ATLANTA — Georgia football struck first in the SEC Championship Game, and the Bulldogs did it in a most unconventional — and spectacular way.
Georgia junior Nazir Stackhouse blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt, and after the blocked ball squirted to the UGA 4-yard line, senior captain Christopher Smith scooped it up and returned it 96 yards with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
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LSU had driven 74 yards on 12 plays and faced a third-and-goal at the Georgia 5 when Jalen Carter broke through the line of scrimmage and Chaz Chambliss came off the edge, leaving Tigers’ QB Jayden Daniels no avenue for escape.
The resulting sack brought LSU’s Damian Ramos out to attempt the field goal.
Several camera angles and replays revealed fun aspects of the return, from Smael Mondon Jr. discouraging Smith from picking it up, to Robert Beal high-fiving Jalen Carter to celebrate the block, unaware Smith was racing past them.
A camera in the coaching box showed offensive coordinator Todd Monken also not wanting Smith to pick it up — until he did, and then it was “go go go.”
It was Georgia’s first non-offensive touchdown of the season and marked the fourth time a UGA football team had blocked a field goal in an SEC Championship Game, and the second time it had returned one for a touchdown (2012).
“Heads up play by Christopher Smith,” former Georgia QB and current radio analyst Eric Zeier said. “When he picked up the ball there was a convoy of red jerseys in front of him.”
The teams traded touchdowns on their ensuing drives -- LSU with 53-yard reception from Daniels to receiver Kayshon Boutte, and then Georgia answering with a 3-yard TD catch from Stetson Bennett to go up 14-7 right before the first quarter came to an end.
The Bulldogs made it 21-7 on the second play of the second quarter on a 22-yard Ladd McConkey TD catch one play after Smael Mondon Jr. made an interception off a deflection.
