Friday, May 11, 2012

Blair Walsh gets first career game-winning field goal

By on September 28, 2009

Sophomore kicker Blair Walsh (57) attempts the game-winning field goal in Georgia
DANIEL SHIREY
Sophomore kicker Blair Walsh (57) attempts the game-winning field goal in Georgia's 20-17 victory over Arizona State.
Walsh and holder Drew Butler (13) celebrate after the kick sailed through the uprights.
DANIEL SHIREY
Walsh and holder Drew Butler (13) celebrate after the kick sailed through the uprights.
Redshirt sophomore Tavarres King hauls in one of his two receptions as Arizona State
DANIEL SHIREY
Redshirt sophomore Tavarres King hauls in one of his two receptions as Arizona State's Terell Carr goes airborne in an attempt to make the tackle.

There was no doubt in Blair Walsh’s mind before his game winning kick to lift Georgia over Arizona State.

Walsh, now 8-for-8 on the season, sent the 37-yarder right down the middle and said the weather and wet conditions were not a factor.

“I was just trying to think of it as just another kick,” he said. “I just wanted to make it – nothing crazy, just get it up and get it in.”

The kick was Walsh’s first game-winner in his career, including high school.

“This is the greatest experience of my college career, to have the chance at the game winner and hit it,” he said.

The team rushed Walsh after the kick, dog-piling in a celebration that ultimately ended with the kicker dancing with teammates in front of the student section.

“Blair has made every kick so far, and I’m really proud of him,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt, who admitted he wasn’t watching when Walsh kicked. “We got him in position and he drilled it, so that was great.”

The game-winning kick was the first since Brandon Coutu drilled a 37-yarder at Vanderbilt in 2007.

Another Munzen-moment

Georgia fullback Fred Munzenmaier doesn’t see much action, but he knows what to do with the football when he gets his opportunities.

The junior fullback got just the third touch of his career in the first quarter against Arizona State, and he punched it in for a two-yard touchdown.

“It feels good, I mean if I get the ball, my goal is to score so I’m going to die trying,” he said.

The result is nothing new for Munzenmaier, who also had touchdowns on the first two carries of his career, including a 1-yard run against LSU last season and a 6-yard dash against Ole Miss in 2007.

Munzenmaier broke his streak of touchdowns with a carry on fourth-and-one, where the 6-foot-2 222-pound fullback was stopped short. He finished with six yards on four carries.

Extra points

 Junior Chris Davis got the start at left guard against the Sun Devils. After starting all 13 games last season and Georgia’s opener against Oklahoma State, Davis had come off the bench in favor of Justin Anderson for each of the past two games.

 Junior defensive tackle Brandon Wood looked like he might be headed for a medical redshirt just two weeks ago following offseason shoulder surgery. Instead, Wood saw his first action of the season in the first half against Arizona State, working at both defensive tackle and defensive end.