INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Stetson Bennett could only think of one thing.
A goal. A message
I cannot be responsible for costing Georgia its first national championship in 41 years.
What a miserable thing to think, right? There he was, the quarterback turned Georgia starter, standing on the sidelines with such a horrible mantra running through his mind. How he got to that point involves one of the wildest plays you’ll ever see in a soccer game.
In the second half of a close game with the national championship on the line, Bennett escaped the pressure and, while being hit, threw a pass into the air for what appeared to be an incomplete pass. Only it wasn’t. Alabama, to the surprise of many, recovered the fumble inside the UGA red zone and Crimson Tide scored what was then the lead touchdown with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.
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Bennett is hit while trying to pass and evade a capture. The play was declared a fumble.
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
Back on the touchline, there was Bennett, that thought running through his head.
“I was not going to be the reason we lost this game,” he said. “I have to fix that.”
And oh he did. After that playing disaster, Bennett traversed Alabama to achieve that goal of his: He didn’t cost Georgia the national title. In fact, he won it for the Bulldogs, a 33-18 win over top seed Tide.
Following the turnover, Bennett completed his last four passes of the game for 83 yards, including a pair of touchdown throws that ensured the end of UGA’s four-decade national title drought. As the seconds ticked by on the game clock, the senior was thrilled on the sidelines, falling into the arms of staff members and teammates, tears streaming down his face, an outburst indicative of a child raised. in Georgia that leads his home state school to the top of the sport.
Your winding and rather incredible route here started as a scouting team in Athens and then passed a Mississippi college before heading back to Georgia.
“Five years ago, I was handing out passes like Baker Mayfield against the scouting team. We were impressed, ”said UGA coach Kirby Smart. “To think that it could go so far, what a story.”
Against all odds, Stetson took over as a starter in 2020 and then, surprisingly to some, defended himself against the transfer of JT Daniels this year. Despite screeching from critics and attacks from fans, he continued to score big wins, playing consistent, if not sometimes impressive, ball.
During the national title game, skeptics resurfaced. In its first eight series of Monday’s game, Georgia scored six points, five punts and four 3-pointers and out. The fans were restless, both in the stadium and on the Internet.
In fact, the Bulldogs gained a combined yard in their first two drives of the game, a sample size enough for some fans to call for a quarterback trade. Within minutes of starting the game, Daniels’ name was trending on Twitter.
And then later came the strange play.
With Georgia leading 13-12, Bennett rolled to the right and threw a pass that bounced down the sideline. Alabama linebacker Brian Branch picked up the bouncing ball, barely staying in bounds as he cornered it.
The crowd murmured and Georgia’s offensive players began preparing for the next play before officials gathered and the announcement was made: The play was a fumble and Alabama rallied.
The crucial play review included checking to see that Branch was in bounds when he fumbled.
Dylan Buell / Getty Images
They reviewed the play to (1) make sure Branch possessed the ball before his toe went out of bounds – he was less than an inch away in the limits—And (2) that what appeared to be a pass was actually a mistake. The call on the field held, the Tide got possession at Georgia’s 16-yard line and then scored the lead touchdown with 10 minutes, 14 seconds remaining.
“What we determined is that the quarterback lost possession of the ball before his hand advanced, so we determined a fumble,” head referee Duane Heydt said in a statement via a group report.
NCAA officials coordinator Steve Shaw says the ACC officials’ team got it right.
“The quarterback didn’t have firm control of the ball when the hand went forward, so replay lets that part of the game stick,” he says. Illustrated Sports in a text “Clearly there was no indisputable video evidence to cancel the call.”
On the sidelines, UGA running back James Cook rallied on offense as officials reviewed the play. “It was in the hands of the umpires,” Cook said. “We get all the guys together and keep cutting. We were still in the game. We keep cutting ”.
On the other hand, linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and Alabama received a gift that gave them a boost. “It was a nice change of energy,” the linebacker said. “It was something we needed.”
Bennett, meanwhile, stew. He was distraught, disappointed, and frustrated. How can this long journey end in such a bitter way?
“We weren’t going to let a rotation like that stop us from having a national championship,” Bennett said. “I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
And so it was, carving through Bama High School. Down 18-13, Bennett hit Jermaine Burton for 18 yards and then Kenny McIntosh for 10. He was sacked before throwing a perfectly placed pass to Adonai Mitchell in the corner of the end zone – a fun and cool 40-yard touchdown. took advantage. A series later, while holding a 19-18 lead, the Bulldogs made a defensive save and then marched down the field for a devastating series. Bennett delivered five times in a row, Georgia’s running backs gained 32 yards and then the quarterback capped him with a 15-yard screen pass to tight end Brock Bowers for an eight-point lead.
Bennett kisses the national championship trophy.
Joe Robbins / Sportswire Icon / AP
“Our offensive line, we crushed them in that advance,” Bennett said. “We played soccer for Georgia on that trip. We were not going to be detained. It was great to pass the ball and see those guys. “
Afterward, Bennett pointed at everyone but him. The offensive line, the running backs and most of all, a defense that heavily smothered Alabama all night, a unit that sealed the win late by returning an interception for a touchdown.
But who has a better story than Bennett? He is from Blackshear, Ga., About 200 miles south of Athens, and was raised as a Bulldog by UGA alumni parents. He was a two-star prospect who needed to take the college route and beat some highly touted guys on the Georgia roster to claim the starting spot.
Afterwards, he was a bit stunned, shocked by everything.
“I am speechless,” he said.
“Good sir. Wow!” then added.
He had a message for the companions of the whole country, those counted and on the bench.
“Keep fighting and keep your mouth shut,” he said. “Life is hard.”
More college football coverage:
• Top 25 too early for 2022 season
• Georgia finally defeats its Alabama demons
• Kirby, Nick and the inside story of Smart vs. Saban
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.