G-Day showcases 2006 signees
The redshirt freshmen and new recruits had their first chance to prove themselves to fans at the annual G-Day game Saturday.
Twenty thousand fans braved the weather to see the Red team defeat the Black team (in white jerseys) 34-21 in an offensive shootout at Sanford Stadium.
“It was fun to see the sea of red, it was awesome, the field looked awesome, it was just a great day,” said head coach Mark Richt.
Freshman Trinton Sturdivant, who enrolled in January to take part in spring practice, was amazed by the atmosphere. “It was exhilarating. I was speechless. I’ve never experienced anything like it before,” Sturdivant said.
Richt chose to be neutral for the game and did not coach either side. Instead, former Bulldogs came back to Athens to help coach the teams, including Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward, David Pollack, Will Witherspoon and Jon Stinchcomb.
The coaches set the pace early by running a reverse to Sean Bailey on the first play of the game. But the following plays would end the first drive in a punt.
After the Black team ended its first chance on offense unsuccessfully, the Red team was able to complete a long pass to fullback Brannan Southerland for 43 yards, another to wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi for 21 yards, and finally a one yard touchdown for running back Kregg Lumpkin to put the first points of the day on the board.
If there was one overwhelming theme for the 2007 G-Day game, it was the success of the 2006 signing class. Seven of the eight touchdowns involved players who joined the team last season.
Running back Knowshon Moreno scored two touchdowns and gave the Red team a 20-0 lead at halftime. Fellow 2006 signee free safety Reshad Jones showed that the defense also could make plays picking off a reverse wide receiver pass midway through the second quarter.
The scoring seemed to slow down early in the third. However, a 60 yard touchdown throw from quarterback Matthew Stafford to Mikey Henderson would change that giving the Red team a 27-0 lead. The pass was reminiscent of last year’s G-Day when Stafford’s first pass was completed for a 64 yard touchdown to Henderson.
The Black team, lead by quarterback Blake Barnes, would get the ball on their own 25 yard line and drive the field 75 yards with a Kris Durham reception for a touchdown. The very next Black team drive would end in a trick play touchdown when running back Jason Johnson hit redshirt freshmen Tony Wilson for a 32-yard touchdown. Durham then would get his second touchdown on the following Black team drive when quarterback Joe Cox completed a 60-yard pass to him in the endzone.
With the score 27-21 late in the fourth, the Black team still looked alive. But Stafford’s second touchdown pass of the day to tight end Tripp Chandler with 25 seconds left in the game would seal the Black team’s fate.
One of the biggest surprises for the day was the outstanding play of the offensive line.
“They are a very athletic group, they have a lot of ability,” Richt said. “So once they get that experience, I think we’re gonna be OK.”
Many of the 2007 signees were in attendance to see their future teammates in action including: Logan Gray, Aron White, Bruce Figgins, Caleb King and Chris Little.
