ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm never threw more than one interception in any game last season until getting picked off twice in January's national championship loss to Alabama.
In Saturday's G-Day game, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore was intercepted twice, including a 32-yard return for a touchdown by senior cornerback Deandre Baker. Fromm completed 19 of 38 passes for 200 yards, with his 19 incompletions representing more than he had in any game last season.
"It is what it is," Fromm said. "The defense really knows a lot of our calls and signals and that kind of thing. At the end of the day, you come out and try to make as many plays as you can."
When asked if Saturday was the worst of his three scrimmages this spring, Fromm replied, "It's definitely at the bottom. I really thought my last scrimmage was one of my better ones. You take them as they come and try to learn from them."
Fromm's top highlight was a 57-yard touchdown pass to Riley Ridley with 1:42 remaining in the game. That score pulled the Red team to within 21-13 of the Black, which wound up being the final score.
Early enrollee Justin Fields completed 18 of 33 passes for 207 yards and had a 15-yard touchdown pass to Matt Landers, but Fields suffered a blemish the play before Fromm's touchdown when he was intercepted by junior walk-on KJ Smith.
"Both quarterbacks managed things really well," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "I learned a lot more about them being able to handle things on the field with a crowd presence and a clock."
Down by contact
Senior outside linebacker D'Andre Walker had two sacks for 18 yards for the Black first-team defense, and there were 11 sacks overall at G-Day. All sacks were ruled down by contact.
"Those are annoying," Walker said. "Sometimes when you come around the edge, you just want to slam them, but you can't. Knowing that you can't hit them, you feel like you have to take a different approach. You don't go as fast or as full speed as you want to, because, at the end of the day, you can't hit them.
"You just want to stay in their face, and that's what you keep telling yourself. If you stay in his face on a day like today, that's basically a sack, too."
Ridley's scare
Ridley appeared to have a 44-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, but officials ruled the deep pass from Fromm as incomplete. The junior receiver lay in the end zone for a few minutes due to a head injury he sustained, which resulted in a hushed crowd of more than 82,000.
"I was running, and I know I caught it," Ridley said. "I know for a fact I caught it, because I felt like I took two steps. Then I hit my head, and it came out.
"I hit my head, but it's nothing now. I'm really a tough guy, so I don't take dings and then not come back in. I had to take that one and then go back in."
Ridley will head home to Coconut Creek, Fla., this week to watch the NFL draft with his family. Older brother Calvin, a former Alabama standout, is projected to be the top receiver taken and likely will be picked in Thursday's first round.
"I don't think we will be as nervous as we will be excited," Riley said. "I can't wait to see it. It will be an experience that I can't miss."
Odds and ends
Georgia's 2017 seniors were recognized during the first half Saturday, as were several former Bulldogs who have played or are playing in the NFL, including quarterback Aaron Murray, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and linebackers Alec Ogletree and Leonard Floyd. Senior receiver Ahkil Crumpton had a game-high five catches for 60 yards. Sophomore inside linebacker Monty Rice played for the second-team defense and racked up 14 tackles, including a 7-yard sack.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.