Photo: Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports
PASADENA, Calif. — Steven Parker and the Oklahoma Sooner defense spent 54 minutes trading blows with Georgia in the NCAA Playoff Semifinal Monday at the Rose Bowl, but it was a single shot that separated victor and vanquished.
Georgia ended Oklahoma’s national title run with a 54-48 win after Lorenzo Carter’s field goal deflection in a second overtime and Sony Michel’s 27-yard direct snap winning touchdown two plays later that sent the Bulldogs into the College Football Playoff national championship.
"DAWGS WIN IT! WE'RE HEADED TO ATLANTA!"
LISTEN: @UGAVoice's radio call of @Flyguy2stackz's double OT game-winner for @FootballUGA in the @rosebowlgame! #DawgsOnTop pic.twitter.com/mOrwdaUHkq
— Learfield Audio (@LearfieldAudio) January 2, 2018
First half dominance, however, belonged to Oklahoma. The Sooners outscored Georgia 14-7 in the first 15 mintes and 17-10 in the second quarter hour.
The lead came courtesy a touchdown from Katy (TX) alum Rodney Anderson (26 rush, 201 yards, 2 TD), another from Marquise Brown (8 rec, 114 yards, TD), and a trick play pass from CeeDee Lamb a former Richmond Foster High School (TX) receiver, to Mayfield, a former Lake Travis (TX) star signal-caller.
And while Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield stole the show — particularly with a decisive drive that tied the game in the fourth quarter that preceded a go-ahead defensive score — and Oklahoma built a 31-14 lead in the first half, Georgia rallied to score 24 consecutive points and pull ahead early in the fourth quarter.
Nick Chubb, seemingly returned from the proverbial dead after a gruesome, season-ending, and ligament-damaging injury in 2015 against Tennessee. He had 13 consecutive games or 100 yards of more and averaged more than 125 yards per game before that injury.
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Chubb, former LCU back Leonard Fournette, and former Florida State rusher Dalvin Cook were the top sophomore ball carriers in 2015. Two years later, Chubb ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns and became the only of the three to earn a national title berth. He was bested by only Michel, who rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns on three fewer carries.
Their efforts also gave them 8,194 combined rushing yards in their careers, moving them past former Southern Methodist University running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James (8,193) as the most by a pair of running back teammates in FBS history. Bulldog freshman quarterback Jake Fromm (20-29, 210 yds, 2 TDs), though, matched him and sent the game into its first overtime after marching Georgia down the field for a tying score with 55 seconds left.
Georgia earned its first national championship berth since the 1980 college football season.
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Marcus Matthews-Marion is the managing editor of TexasHSFootball, covering prep football throughout the Lone Star State. Follow him on Twitter, @TheMJMatthews, and read more of his content here.
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