Quarterback Jake From looks for an open receiver during Georgia's annual G Day inter squad spring football game Saturday, April 21, 2018, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)ATHENS, Ga. - The Georgia Bulldogs were the champions of the Southeastern Conference last football season.
On Saturday afternoon, Georgia was the SEC's king of spring.
The third G-Day of the Kirby Smart era had an announced audience of 82,184, topping the 74,732 who attended Alabama's A-Day game Saturday and the healthy 65,098 who witnessed Tennessee's first Orange and White Game under Jeremy Pruitt. It was the second-largest G-Day crowd ever, trailing only the 2016 extravaganza that included a Ludacris concert and drew an announced 93,000.
Georgia's three G-Day games under Smart have totaled 241,317 spectators, and they're the three best-attended spring contests in program history.
"I just think that people like Georgia football," Smart said. "When you have an opportunity on a nice spring day to come to Athens - I know I would be dying to come if I lived anywhere in a five-hour radius. Some of it is recruiting, but I think people enjoy football in Georgia, and they want to come watch it.
"I'm glad they do because of the impact it has on recruiting. I can't tell you how many recruits are out there going, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe this.' They can't get over it, but it's now the norm here, and it's the way it should be."
Saturday's G-Day game also was televised nationally by ESPN.
As for the actual outcome, the Black team consisting of the first-team defense and the second-team offense prevailed 21-13 over the Red, which had the starting offense and the backup defense. Heralded early enrollee Justin Fields completed 18 of 33 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown for the Black team, while returning starter Jake Fromm was 19-of-38 for 200 yards and a score for the Red.
The two totaled three interceptions, with Fromm accounting for two. There were 81 passes at G-Day compared to only 40 rushes.
"I thought parts of the game were sloppy, and some of that is by design," Smart said. "Some of you may ask if we have a rushing problem, but there was not an intent to rush the ball that much. The purpose of our spring game is to throw the ball and catch the ball and gain confidence in the passing game.
"The defense did a good job of creating turnovers. We got more turnovers today than we got all spring."
With D'Andre Swift sidelined due to a groin injury, Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien were the Red team tailbacks. Each had five carries, with Herrien collecting 34 yards and Holyfield 23.
Fromm moved the Red offense to the Black 43-yard line on the first possession of the game, but the drive stalled on a down-by-contact sack by D'Andre Walker. On the second Red possession, Fromm lofted a beautiful pass to Jayson Stanley that was just off Stanley's fingers, negating a potential 40- or 50-yard gain.
On the ensuing play, Fromm threw high for Mecole Hardman and was intercepted by Deandre Baker, who raced 32 yards for a touchdown to put the Black team up 7-0.
"We were trying to get it out really quick and throw it," Fromm said. "I threw it kind of sidearm, and it sailed on me. It kind of is what it is. You wish you could have it back."
Rodrigo Blankenship made a 41-yard field goal at the 5:19 mark of the second quarter that pulled the Red team within 7-3. Blankenship's kick capped an eight-play, 64-yard drive engineered by redshirt freshman walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett, who played for both squads.
Blankenship made a 35-yard field goal with 1:31 left in the half to culminate an eight-play, 44-yard drive that was led by Fromm.
The Black team scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, with Prather Hudson scoring on a 2-yard run to make it 14-6 and Fields connecting with Matt Landers from 15 yards out for a 21-6 lead. The Black finished with 287 offensive yards to 286 for the Red, but the most impressive number was the 82,184 who savored the 71-degree, sun-splashed day.
"We just have great fans," Holyfield said, "and if Coach Smart asks them to do something, they're going to do it. Coach Smart is the boss around here. If he says, 'Let's make it happen,' it usually happens."
Said Walker: "Our fans are amazing, and I wish we could see them every day and tell them that."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.