The Georgia Bulldogs and Appalachian State Mountaineers kick off the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2, 2017 with a game at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
Below find live updates and scores for the Georgia football game.
Heading downstairs
On the theory that this game is still safely in hand, I’m going down to the locker room to prepare for interviews. Obviously we know what Subject A will be. But there will be plenty else to discuss.
All in all, still a really good opening performance for the Bulldogs, which frankly I expected. Now a much bigger test awaits.
App State avoids the shutout
Georgia was chasing its first shutout since the 2014 season – when it had two – but alas, it was not to be.
Against Georgia’s second-team defense, many of them freshmen, Taylor Lamb scrambles 20 yards on third down, and the Mountaineers finally have joined the scoring, with 5:41 left in the game.
This came after Georgia third-string quarterback Brice Ramsey entered the game and, on his first pass of the season, threw high into double coverage, and the ball was picked off.
Georgia is still comfortably ahead here, obviously, though a shutout probably would have been nice for the first-team defense to have on its ledger. On the other hand, maybe you don’t want to peak in your opener.
Georgia resting the starters
Or at least on defense. The second unit is in, with freshmen Malik Herring (DL), Ameer Speed and William Poole (CB) seeing their first action here in the fourth quarter.
Monty Rice at inside linebacker is also in there, along with Walter Grant.
On offense, Ben Cleveland is going in at right tackle.
And as I type this, Brice Ramsey comes in. So it’s a wrap on Jake Fromm’s debut: 10-for-15 for 143 passing yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions.
D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien are getting a lot of carries now, with Elijah Holyfield not available because of the suspension. (Riley Ridley also hasn’t played.)
Hey, let’s not forget …
Cameron Nizialek, Georgia’s new punter, has had quite a Georgia debut. The graduate transfer from Columbia is averaging 43.8 yards. He’s been consistent, with really good hangtime.
It’s just one game, but he looks like a pretty good find.
Nick Chubb …
Has rebounded after a slow(-ish) start, and now has two touchdown runs, and is four yards away from a 100-yard game.
The question is whether he’ll get a chance to get those four yards. Georgia now leads 31-0 after Chubb’s second touchdown, an 8-yard run up the middle in which he pushed past a helpless App State defender.
We may now be at the point of do-no-harm, show-Notre Dame nothing more.
Rodrigo Blankenship …
Boots his first field goal of the season, a 23-yarder. Georgia now leads 24-0.
Blankenship’s kickoffs have been great, and he’s perfect on all his place-kicks. Pretty good story, considering everything.
In praise of Georgia’s defense
The stats don’t quite do justice to how good a game Georgia’s defense is having. Well, except for one stat: Points.
The Bulldogs are pitching a shut-out right now, though App State has accrued a somewhat respectable 200 yards to this point, early in the third quarter. The Mountaineers are averaging 4.9 yards per play, and have almost twice as much time of possession.
But some of that is just the style of offense, running a lot and trying to create space and then find a hole in the defense. Georgia isn’t leaving many.
App State only has seven first downs – there’s another good stat – and hasn’t even been in position to try for a field goal.
More importantly, the eye test: While this is only a Sun Belt opponent, Georgia’s defense just looks stout up front and fast on the ends. It’s been a very encouraging performance, even with a couple injuries in the back.
Georgia keeps rolling
It’s now a 21-0 lead, after Sony Michel’s first touchdown of the season, a 6-yarder in which he leaned the ball over the goal-line.
Michel is leading Georgia with 64 rushing yards on six yards, while Nick Chubb has 24 yards on six carries.
Speaking of tailbacks, freshman D’Andrew Swift is leading the team in catches, with three, including a great one-handed catch on that drive as he was going out of bounds.
Georgia’s defense has also been great so far. The second quarter has been all Bulldogs.
A few personnel notes
Kendall Baker played left guard in place of Pat Allen on that most recent Georgia drive. So far that’s the only tweak on the line I’ve noticed. (Though I could have missed another with all the Jacob Eason-Jake Fromm news.)
While I haven’t yet seen Solomon Kindley play on the offensive line, he was in on Georgia’s second extra point.
Aaron Davis, meanwhile, remains out of the game for unknown reasons, with Tyrique McGhee playing left cornerback.
Oh, and so far a good call to give Rodrigo Blankenship another shot at the kickoff job: Two tries, two touchbacks through the back of the end zone.
Jake Fromm to Javon Wims, TD
That’s two straight scoring possession for Georgia with Fromm under center, after he hits Javon Wims for a 34-yard touchdown – which was a brilliant play by Wims.
Fromm barely got a pass off in time as App State’s defense converged. Fromm was clocked, and the throw appeared to go shorter than intended. But Wims stopped, made a leaping grab, and as he was being tackled twisted his body and leaned the football over the end zone line.
This came after a 44-yard run by Sony Michel on third-and-short.
Georgia’s offense has sprung to life here, and the Bulldogs now have 14 points on 158 yards, the vast majority of those on the two scoring drives.
Another face in the secondary
Sophomore Tyrique McGhee has been playing the left cornerback spot, where senior Aaron Davis started.
It’s not clear if Davis is dealing with anything, but as this drive begins he has his helmet off, though he is active in the huddle, talking to other defensive players.
Jake Fromm leads Georgia to first score
Thrust into the game by Jacob Eason’s injury, Fromm came through on the next drive: The freshman hit tight end Isaac Nauta for 16 yards and then Javon Wims for 24 yards, setting up Georgia near the goal-line.
Two plays later, Nick Chubb punched it in. Georgia leads, 7-0.
