ATHENS — Georgia went under the lights at Sanford Stadium on Wednesday night for its second preseason scrimmage.
How did it go?
“It was like night and day from the first scrimmage as far as the energy level out there,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Quarterback Aaron Murray completed 14 of 18 passes for 173 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Todd Gurley rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns and had three catches for 72 yards. Freshman Brendan Douglas led all rushers with 50 yards on seven carries.
Georgia freshmen cornerbacks Brendan Langley and Shaq Wiggins each had interceptions. Langley returned his pick 48 yards for a touchdown and Richt said saved a touchdown with a pass-breakup on a fade in the back of the end zone that he batted away.
“Those guys have really good ball skills,” Richt said. “They snatched the ball like a receiver.”
Richt was the one and only voice to offer his perspective on what transpired in what was essentially the best final evaluation for important personnel decisions before scout teams begin to start preparations in earnest for the Aug. 31 opener against Clemson.
That game, like the scrimmage, also will be at night.
Because of the late hour, players weren’t available, and like all scrimmages except the G-Day spring game, the session was closed to the media.
Georgia’s starting offense went up against its No. 2 defense and its starting defense squared off against the No. 2 offense.
“Both sides of the ball, the No. 1 units both won the day,” Richt said.
John Theus and Kolton Houston both got first-team reps at right tackle, Richt said. He was pleased with the pass protection, although outside linebacker had four tackles and “created some issues” including drawing an offensive holding call.
Richt said that starting safety Tray Matthews and Corey Moore missed their second straight scrimmage due to injuries.
Matthews has been dealing with a sprained shoulder and strained hamstring, and Moore with a sprained knee.
“It’s big,” Richt said. “We need them back. Hopefully soon.”
Especially because safety Josh Harvey-Clemons is suspended for the opener. He led all tacklers in the scrimmage with seven and had three pass breakups.
Murray seemed to bounce back from a three-interception scrimmage last week, although he said on Monday that he “wasn’t stressed at all about the turnovers,” because miscommunication played a role in the miscues.
Backup quarterback Hutson Mason completed 9 of 19 passes for 107 yards with a touchdown and interception. Malcolm Mitchell led all receivers with four catches for 58 yards and Michael Bennett and Blake Tibbs had touchdown grabs.
Coaches will now grade the scrimmage film and depth charts will be firmed up.
“It won’t be exact until probably next Wednesday,” Richt said. “I would think by next Wednesday when we have that practice game we’ll have a really good idea of how we’d line up.”
With temperatures in the lower 70s, it might have felt more like an early fall night than an August night practice.
Georgia’s final preseason scrimmage is slated for Wednesday, a “practice game” for Clemson. That also will be at night.
“I’m glad we went at night,” Richt said. “It was good to play under the lights.”