MIAMI GARDENS – The Capital One Orange Bowl was truly a one-side matter.
In third-ranked Georgia’s 34-11 win last night (Dec. 31) over second-ranked Michigan, the national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium was practically over by no later than halftime.
Georgia quarterback and Orange Bowl Offensive MVP Stetson Bennett had 310 passing yards with three touchdown passes, while defensive back and Orange Bowl Defensive MVP Derion Kendrick caught two interceptions to help their team pull off the easy win.
The offense for Georgia was dominant in a sense – particularly in the first. They scored on their first four possessions of the game, as the first two ended with touchdowns and the next two ended by field goals by kicker Jack Podlesny.
Bennett completed nine straight passes in the game – one of which was a nicely thrown 53-yarder to South Florida native James Cook, who is the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back, Florida State alum, and Miami Central legend Dalvin Cook.
Cook spoke on Georgia’s fast start.
“We’ve had that chip on our shoulder where we get out there to play somebody else, we’re just going to get that taste out of our mouth, and that’s what we did,” said Cook, who had four catches for 112 receiving yards and a touchdown against Michigan.
“I told the guys, every time we go out there, we’ve got to score every drive and don’t leave no points on the field because that’ll get you beat like it did against Alabama,” Cook continued. “We’ve got to just keep staying intact and keep getting better on Monday.”
By halftime, Georgia (13-1) took a 27-3 lead over Michigan (12-2) that proved to be more than enough for the victors
Just to be sure, the 24-point lead at that point was made possible by a 57-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to receiver Jermaine Burton with 1:38 left in the second quarter.
Even so, Georgia made sure it did not celebrate this Orange Bowl victory like it was the end of a marvelous season.
This was magnified by head coach Kirby Smart’s refusal to take part in a Gatorade bath.
“I’m not interested in celebrating that,” Smart said in last night’s Orange Bowl press conference. “I wanted to get a real shower, not a Gatorade bath. We’ll look back on that win, and that’ll be great, but we’re focused on the task ahead. I’m not focused on Gatorade baths.”
Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean, who helped his defense allow just 88 rushing yards to Michigan, felt the same way.
“There’s definitely one more game,” Dean said. “Champs not at all. Job not finished. We didn’t do our everything we did this whole season just to win the Orange Bowl. Job not finished.”
NOTES: Georgia outgained Michigan in total yardage, 515-325.
The Orange Bowl attendance was recorded at 66,849, which included Migos frontman/rapper Quavo.
With the win, Georgia will face off in a rematch against top-ranked Alabama (13-1) in the College Football National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis) on Jan. 10 (8 p.m. kickoff; ESPN).
Alabama took down fourth-ranked Cincinnati (13-1) yesterday afternoon at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, 27-6.
PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde
