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2009 Capital One Bowl
Bowl Game
1 2 3 4 Total
University of Georgia 3 0 14 7 24
Michigan State University 3 3 0 6 12
Date January 1, 2009
Season 2008
Stadium Florida Citrus Bowl
Location Orlando, Florida
MVP Matt Stafford (Georgia QB)
Favorite Georgia by 8.5
Referee Karl Richins
Attendance 59,681
Payout US$4.25 million per team[1]
United States TV coverage
Network ABC
Announcers: Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge
Nielsen ratings 6.4 (10.8 mil. viewers)
Capital One Bowl
 < 2008  2010

The 2009 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference defeated the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten Conference by a score of 24–12.[2] The game was televised to a national audience on ABC. The game was supposed to be a "showdown" between MSU RB Javon Ringer and Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno, but both players combined for only 43 carries and 109 yards, with Ringer scoring on a rushing touchdown and Moreno on a receiving.[3]

Game summary[]

First half[]

The Bulldogs scored the first points of the game when Blair Walsh connected on a 32 yd field goal early in the first quarter. Michigan State would answer with a 20 yard field goal by Brett Swenson with 4:50 left in the first quarter. The Spartans would take the lead late in the second quarter with a 32 yd field goal of their own. Despite multiple turnovers neither Michigan State or Georgia could score a touchdown in the first half and Michigan State would take a 6–3 lead into halftime.

Second half[]

Both teams continued to struggle offensively until Georgia drove 96 yards and scored on a Matthew Stafford 35 yard touchdown pass to Michael Moore with 3:31 left in the third quarter. After forcing Michigan State to punt on their next possession, Georgia would score another touchdown off a 21 yard Matthew Stafford pass, this time to Aron White right before the end of the third quarter. Michigan State would pull within a touchdown after Javon Ringer finally found the end zone for the Spartans with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. Michigan State attempted a two-point conversion to try to pull within three points of Georgia, however the attempt failed with an incomplete pass. This made the score 17–12. After a short possession by Georgia, Michigan State would get the ball back and would drive into Georgia territory, but turned the ball over on a failed Fourth down conversion attempt. Georgia would seal the game when Knowshon Moreno scored on a 21 yard touchdown pass from Stafford with just 3:43 left in the fourth quarter.

Scoring summary[]

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Information[4] Score
Length Time Georgia Michigan State
1 9:26 8 plays, 48 yards 2:39 Georgia Blair Walsh 32–yard field goal 3 0
4:50 4 plays, 3 yards 1:25 Michigan State Brett Swenson 20–yard field goal 3 3
2 2:14 10 plays, 24 yards 4:45 Michigan State Brett Swenson 32–yard field goal 3 6
3 3:31 10 plays, 96 yards 5:51 Georgia Michael Moore 35–yard reception from Matthew Stafford, Blair Walsh kick good 10 6
0:09 1 play, 21 yards 0:06 Georgia Aron White 21–yard reception from Matthew Stafford, Blair Walsh kick good 17 6
4 8:50 10 plays, 54 yards 2:20 Michigan State Javon Ringer 1–yard rush, Brian Hoyer pass failed 17 12
3:43 11 plays, 67 yards 5:03 Georgia Knowshon Moreno 21–yard reception from Matthew Stafford, Blair Walsh kick good 24 12
Final Score 24 12

References[]

External links[]

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