Nate Frazier had a career game on the ground Nov. 23, as No. 12 Georgia defeated UMass with ease.
Frazier rushed for career-highs in yards and touchdowns as the Bulldogs dominated the Minutemen 59-21 at Sanford Stadium. The freshman running back rushed for 136 yards and scored three touchdowns in the win.
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith had high praise for Frazier’s performance, which included 21 rushes.
“Special,” Smith said. “I told him after the game that freshmen don’t come here and run the ball like that; you’re special.”
Frazier, Georgia’s leading rusher through 11 games, was the first player to eclipse the century mark this season. He’s totaled 537 yards on 112 rush attempts, averaging 4.79 yards per carry, and seven touchdowns this year.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has noticed the talented freshman running back has recently turned a corner.
“He’s very confident,” Smart said, “He’s hitting the hole hard, sometimes too fast, but he’s a good running back and growing up fast. He’s a kid that usually would be getting a few carries, and now he’s our veteran back.”
With so many injuries, Frazier has been the anchor in the running back room, so he’s had to take on more. Fellow freshmen tailbacks Chauncey Bowens and Dwight Phillips Jr. also saw action against the Minutemen.
Georgia totaled 550 yards of offense, with 208 yards coming on the ground. The three freshmen accounted for 182 yards.
After being 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, Georgia’s offense started humming, especially in the second quarter.
Quarterback Carson Beck tossed touchdown passes on consecutive drives to Cash Jones and Dom Lovett. Smith caught Beck’s final score of the half before kicker Peyton Woodring added a 53-yard field goal for a 31-14.
Frazier took over in the second half, scoring all three of his rushing touchdowns to help extend Georgia’s lead.
Beck, who finished the game with 297 passing yards and four touchdowns, was happy to see Frazier thrive.
“I thought he had a great game today,” Beck said. “Just being able to make guys miss on the second level and have explosive runs, and then obviously, once you get down to the red zone, you want to be able to run the ball.”
Next, Georgia (10-1) will host rival Georgia Tech (7-4) for its annual rivalry game on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.