Fromm leads Georgia past App State, 31-10
ATHENS, Ga. — Freshman Jake Fromm led three first-half touchdown drives after starting quarterback Jacob Eason sprained his left knee, helping No. 15 Georgia beat Appalachian State 31-10 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Fromm completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown after entering the game in the first quarter.
“He showed tremendous poise for a freshman,” Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims said. “The situation wasn’t too big for him.”
Nick Chubb rushed for 96 yards, including scoring runs of 1 and 7 yards, and Sony Michel added 87 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
Eason was injured on a late hit in the first quarter and needed help leaving the field. Coach Kirby Smart said more will be known about the severity of the injury today.
Smart said Fromm “did exactly what I thought Jake Fromm would do” in moving the offense.
“There has not been a moment that’s been too big for Jake Fromm since he’s been a little kid,” Smart said. “He’s always been that way.”
Fromm threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Wims for his second of three straight touchdown drives in the first half. Chubb and Michel gained momentum as Appalachian State’s undersized defense appeared to wear down.
Fromm wasn’t assured of playing time in the game or even the season before Eason’s injury. Smart said this past week he had no plan to create time for Fromm, adding “Jacob Eason is our quarterback.”
That plan changed before all the fans could find their seats
at Sanford Stadium. With 6:30 remaining in the first quarter, Mountaineers defensive tackle Myquon Stout drew a personal-foul penalty when he hit Eason out of bounds. Eason limped back on the field before collapsing behind the line of scrimmage.
Eason was helped to the sideline and then taken to the locker room. He did not return to the sideline.
Appalachian State quarterback Taylor Lamb played on the Georgia practice fields when his grandfather, Ray Lamb, was Georgia’s coordinator of high school relations. Lamb, who starred at Calhoun High School and is the son of Mercer coach Bobby Lamb, completed 18 of 27 passes for 128 yards and ran for 66 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a cool experience,” Lamb said. “I came to games as a kid and I know a lot of guys on that football team there, a lot of alumni from the school. So it was cool to see those guys and play in Sanford Stadium.”
Fromm was out of the game when Mountaineers safety Desmond Franklin intercepted a pass from Tray Bishop. The
“It was a cool experience. I came to games as a kid and I know a lot of guys on that football team there, a lot of alumni from the school. So it was cool to see those guys and play in Sanford Stadium”
— TAYLOR LAMB
turnover set up Lamb’s 20-yard scoring run with less than six minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs, held without a first down on two drives with Eason, found their momentum while running their up-tempo attack with Fromm and built a 21-0 halftime lead. Smart’s trust in Fromm showed in the third quarter when the freshman completed a 21-yard pass to Wims on fourth-and-3.
It was Fromm’s night, but Georgia’s defense also excelled by allowing only 284 yards, helping the Bulldogs play up to their No. 15 preseason ranking.
Georgia started freshman Andrew Thomas at right tackle. The Bulldogs’ last true freshman starter on the offensive line was John Theus in 2012. First-year receiver Mecole Hardman and tailback D’Andre Swift had their first catches.