Special teams spark Bulldogs

SHREVEPORT, La. — Brandon Boykin’s teammates were giving him all kinds of kudos after his school record-setting kickoff return for a touchdown sparked Georgia’s win over Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl on Monday.

Boykin wanted none of it, though. To hear him tell it, all he did was run.

“The kick return that I had I really couldn’t take credit for that,” Boykin said. “The kick was short and my blocking, I felt like it parted just like the Red Sea.”

His third kickoff return for a score of the season – an 81-yarder late in the second quarter – hardly qualified as a miracle, but it was just what the Bulldogs needed to fuel a 44-20 victory.

Fifty-six seconds later Georgia blocked a punt, setting up another touchdown, and a game that was supposed to be an offensive showdown turned into yet another contest decided by special teams.

“The bottom line is you’ve got offense, defense and special teams, and you hope to win two out of the three phases,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

“We could’ve been down 14-0 if it weren’t for the special teams, and who knows what would’ve happened after that.”

Boykin set the school record and tied the Southeastern Conference mark with his kick return TD, Georgia blocked two kicks and Joe Cox threw his first TD pass after a snap sailed over the Texas A&M punter’s head in the third quarter.

In all, special teams play led to 24 points for Georgia, which also got a 49-yard field goal from Blair Walsh. Add in an unexpectedly strong defensive effort and the Bulldogs salvaged a smile after a disappointing year.

Georgia receiver Aron White, who caught two touchdown passes, was the offensive MVP.