Georgia Bulldogs vs Missouri Tigers Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012

No. 7 Georgia 41, Missouri 20: Aaron Murray threw three touchdown passes and All-American linebacker Jarvis Jones made a crucial interception as the seventh-ranked Bulldogs ruined the Tigers’ Southeastern Conference debut.

Georgia (2-0, 1-0 SEC) scored the final 24 points to quiet a raucous sellout crowd in Columbia.

With Georgia up 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter, Jones read James Franklin’s eyes and picked off a throw over the middle, returning it 21 yards to Missouri's 1. That set up Todd Gurley’s clinching touchdown run.

Georgia stifled Mizzou for most of the second half despite playing without four starters: safety Bacarri Rambo, linebackers Alex Ogletree and Chase Vasser, and corner Sanders Commings.

Franklin’s 69-yard scoring strike to a streaking L’Damian Washington gave Mizzou (1-1, 0-1) a 17-9 lead early in the third quarter. Murray responded with a 7-yard touchdown throw to Tavarres King and Michael Bennett caught the 2-point conversion to tie it.

The Tigers moved back on top 20-17 on Andrew Baggett’s 25-yard field goal, but Marlon Brown’s second touchdown catch gave Georgia a 24-20 lead heading to the fourth. Marshall Morgan’s 41-yard field goal stretched the lead to 27-20.

Both offenses struggled early. It was 3-3 when Franklin hit Marcus Lucas with a 41-yard touchdown 1:31 before halftime. Georgia responded with a 71-yard touchdown drive capped by Murray’s 2-yard fade to Brown. Morgan missed the extra point, sending Mizzou to the locker room with a 10-9 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The teams combined to go 1-for-17 on third downs in the first half, with Georgia 0-for-7. … Georgia leads the all-time series 2-0, having beaten the Tigers 14-0 in the 1960 Orange Bowl. … Missouri was picked to finish fourth in the SEC East, behind Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. ... Murray hit 22 of 35 throws for 242 yards, with three TDs and one INT. ... Georgia's Brown had eight catches for 106 yards and two scores.