Jacob Eason

Eason comes through in the clutch, again

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Georgia Bulldogs might not be a great team this year, but there’s one thing they do have: a clutch quarterback.

For the third time in Georgia’s five wins this season, Jacob Eason has driven the team down the field in a game’s final moments.

Eason has thrown for 1,754 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 53.3% of his passes through the season’s first nine games, but his most impressive performances have come with the game on the line.

Missouri: 3-for-8, 43 yards, Touchdown

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Most notably was Eason’s first start in Columbia, Missouri when Eason led the team on the game-winning drive and found Isaiah McKenzie on fourth and 10 for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:29 left in the game.

With Georgia’s running game virtually non-existent in that contest, the freshman was asked to carry the offense and he did. Eason went 29-for-55 for 308 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

On the final drive, Georgia got the ball back with 3:18 left on its own 20-yard line trailing 27-21. Eason went 3-for-8 for 43 yards and of course capped it off with that epic throw to McKenzie.

Tennessee: 4-for-4, 86 yards, Touchdown

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Against Tennessee, Georgia led most of the game but the Vols took the lead when Eason was sacked in his own end zone and recovered it for a touchdown.

But Eason showed excellent composure to bounce back.

Trailing 28-24, the Dawgs got the ball back on the 19-yard line with 1:00 left. All Eason did was go 4-for-4 for 86 yards and hit Riley Ridley on a 47-yard strike to take a 31-28 lead with 10 seconds left to play. If it weren’t for the ensuing Hail Mary, Georgia would’ve been the team that was talked about as the ones that just find ways to win games.

Kentucky: 4-for-4, 42 yards, Field Goal

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

And that brings us to Saturday in Lexington. With the game tied at 24, Georgia started the drive at the 25-yard line with 2:47 left in the game. Eason orchestrated a nine-play drive and set up Rodrigo Blankenship 25-yard field goal as time expired. Eason went 4-for-4 for 42 yards on the final drive.

Vanderbilt: 4-for-8, 49 yards

Against Vanderbilt, Georgia trailed 17-16 when they got the ball back on the 20-yard line with 2:55 left in the game. Eason went 4-for-8 for 49 yards on the final drive, including a fourth and 13 conversion to Terry Godwin that picked up 26 yards.

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Had Chaney trusted his freshman on fourth and short, instead of putting the ball into McKenzie’s hands on the toss sweep, we may have seen yet another clutch last-second performance by the true freshman.

The freshman quarterback has been far from perfect this season. But when the game is on the line and the moments are the biggest, he comes through. And there’s something to be said for that.

Georgia is undoubtedly going to be in a lot more close games in the next two to three years of Eason’s career, and Kirby Smart should take comfort in the fact that he has a guy in his signal-caller that gets in done in the clutch.