Lance McCurley
lance@msgrnews.com
After a scoreless first quarter, top-ranked Georgia got the spark it needed Saturday afternoon when wide receiver Mekhi Mews returned a Ball State punt 69 yards to the end zone. The Bulldogs never looked back.
Following Mews’ second touchdown of 2023, the Bulldogs added 24 points and forced three turnovers against the Cardinals in the second quarter, giving them a 31-0 lead at halftime.
“I saw a bunch of green grass,” Mews said of his scoring return. “I feel like everybody on the punt return unit blocked and executed well. So, I just wanted to execute and do my job as well.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Mews has stepped up in place of Ladd McConkey, who’s battling an injury.
“Well, Ladd has been hurt, so he’s provided a spark. We trusted him last year, he was Ladd’s back-up, he got a couple of returns. I think he returned a couple against Georgia Tech. He does it every day in practice,” Smart said of Mews after Georgia’s 45-3 win over Ball State.
“He’s done it for three years and done a great job as a scout team guy. When you go against the guys he’s gone against in our place, you’re going to get better. To be honest, I love Mews. He’s done a great job.”
Following Mews’ punt return, Ball State’s next drive ended in a pick by Georgia safety Malaki Starks. A few plays later, Bulldogs’ quarterback Carson Beck found Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in the end zone for six. That score quickly gave Georgia a 14-0 lead with 10:16 remaining in the half.
Bulldogs’ outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss picked off a pass on the second play of Ball State’s next possession. It was the first of his career, and two plays later the Bulldogs scored again as Dillon Bell rushed for a 21-yard touchdown. The wideout took a handoff and raced around the edge.
Georgia’s next score came by way of a field goal from placekicker Peyton Woodring on its next drive. The Bulldogs led 24-0 when Cardinals’ quarterback Kadin Semonza threw his third pick. Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith was on the receiving end of Semonza’s final interception of the game.
The Bulldogs were given great field position again, scoring in just a few plays as running back Kendall Milton punched it in from one yard out. They scored two more touchdowns in the second half. Beck passed for a touchdown to Cash Jones and Roderick Robinson had a 12-yard rushing score.
Beck said he thought the momentum changed in the Bulldogs’ favor right when Mews crossed the goal line for their initial score.
“When we got that punt return, everything flipped around,” Beck said. “So that was a huge play in the game.”
Mews ended the game with three receptions for 27 yards, his longest being a 16-yard pass to move the chains. A few plays later, Beck threw a touchdown pass to Jones that put Georgia up 31-0.
Mews, a 5-foot-8, 185-pounder, also had a 47-yard kickoff return for the Bulldogs. Overall, he led the team in all-purpose yards for the second consecutive week with 186 against the Cardinals.
Mews ranked second nationally in punt returns through three weeks of 2023. Through three punt returns in two games during the season, he’s totaled 130 yards and averages 26.0 yards per attempt.
Rosemy-Jacksaint said he sees the energy from Mews every day in practice and it transitions to the field.
“I’ve seen it every day since he came in here,” Rosemy-Jacksaint said. “He’d be on the scout team going against the ones (first-string players) and just giving everybody the blues. Every day he makes plays. That’s all he does.”
