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ATHENS – Eric Stokes played the game of the match, was probably the defensive player of the match and praised his head coach not only because of what he did in the match of the G- Day, but what he's been doing all spring with the Bulldogs. Yet every half corner junior could think of Saturday while he was preparing to leave the Sanford stadium.
Well, that and what he ate for dinner. It would be Beanie Weanies while playing with the black team who lost 22-17. The winners of the red team had dinner on steak and lobster Saturday night.
"It will be very difficult, knowing we had most of the game and they came back at the end," Stokes said of his Saturday night fare. "But I do not want any of it because it's me who gave up the touch that made it go up." So, it's on me. I should never allow these things. "
Stokes got beaten for what was really the decisive game of the match. Jeremiah "JJ" Holloman, a lifelong friend and resident of Newton County, opened on a pole road, grabbed substitute quarterback Stetson Bennett's pass and turned it into a 43-yard touchdown that gave a 19-17 lead to the red team. with 08:09 to play.
Such is the life of a half corner. The touch helped to ruin what would have been an incredibly productive day for Stokes. In fact, it could not have started any better.
The main goal of the defense this spring and for the 2019 season is to create "chaos games". Interceptions, assists, sacks, tackles for defeat and touchdowns are things that coach Kirby Smart thinks the Bulldogs have not produced enough seasons. So there has been a very pointed initiative to show a marked improvement in this regard this season.
"That's all we wanted: damage, damage, damage," Stokes said. "Havoc can lead to a lot of things. We wanted to create havoc and reduce the score. We talked about it all week and that's exactly what we did. "
Havoc is exactly what Stokes created on Saturday. At the third outing of the day's game, while the red team led by Jake Fromm ranked third and third among the 37, Stokes jumped Holloman's inclined road, grabbed the ball at the same time as Holloman's Did, fought back and then returned 39 yards for a touchdown.
Two minutes into the match, Stokes' black team led 7-0.
"NOT A WORD. slipped and that made me look at the quarterback, "said Stokes." I really should not, but since he slipped, I felt I could take a little risk. Fortunately, the bet has paid off. So I'm glad I'm the one who's finished with the ball. "
As one would expect, Stokes was completely assaulted by coaches and black team players as he headed for the sideline.
"They really loved it," said Stokes. "A lot of hands on my helmet. It was incredible. I think it's a great way to start. But some pieces humiliated me very quickly. "
Holloman would have the last word with the late TD.
"I really do not know what happened," Stokes said of the decisive game. "I have to watch a movie back because it's the piece that eats me alive right now."
Holloman was more than happy to fill the gaps of his boyfriend.
"It was a double hit, so it was just a win-win situation for me," Holloman said with a smile. "I got it on a good shot and I was open while crossing the middle and Stetson saw me. He let the ball go and I played the game. "
Nevertheless, Smart had only praise for Stokes. To be beaten in the middle is sometimes the price to pay to play the corner. This should never happen against a real opponent, but that does not erase all the advances that Smart has seen in Stokes.
"He certainly made a good game to start today," Smart said. "I thought it was a good fight for the ball and he scored when he had it. It's a kid who has come a long way, from a guy who was not really a DB in high school to an athlete who is very conscientious about doing things the right way. When you teach something to Stokes, he listens to it and applies it. When you combine this ability with talent, you have a very good player. "
Stokes knows he's fine. He just wants to be good and he knows what it looks like. He followed Deandre Baker around the corner and Baker did not allow a TD the last two seasons. That does not include G-Day, of course.
"I remember all the bad parts. I hardly remember good games, "said Stokes. "It's more what I watch. I know that I dropped a third and four, a third and five, where we could have been off the field. And then, of course, I dropped a touchdown. So that's how I see things. I think of all the bad things instead of all the good. "
Fortunately for him, there was more.
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