Post-Game Notes: Somber Sendoff for Seniors

For Georgia’s 23 seniors, losing to Kentucky in their last game in Sanford Stadium was not the plan.

Not before the game, and especially not at halftime, after the Bulldogs spent the opening half dominating both sides of the ball.

But four Georgia turnovers and 28 Kentucky points changed the way those senior will remember their last game forever.

“Ah, man. It’s a terrible feeling,” said Georgia senior linebacker Marcus Washington. “Just like you’ve had your insides taken out of you or your heart snatched out of you. It’s my last ballgame here in Sanford Stadium and it didn’t end the way it was supposed to.”

Georgia players talked about sending the seniors out on a good note all week in preparation of the Wildcats.

For one half, all seemed right.

Senior quarterback Joe Cox threw three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs’ defense gave up only 60 yards.

Georgia had the ball to start the second half, well on it’s way to celebrating deep into the night.

And then, after a fumbled kickoff to start the third quarter, everything changed.

“We just had too many miscues out there,” Washington said. “We just had too many turnovers, mistakes and penalties that came at the wrong time.”

Cox threw two fourth quarter interceptions and was a component of a botched pitch on the 1-yard-line, ending the Bulldogs’ best chance to stay in the game.

Cox, like every senior, took the loss hard.

“It’s tough, when things change that quickly,” said Cox. “When it seems like you’ve got everything in hand, it’s a tough way to finish up.”

NO GREEN, NO PROBLEM

Freshman receiver Rantavious Wooten got the starting nod at flanker with A.J. Green out of action following a shoulder sprain last week. Wooten made the most of his opportunity, connecting with quarterback Joe Cox on a pretty pitch-and-catch early in the second quarter for a 21-yard touchdown.

Wooten ran a curl route down the right sideline, stepping in front of Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley to grab the pass at the last second, then falling backward into the end zone for Georgia’s first touchdown of the game. It was also the first touchdown of Wooten’s career.

But Wooten didn’t stop with just one score.

He also hauled in a 43-yard score late in the second quarter, beating his man deep and making the catch in stride.

“It was a good feeling in the midst of it,” Wooten said. “I’ve been working hard and the coaches knew they had the opportunity to go deep with me. That’s what I feel like I can do best.”

ORSON COMES UP BIG

While Wooten was busy adding some sizzle in Green’s absence, it was tight end Orson Charles who stepped into the role of go-to receiver against Kentucky.

Charles, a true freshman, had four catches for 73 yards in the first half alone, including a 20-yard touchdown reception.

Charles became the first receiver besides Green to catch at least three passes and have at least 50 yards receiving in the same game since Michael Moore did it in Week 3 against Arkansas. Both numbers marked career highs for Charles.

“Really, I wanted to go out with a bang,” Charles said of his career half. “I didn’t want to feel like we let up.”

But in the second half, Charles, disappeared. Kentucky made sure to eliminate the freshman’s opportunities, holding him without a single catch.

“I had one good half, but we lost so all that doesn’t matter,” Charles said.

EXTRA POINTS

-- Junior linebacker Darryl Gamble donned a No. 18 jersey rather than his usual No. 50 to honor teammate Bacarri Rambo, who missed Saturday’s game after suffering a concussion against Auburn last week.

-- Kicker Blair Walsh connected on field goals of 21 and 45 yards in the first half Saturday, making him 16-of-17 on field goals for the season. He has hit all nine of his attempts from beyond 40 yards this season, and is on pace to break Billy Bennett’s school record for field-goal percentage.

-- Senior linebacker Marcus Washington got his first start since 2007 in Saturday’s game.

* Fletcher Page contributed to these notes.

* I've got more post-game reaction stuff, but we'll get to it in the morning.

* You can read my full game story on Saturday night's Georgia implosion HERE.