John Lilly coaches tight ends at the University of Georgia.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With 505 total yards and 305 rushing yards against the nation's third-ranked rushing defense, John Lilly's debut as Georgia's play-caller was a smashing success.
Lilly was replacing Mike Bobo, who left last week for the head-coaching job at Colorado State.
"It's a little different from the spring game, I'm not going to lie," a smiling Lilly said after Tuesday's night's 37-14 throttling of Louisville. "I had a lot of confidence, and our whole staff had a lot of confidence in our players, and I know how well-prepared they are. I don't want to sound overconfident or arrogant, but that's what we expected to happen.
"I knew they could execute at a high level if we put them in position, and that's what we did. Of course, the fact Nick Chubb got on the bus helped."
Chubb rushed 33 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bulldogs transition from the loss of quarterback Hutson Mason to concussion-like symptoms late in the second quarter. Head coach Mark Richt called Lilly's play-calling performance "beautiful."
When asked if he was auditioning for the offensive coordinator role on a full-time basis, Lilly said, "I'm not worried about that right now, and tonight's not about that. Tonight is about our seniors and this football team and what they did, and that's all I've cared about the whole week."
Busy night for Sanders
Freshman defensive back Dominick Sanders intercepted two Cardinals passes, becoming the sixth player in Georgia history to make two interceptions in a bowl. Senior Damian Swann, who played his final game for the Bulldogs on Tuesday, had two interceptions against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl following the 2012 season.
Sanders had a winding 40-yard interception return in the second quarter to Louisville's 9-yard line, setting up a field goal that extended Georgia's lead to 20-7.
"When that ball went in the air, I became the receiver," Sanders said. "When I was running I got tired -- spinning around and all that. It was clutch play, and I got back on my feet."
Praise for Park
Though he had a been the scout-team quarterback this season while redshirting, freshman Jacob Park has impressed Richt.
"He's been able to drop back and sight it up and throw some beautiful balls all season long," Richt said. "The thing that he has is just showing a lot of leadership rallying the other guys to get going and do a good job and enjoy it and have some fun and make some plays. From time to time there will be some hooting and hollering from the defensive field, and that's usually Jacob making a nice throw.
"He's done a really good job of leading that group, and now he's got to turn his attention to competing for a job."
Park, a 6-4, 202-pounder from Goose Creek, S.C., will be vying with Faton Bauta and Brice Ramsey. Bauta will be a redshirt junior and Ramsey a redshirt freshman.
Odds and ends
Georgia started the same five guys on the offensive line in all 13 games, the first time that has occurred since the 2000 season. ... Sophomore safety Quincy Mauger suffered a concussion late in the second quarter and did not return, and senior receiver Michael Bennett suffered a left-knee injury early in the third quarter... Freshman tailback Sony Michel made his first career start as one of two tailbacks, joining Chubb, who has started eight in a row. ... Junior kicker Marshall Morgan set a single-season program mark with 67 extra points, breaking the standard of 63 he made in 2012.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.