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This one was special. Beat Tech and we finish the season 10-0, which would be Georgia’s first perfect season since 1946. Bill Curry’s Jackets showed up in Athens, on November 29th with a 1-8-1 record, but motivated by the thought of knocking us off. They wanted to ruin it for us. Not a chance. No way we were going to let these guys knock us off, with a national title opportunity hanging in the balance.

A lot of the talk that week was about Herschel breaking Dorsett’s freshman rushing record. Herschel needed another 200 yard day to do it. But that seemed very possible…he had gone over 200 in 3 of our last 5 games, entering the Tech showdown. Herschel hit his stride at mid-season and just kept getting stronger down the stretch. GT’s defense was in trouble.

Over 62,500 packed Sanford Stadium that day, for the 1:30 kick-off. It was sunny and 51 degrees, with a 20 mph wind blowing out of the west, towards the tracks. The Jackets took the field behind their trademark car---not sure how they got that thing in our stadium. Moments later, we had 21 seniors lined up for the coin toss, which Tech won. They took the ball. We took the wind at our backs.

The Jackets featured senior QB Mike Kelley, who was from Augusta. Mike was a good dude. We got to know each other a few years before, in the Georgia HS All-Star Game. He could zip it. But that season he didn’t have many weapons at WR. They ran a pro-set, with a mix of I-formation and split backs. Tech’s O-Line was solid, especially the right side, which was held down by Ben Utt (6’5” 275) and David Lutz (6’6” 305). Lutz would do battle with Jimmy Payne all day. Payne got the best of the match-up. Jimmy had 7 tackles, a sack, and 5-7 QBPs on Kelley.

Erk’s DL combination of Payne & “Meat Cleaver” was awesome. Just the names alone would strike fear into the minds of opposing QBs. Payne. “Meat Cleaver.” And as I watched the video of the 1980 season again, I realize how much havoc they caused, at the point of attack. Creamons, Crowe and Parks created a lot distruction too.

Rex Robinson kicked off and drilled it into the end zone stands. Tech started the game with a 3-and-out punt, which hit the ground and rolled out at our 11 yard line. Woerner got a face full of GT LB Robert Jaracz, who was talking trash.

We got off to a fast start, with a new wrinkle. With our twins formation, Haffner got it to “trips”, by motioning Herschel from his I-formation spot. Our first big play came when I hit Herschel running a wide route, out of that “twins with motion” set. He broke a couple of tackles and rumbled for 31 yards. We got on the board a few plays later, when Rex drilled a 57 yard field goal, which would have been good from 65, because of the wind at his back.

Tech went 3-and-out again. One of our special teams stars Greg Bell partially blocked the punt, so we started our 2nd possession at the GT 43.

I hit Norris Brown rolling left for 15 on 1st down. Couple of plays later, on 3rd and 19, Lindsay Scott caught a deep crossing route, which got us down to the Tech 2. Herschel jumped over the pile, on a 4 and 1 play. And then, Herschel scored diving over the pile on the next snap, which gave us an early 10-0 lead.

The 2nd quarter got off to a good start too. GT got a big play on a RB screen pass. Allen raced down inside our 25 yard line, but Frank Ros forced a fumble, with a blow from behind. Dale Williams recovered.
We were winning the field position battle and that set up our next score. After another GT punt, we got the ball at midfield.

OT Nat Hudson just dominated in this game. He had a match-up advantage over GT DE Lance Skelton and Haffner rode this all day, by running behind Nat. This series was a good example of how dominant Nat was on this day.

On 1st and 10, Herschel got 7, as Hudson knocked Skelton 8 yards off the LOS. On 2nd and 3, Herschel got 17 on a sweep left call…Hudson was 20 yards downfield and blocked safety Lawrence Lowe out of bounds. On 1st and 10, Herschel got 12 on a sprint draw call behind Nat…Hudson crushed Skelton into the turf 5 yards off the LOS. Nat Hudson was awesome!

We faced a 4th and 1 at the GT 5 and took a time out to talk about it. The Jackets were putting 11 in the box versus our power set (2 TE, 2 FB). So, Haffner changed it up to get the TD. We lined up in a “Power Right” set and motioned FB Ronnie Stewart across the formation, to the wide side of the field. It was a roll left call, with Stewart running into the flat. He was wide open. No one was near him. I gave the throw some extra touch and Stewart made the easy catch for the score. We led 17-0, with about 5:00 to play in the half.

After trading turnovers, Kelley led GT down field quickly, trying to get on the board before the half. As time ran out, he forced a throw into to a tight window around the goal line, and CB Dale Williams intercepted it. We had a 17-0 lead at the half.

Herschel had 13 carries for 61 yards and that 31 yard reception. Mike Kelley was 14-22 for 150 yards, with a fumble and a pick.

I was 6-12 for 84 yards, but had 2 interceptions. One was an overthrow to Norris Brown on a seam route and Thurson made a good play on the ball for the interception. On the other pick, I tried to stick one into a middle route, and the ILB drifted back from underneath.

The 3rd quarter started with us going 3-and-out. Tech got it and drove for a touchdown. Kelley hit a fade on Woerner to make it 17-7. On the touchdown, GT got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, after one of their OL picked Woerner up in the end zone, during their celebration. Not smart.

On the kick-off, Woerner caught it on the 6 and took off. Scott ripped off a 70 yard return, which set us up at the GT 23. Herschel scored on the first play. The call was our version of the draw. Herschel waited for me to bring it to him in the I-formation. That gave our FB a head start at the LB. **Nat Hudson swallowed up Skelton. Lindsay blocked the CB Thurson. And Herschel was out the backside, on a 23 yard TD run. He shook a Lowe tackle at the ten. We led 24-7.

Kelley drove GT back down the field for a score, which made it 24-14. We were going into the strong wind during the 3rd quarter and it bit me on our next drive. Haffner called a play-action deep shot to Lindsay. I hung it up deep, but the wind knocked it down a little and Thurson came down with it. Erk’s defense stopped them, with a 3-and-out to end the 3rd quarter.

We started the 4th quarter with a TD drive. Chuck Jones got it going with a nice run on a reverse. The big play came on a 4th and 1, at the GT twenty, Herschel took a lead play out of the power set 19 yards to the Tech 1 yard line. I jumped up and over on the next play for a score and we led 31-14. It was an 8-play, 58-yard drive.

Erk jumped into prevent mode at that point. Kelley drove GT for another score, throwing underneath coverage, on a 13-play drive that ate up clock. The score: 31-20. And that score set the stage for a big moment.

It was 1st down and 10, from our 35 yard line. First play of the series. From our right hash, we put Chuck Jones in motion from the slot and gave it to Herschel on the draw. Thurson blitzed from his corner spot, on the short side, which took him out of the play. ***Hudson dominated Skelton. Stewart cut the ILB in half. Herschel exploded through the hole and ran by the safety. He hit the jets at the Tech 45 yard line. Lowe chased and smelled fumes. Herschel took it to the house, on a 65 yard TD run, which broke Dorsett’s NCAA freshman rushing record. Sanford Stadium is still shaking. Everyone in a Georgia uniform got a hug or a handshake on the sideline, as Sanford Stadium shook. Game over. Record set.

In a strange twist, our sophomore LB Tommy Thurson picked off Kelley late, which gave the Thurson family 3 interceptions on the day.

We won, 38-21. It was Georgia’s first perfect regular season since 1946.

Herschel finished with 25 carries for 205 yards and 3 TDs. Mike Kelley threw it 46 times for 333 yards. We knew we were Sugar Bowl bound, but not sure who the opponent would be.