For the second year in a row the fifth ranked Georgia Bulldogs found themselves in the Sugar Bowl and this time they were on the winning end as they topped the Baylor Bears 26-14.
One of the biggest performances belonged to freshman wide receiver George Pickens who was named the game’s most valuable player. He finished with 12 catches for 175 yards including a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Fromm, which gave the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Later in the quarter Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made a field goal and Fromm connected with Matt Landers for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 19-0 lead heading into halftime.
Baylor was finally able to get on the board in the third quarter when quarterback Charlie Brewer lofted up a pass to Denzel Mims for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Mims was able to catch the ball above his head while holding off a Georgia defender to make it 19-7.
Zamir White responded for the Bulldogs with a 13-yard touchdown run, and Brewer countered that with a 1-yard touchdown run of his own to keep things close at 26-14. However, that would be the last time the Bears saw the endzone as Georgia’s defense was able to hold strong in the fourth quarter.
Later in the game things got worse for Baylor. Brewer sustained an injury in the fourth after a late hit following a 9-yard scramble. It appeared to be a head/neck injury as Bulldogs’ defensive lineman Travon Walker hit him high as he was running towards the sideline.
He was evaluated by trainers and taken to the locker room, but did not return to the game. “They told me as I came in here that they were checking his neck, you know, C-spine,” Baylor coach Matt Rhule Told ESPN. “They said he cleared the C-spine just now. But that’s what they were concerned about was his neck. He didn’t exhibit any head symptoms, but I’m sure they’ll continue to monitor him, though, after this and throughout the night just to make sure.”
Brewer has had three concussions throughout his career and two this season. He was seen yelling at the medical staff on the sidelines pleading with them to get back into the game.
“Charlie is just a competitor,” Rhule said. “He’s a winner. He’s tough. … It’s scary when they’re holding his head and all that, and he’s laying there to stabilize his neck, and he’s sitting there yelling to them to let go of him and let him go back in the game. He’s just that kind of guy. He’s a great player whose best football is ahead of him. We have to become better on offense quickly, and protecting him where he can stay upright is a major thing.”
Georgia was able to end the season on a positive note following a 37-10 SEC Championship loss to top-ranked LSU. Following a rocky season, Fromm finished the game 20-30 with 250 yards and two touchdowns. According to ESPN’S Mel Kiper, the junior is listed as the fifth ranked quarterback heading into the 2020 NFL draft.
