You don’t claw your way out of Duval County with your fifth straight win in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party without putting together a total team effort. But even then some players are bound
to distinguish themselves over and above their teammates, refusing to lose to a pack of jort wearing New Jerseyans. Those intrepid players are your MVDs, the Most Valuable ‘Dawgs from Georgia’s 24-20 win over Florida.
Offense: Zachariah Branch. On a day when Gunner Stockton wasn’t his sharpest Branch served as his safety blanket. Branch finished with 112 receiving yards on 10 carries, easily the most of any Bulldog, and both career highs. There may not be a better receiver in the nation after the catch, and we needed just about every YAC he racked up to win this one.
Defense: CJ Allen. Speaking of career highs Allen tallied a preposterous 13 tackles on the day, a career high for a guy who seems to have 30 tackles every Saturday. There were also a couple of plays on which Allen appeared to just teleport to the ball Roquan Smith-style, including a tackle on DJ Lagway to prevent a touchdown and force a field goal that kept the Bulldogs in this one when it could have gotten a little too far away. The Red and Black have some talented young linebackers, but I’m going to miss #3 something fierce when he heads to the NFL.
Special teams: Peyton Woodring. Woodring was 3 for 3 on extra points and hit a 39 yard field goal before the half to tie it up. That’s a solid but not spectacular stat line, but the usually reliable Brett Thorson removed himself from contention with his 26 yard clunker of a punt in the first quarter. That’s how close the margins are here in MVD Land.
As always, feel free to include your own candidates in the comments, and…
Go ’Dawgs!!!
