Georgia kicker Blair Walsh kicks a field goal during the first half.TAMPA, Fla. — Georgia senior kicker Blair Walsh became the Southeastern Conference’s all-time leading scorer at Monday’s Outback Bowl, but that was hardly any consolation.
Walsh tallied his 412th career point with a 47-yard field goal in the second overtime against Michigan State, but he missed a 42-yard attempt in the first overtime and had a 46-yarder blocked in the third overtime to seal the Spartans’ 33-30 victory. Former Bulldogs kicker Billy Bennett held the league mark by compiling 409 points from 2000 to ’03.
“It’s cool to set it, but I would trade all the points I could just to have three points to win the game for us,” Walsh said. “I haven’t missed a game-winner before, and this one sucks because it was pretty much out there for everyone to see. I think I’ve been dependable for this team the last four years, but it sucks that I wasn’t there when they needed me to be today.”
Walsh entered this season as a favorite for the Lou Groza Award, having made 40 of 45 field-goal attempts during his sophomore and junior seasons. The 5-foot-10, 192-pounder never found that kind of consistency this year, however, making 21 of 35 attempts.
“You could say it wasn’t my year in a lot of respects, and that’s OK,” he said. “I worked hard, and I think that’s the most frustrating thing about it. My will to succeed doesn’t really match the results I got this year.”
Said coach Mark Richt: “Walsh is a very talented guy, and he’s a guy who I still have a lot of faith in. I think he’s going to end up being a good pro, and I’m just sad it ended the way it did.”
Six-point pickoff
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray threw two touchdown passes to extend his school single-season record to 35, but he also had a fourth returned-for-a-score interception.
That came with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter, when Darqueze Dennard ran one back from 38 yards to pull the Spartans within 16-14. Murray also had a costly pick-six in the second game of the year, when Antonio Allen had a 25-yard score in South Carolina’s 45-42 victory.
Murray had interceptions returned for scores by Mississippi State’s Darius Slay and LSU’s Morris Claiborne, but those games had long been decided.
“The one today got tipped, and it’s just one of those freak things that happens,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “Forcing it into coverage and having a pick-six is one thing, but sometimes you just have some freak things that happen.”
Crowell’s quick day
Touted freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell was the fourth Georgia player to receive a carry behind starter Ken Malcome, Richard Samuel and Branden Smith, and he finished with three carries for 3 yards. His day ended with six minutes left in the first half when the 5-11, 215-pounder aggravated the left ankle injury he sustained two carries into the Nov. 19 game against Kentucky.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get over the hump with an injury like that,” Richt said. “You get it to where you go again, but then you can stress it with two or three defensive bodies at the same time. He really didn’t have a lot of space in the beginning and had a couple of missed assignments where he really couldn’t get going.”
Crowell finished with 850 yards this season but had only 15 carries for 29 yards after his 132-yard performance against Auburn.
Odds and ends
Junior safety Bacarri Rambo made his eighth college interception and said “be patient” when asked about his impending NFL decision. … Sophomore outside linebacker Jarvis Jones didn’t have any sacks, leaving David Pollack’s 14 in 2002 as Georgia’s single-season best. … Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley when told that two Tennessee defensive assistants were leaving: “Derek’s had some tough breaks lately.” … Outback Steakhouse has been the bowl’s title sponsor for 17 years, making it the longest title sponsorship of any bowl.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.