Georgia running back Nick Chubb (27) gets past Georgia Tech defensive back Demond Smith (12) for a touchdown with blocking from teammate Michael Bennett (82) during their game on Nov. 29, 2014, in Athens, Ga.ATHENS, Ga. - Never has the 1-yard line been so dangerous.
Georgia freshman tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel each suffered a first-half fumble at Georgia Tech's 1-yard line during Saturday's eventual 30-24 overtime loss to the Yellow Jackets. The Jackets lost a third-quarter fumble when Georgia defensive back Damian Swann stripped quarterback Justin Thomas and raced 99 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
"Both teams have been pretty good all season at not turning the ball over," Chubb said. "Football is a crazy game."
Thomas also fumbled with 2:41 left in regulation when he lost control after a pump fake, giving the Bulldogs possession at their 31-yard line.
Georgia opened the game with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard Chubb touchdown run. Chubb ripped off a 65-yard run to Georgia Tech's 1 on Georgia's third possession but fumbled two plays later, giving the Yellow Jackets possession at their 3.
"I'm just not really used to taking it over a pile," Chubb said. "That's never been part of my game, but I've got to learn from it and get better. I didn't put the ball in my right hand, and when I hit a lineman, the ball came out."
Georgia Tech was held to 42 yards in the first quarter but got going early in the second, driving 77 yards to Georgia's 20-yard line before Harrison Butker's 37-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Ray Drew with 7:54 left in the half. Swann recovered the loose ball at Georgia's 41-yard line, leaving the Bulldogs 59 yards away from another opportunity at grabbing a two-score advantage.
Georgia got only 58 of them, as Michel's fumble at the 1 was recovered by the Yellow Jackets in the end zone for the touchback.
"I'm not sure how it happened," Michel said.
The Jackets then marched 80 yards in 14 plays, tying the game at 7 on a 7-yard pass from Thomas to Darren Waller with eight seconds remaining.
Georgia Tech opened the second half with a 12-play, 91-yard drive that culminated with Thomas in a big pile inches from the goal line. With his forward progress stopped, Thomas began getting pulled back when Swann made the strip and was off to the races.
"Once I got in there and started ripping at the ball and it started moving, my main thing was to try and get it before they blew it dead," Swann said.
When Thomas was asked afterward about Swann's fumble return, he said, "It's something we can't get back, so I'm not going to discuss it."
Georgia and Georgia Tech combined for 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime after combining for 28 points through the first three quarters, when costly fumbles were so common.
"It was kind of an unusual day inside that 2- or 3-yard line," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.