerry Bohanan and Jacob Zeno to lead the comeback.

The drive would stall out, and the Bulldogs took over with 5:03 left to play. Baylor did get one last chance with the ball, with 2:54 left to play. However, with Zeno under center, they only were able to pick up one first down, on a drive that saw Zeno go 2 of 7 passing. The final pass of the Baylor season was a well-overthrown ball that was picked off by Georgia’s Richard LeCounte.

This sealed the game with only 1:39 left to play as Georgia head coach Kirby Smart captured the all elusive Sugar Bowl title.

“I finally got a Sugar Bowl victory. I’ve been to a lot of these and didn’t get many wins, but I got one this time. I’m proud of this team,” said an elated Kirby Smart.

Written by Adrian Beecher

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