HATE WEEK: Top 10 Greatest COFH Games #9

Coming in at number nine on our list is the 1962 rendition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. This was a game that saw one player in particular (Billy Lothridge) completely dismantle the dwags. Now, let's take a look at the game.

Background

Coming into this game, both teams had just pulled off massive upsets the week before.

Going into the week before the big game, georgia was an odd 2-3-3. They had wins over Vanderbilt and Clemson, losses to Alabama, FSU and Florida and ties with South Carolina, Kentucky and NC State.

They were preparing to play the nationally-ranked 7-1 Auburn War Eagles. Going in, nobody expected the dwags to put up much of a fight. Surprisingly, though, they managed to pull off a 31-20 victory, absolutely shocking everybody.

Tech had been better up to this point, but still had two close losses, a 10-7 loss to LSU and a 17-14 loss to Auburn. They had also tied FSU 14-14. In spite of all of this, Tech had won their six games by a margin of 129-31.

Joe Namath and the undefeated Crimson Tide had come into Grant Field and played a tough game, but Tech managed to give them their lone loss of the season, 7-6.

It was the 57th rendition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, and Tech was a 10-point favorite as a visitor.

The Game

uga received the opening kickoff but was unable to do anything in their first drive and went three-and-out. Tech came out a little bit better.

They worked their way down the field, going 83 yards in 13 plays, ending with Mike McNames scoring on a one-yard run. Billy Lothridge kicked the point-after, and Tech had a quick 7-0 score.

uga had the ball back again and was again forced to punt. This time, however, Ray Mendheim managed to break through the dwag blocking and blocked the punt, allowing Frank Sexton to fall on the ball at the uga 17-yard line. A few plays later, Lothridge was in the endzone on his first touchdown of the game. After converting the point-after, Tech had a 14-0 lead.

The uga defense managed to hold Tech's offense for the rest of the half, but as well has their defense played, Tech's played even better. They managed to hold the dwags to zero first downs in the entire first half.

Coming out of the second half, Tech returned the opening kickoff up the the georgia 39-yard line. Only three plays later, Lothridge threw a pass to Doug Cooper to bring the Jackets up to the five-yard line. A couple plays later, and Lothridge ran it in for his second touchdown. Another point-after, and the game was 21-0.

In uga's next drive, they finally managed their first first down. They even got the ball up to Tech's 14-yard line, but they could not punch it in, and Tech got the ball back.

About halfway through the third quarter, Gerry Bussell to the pitch from Lothridge and ran 86 yards for the touchdown. Lothridge converted again, and the score was 28-0.

georgia would finally score on their next drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass. They tried for two, but failed.

Early in the fourth quarter, Tech intercepted a uga pass and returned it to uga's 14-yard line. After a rough drive, Tech was forced to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Lothridge, making the score 31-6.

Tech would score their final touchdown after another interception. Yet again, it was another touchdown run by Lothridge. His missed extra point following the touchdown kept the score at 37-6 which was the final.

The Aftermath

Let's take a look at Billy Lothridge's accomplishments for the day: He scored three touchdowns, kicked four conversions, kicked a 42-yard field goal, totaling 25 points, he completed eight passes for 120 yards, ran for another 76 and punted four times for a 35-yard average.

This is easily one of the most dominating performances by a single player in this entire series and is the main reason why this game was deemed worthy of the #9 spot on this countdown.