This came on a short field, set up by Georgia’s defense, which has forced three punts and held Appalachian State to just 36 yards.
Jacob Eason hurt
It happens on the second play of Georgia’s third drive: Eason comes up limping after a late hit out of bounds, following a scramble. The flag was thrown, and at first Eason got up and limped out, but then he gave up and went down.
Eason had to be taken off the field on his own power.
Freshman Jake Fromm came in.
Boy, this got dramatic very quickly.
More on the struggling offense
The positives so far on Georgia’s first two drives: Fourth down. It looks like the Bulldogs may have found themselves a punter.
Cam Nizialek just booted a 53-yarder, after a 43-yarder on the first drive. That’s good.
The offensive blocking, on the other hand, is not inspiring any confidence at all. Two straight three-and-outs to start the season. Yikes.
A bad offensive start
Well, the first offensive drive of the season for Georgia’s offense was … not good.
Three-and-out for the Bulldogs, with Nick Chubb dropped for a loss on first down and Jacob Eason overthrowing his receiver on third-and-long.
Just one drive. But still.
Georgia Football- Appalachian State: Live updates score
What time is the Georgia-Appalachian State game?
Time: 6:15 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
Odds: Georgia -14
What TV channel is Georgia-App State on?
ESPN will broadcast Georgia football vs. Appalachian State.
Can I watch Georgia-App State online?
You can. With an ESPN subscription, watch it on WatchESPN.com.
Georgia-Appalachian State depth chart, preview
Georgia did not release an official football depth chart this week, though one may be provided to the media in the hours before Saturday’s game. But if you can’t wait, don’t worry: Here is one writer’s prediction on how the two-deep (and occasionally more than two) stands as the season begins. And we give ourselves a two-to-three percentage point margin for error:
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
1. Jacob Eason, Soph.
2. Jake Fromm, Fr.
3. Brice Ramsey, Sr.
TAILBACK
1 (a). Nick Chubb, Sr.
1 (b). Sony Michel, Sr.
3 (a). Brian Herrien, Soph.
3 (b). D’Andre Swift, Fr.
5. Elijah Holyfield, Soph. (out for opener)
FULLBACK
1. Christian Payne, Jr.
2. Nick Moore, Jr.
TIGHT END
1 (a). Jeb Blazevich, Sr.
1 (b). Isaac Nauta, Soph.
3 (a). Jackson Harris, Jr.
3 (b). Charlie Woerner, Soph.
WIDE RECEIVER 1
1. Terry Godwin, Jr.
2. Riley Ridley, Soph. (out for opener)
3. Jayson Stanley, Jr.
4. J.J. Holloman, Fr.
WIDE RECEIVER 2
1. Javon Wims, Sr.
2. Michael Chigbu, Jr.
3. Tyler Simmons, Soph.
4. Mark Webb, Fr./Trey Blount, Fr./Matt Landers, Fr.
SLOT RECEIVER
1. Mecole Hardman, Soph.
2. Ahkil Crumpton, Jr.
Note: Godwin, Michel, Herrien, Nauta and Woerner are among those who will also work in the slot.
LEFT TACKLE
1. Isaiah Wynn, Sr.
2. Isaiah Wilson, Fr.
LEFT GUARD
1. Pat Allen, Soph.
2. Dyshon Sims, Sr.
CENTER
1. Lamont Gaillard, Jr.
2. Sean Fogarty, Jr./Dyshon Sims, Sr.
RIGHT GUARD
1. Solomon Kindley, R-Fr.
2. Kendall Baker, Jr./Dyshon Sims, Sr.
RIGHT TACKLE
1. Andrew Thomas, Fr.
2. Ben Cleveland, R-Fr.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE END
1. Jonathan Ledbetter, Jr.
2. David Marshall, Soph.
3. Justin Young, Soph.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Trent Thompson, Jr.
2. Julian Rochester, Soph.
3 (a). Tyler Clark, Soph.
3 (b). Michail Carter, Soph.
NOSE TACKLE
1. John Atkins, Sr.
2. DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Jr.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Lorenzo Carter, Sr.
2. D’Andre Walker, Jr.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Davin Bellamy, Sr.
2. Walter Grant, Fr.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Roquan Smith, Jr.
2. Reggie Carter, Sr.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Natrez Patrick, Jr.
2. Juwan Taylor, Jr.
LEFT CORNERBACK
1. Aaron Davis, Sr.
2. William Poole, Fr.
*-Starting left CB Malkom Parrish (foot injury) is out.
RIGHT CORNERBACK
1. Deandre Baker, Jr.
2. Tyrique McGhee, Soph.
NICKEL (STAR)
1. J.R. Reed, Soph.
2. Deangelo Gibbs, Fr.
SAFETY
1. Dominick Sanders, Sr.
2. Tray Bishop, Fr.
SAFETY
1. Richard LeCounte, Fr. (in nickel defense)
1. J.R. Reed, Soph. (in 3-4 defense)
2. Jarvis Wilson, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER
1. Rodrigo Blankenship, Soph.
2. David Marvin, Sr.
PUNTER
1. Cameron Nizialek, Sr.
2. Marshall Long, Soph.
PUNT RETURNER
1. Terry Godwin, Jr.
2. Ahkil Crumpton, Jr.
3. Mecole Hardman, Soph.
KICK RETURNER
1. Mecole Hardman, Soph.
2. Sony Michel, Sr.
LONG SNAPPER
1. Nick Moore, Jr.
2. Trent Frix, Sr. (injured)