ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia junior receiver and return specialist Isaiah McKenzie was easily the player of the game during Saturday's 26-24 escape of Nicholls State.
Then the final five minutes transpired.
With a 66-yard touchdown reception, three rushes for 33 yards and a 55-yard punt return that set up a William Ham field goal, McKenzie had all but put the Bulldogs on his 5-foot-8, 175-pound frame for a multiple-score victory. Then he fumbled a punt with 4:18 remaining, setting up a 9-yard touchdown drive for Nicholls, and fumbled the ensuing kickoff out of bounds at Georgia's 7-yard line.
"On the punt, I misread it and it bounced off my shoulder pads, and I couldn't get back to it," McKenzie said. "On the kickoff return, I misjudged it again and let it roll out of bounds. I definitely could have done better in the kicking game."
The Bulldogs were able to overcome the poor field position after McKenzie's botched kickoff return with a pair of third-down conversions.
McKenzie's long scoring catch occurred with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter and answered a Nicholls touchdown less than a minute earlier that briefly gave the Colonels their lone lead at 14-13. He caught the Jacob Eason pass near midfield and started heading for the right sideline, receiving a beautiful block from fellow receiver Javon Wims along the way.
When asked about the block afterward, McKenzie said, "I wouldn't say I set it up, but I made the right cut and allowed him to make the perfect block. I heard it, but I couldn't see it."
A perfect 10
With 6:23 remaining in the second quarter, Georgia junior safety Dominick Sanders intercepted Nicholls quarterback Chase Fourcade on the sideline.
"I was just doing the right thing - having the right eyes and the right coverage and being there to make a play," Sanders said.
That was almost the second interception of the game for Sanders, who made a beautiful, one-handed snag in the first quarter but landed out of bounds.
The 6-foot, 193-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Tucker has 10 interceptions in his Bulldogs career after collecting three as a freshman and six last season. Georgia's career record for interceptions is 16, which was set by Jake Scott (1967-68) and matched by Bacarri Rambo (2009-12).
"I try to treat it like I have zero," Sanders said. "That's my mindset every game. I try to start over."
Odds and ends
Sophomore defensive tackle Trenton Thompson had the best game of his promising young career, racking up 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Redshirt kicker William Ham is now 3-for-5 this season on field-goal attempts after making tries Saturday from 23 and 26 yards but missing wide left from 52. Freshman quarterback Jacob Eason and sophomore receiver Jayson Stanley got the first starts of their college careers. The Bulldogs are minus-1 in turnover margin through two games and have given up 17 points following turnovers while scoring just six.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.