Bailey Shines In Georgia Win
No. 12 Georgia had four fumbles Saturday. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they also had Champ Bailey.
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"Champ is a big-time player," quarterback Quincy Carter said. "He comes up with big plays time after time."
Carter, a freshman, completed 18-of-25 passes for 271 yards but was responsible for three of the four fumbles by Georgia (3-0). He lost the ball twice himself and took the blame for another turnover when he tried to hand the ball to the fullback instead of the tailback.
"I told Quincy he's got to do a better job of holding onto the ball if he wants to be the quarterback here," coach Jim Donnan said. "Quincy knows he can play better than that. He'll have to. We're not going to put up with that."
The fumbles allowed Wyoming, an 18-point underdog, to keep it close and continued a disturbing trend for the Bulldogs, who now have eight turnovers -- just four less than they had all of last season.
"No one is stopping us," Carter said. "We're stopping ourselves."
The Cowboys (1-1), who trailed 16-3 at halftime, scored the first touchdown against Georgia this season on Jay Stoner's 9-yard pass to Julian Hooker with 12:33 remaining in the game. Aaron Elling missed the extra point after Wyoming was penalized 15 yards for excessive celebrating.
Wyoming had a chance to tie the game when Carter fumbled on Georgia's next possession. Brian Van Emmerik recovered at the Bulldogs 45 with 8:32 left.
On fourth-and-2 at the 37, Stoner threw downfield for Wendell Montgomery, but Cory Robinson knocked the ball down at the 10 to foil Wyoming's last serious threat.
"Obviously in the first half, we didn't play as well as we needed to," Wyoming coach Dana Dimel said. "I think that was because we were in awe of the situation we were in. As the game went on, it concerned me because I knew we could play with them. We're poised to have a reat season."
Turnovers nearly managed to overshadow another brilliant performance by Bailey, who plays every facet of the game for the Bulldogs.
As a receiver, Bailey caught six passes for a career-high 100 yards, including the touchdown that gave Georgia a 16-3 lead just before halftime. Carter threw a screen pass to Bailey, who caught the ball near the midfield stripe and rocketed away from the defense to score without being touched.
"You always have a chance to score on that play because it's designed so well," Bailey said. "I got some great blocks, found a seam and just took it to the end zone."
On Wyoming's first possession of the second half, the Cowboys drove into Georgia territory and Stoner tried to loft a pass over the middle. Bailey, only 6-foot-1 but blessed with basketball-like leaping ability, jumped high in the air, stuck out his left hand and came down with an interception at the 33.
"I thought I could tip the ball away," Bailey said. "But the ball kind of stuck to my hand and I pulled it in."
The biggest scare for the Stanford Stadium crowd of 86,117 came with 12 seconds left in the first half, when Bailey crumbled to ground after colliding with teammate Kirby Smart while trying to break up a pass at the goal line.
Fans looked on in anxious silence while Bailey remained flat on his back for several minutes, then let out a relieved cheer when he trotted off the field. He only had the wind knocked out of him.
On the next play, Stoner's pass to the left sideline was picked off by Jeff Harris.
The Georgia defense, which has given up only 15 points this season, made another stand in the third quarter when Wyoming passed up a field goal try on fourth-and-8 at the Bulldogs 22. Under pressure, Stoner took off running but gained only four yards.
Georgia seemed primed for a blowout, building a 10-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game. The Bulldogs scored on their first two possessions, getting a 31-yard field goal from Hap Hines and then moving 70 yards in six plays for Olandis Gary's 9-yard touchdown run with 5:54 to go in the first quarter.
But Wyoming didn't wilt in the 86-degree heat and high humidity. Elling kicked a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, and only Bailey's brilliance extended the margin before halftime.
Stoner completed 24-of-43 for 217 yards and also led the Cowboys in rushing with 38 yards -- indicative of the trouble both teams have moving the ball on the ground. Wyoming managed 96 yards and held Georgia to just 74.
"This is not a moral victory," Cowboys receiver Kofi Shuck said. "We have just as good a team as Georgia. We had our opportunities, but we just didn't capitalize on it."
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