2009 Capital One Bowl
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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.
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.
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
was held on January 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The Georgia Bulldogs
2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team competed in American football on behalf of the University of Georgia in 2008. The Bulldogs competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference . This was the Georgia Bulldogs' eighth season under the guidance of head coach Mark Richt...
of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
defeated the Michigan State Spartans
2008 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2008 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2008–2009 college football season. The team's head coach was Mark Dantonio. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan...
of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
by a score of 24–12. The game was televised to a national audience on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. The game was supposed to be a "showdown" between MSU RB Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
and Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
, but both players combined for only 43 carries and 109 yards, with Ringer scoring on a rushing touchdown and Moreno on a receiving.
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 SwensonBrett Swenson
Brett Swenson is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Michigan State University.-Early life:...
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
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
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 StaffordMatthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia....
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
Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
finally found the end zone for the Spartans with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. Michigan State attempted a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
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
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
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 | |Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Time | Georgia | Michigan State |
| 8 plays, 48 yards | 2:39 | > align=left|Blair Walsh 32–yard field goal | |
| 4 plays, 3 yards | 1:25 | > align=left|Brett Swenson 20–yard field goal | |
| 2 | 2:14 |
10 plays, 24 yards | 4:45 | > align=left|Brett Swenson 32–yard field goal |
| 10 plays, 96 yards | 5:51 | > align=left|Michael Moore 35–yard reception from Matthew Stafford | |
| 1 play, 21 yards | 0:06 | > align=left|Aron White 21–yard reception from Matthew Stafford, Blair Walsh kick good | |
| 10 plays, 54 yards | 2:20 | > align=left|Javon Ringer | |
| 11 plays, 67 yards | 5:03 | > align=left|Knowshon Moreno | |