100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays—Day 46

UGASports continues its 100-day countdown to the Bulldogs’ 2026 season opener with the “100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays” series. Today, on Day 46, we examine and relive one of Georgia’s greatest plays in its football history, relating to that specific number. On Day 46, UGASports looks back at fullback Barry Young’s “fly by the seat of his pants” 46-yard run vs. Ole Miss. The Game: No. 5 Georgia (4-0 record coming off a win at Mississippi State) vs. Ole Miss (2-2 record coming off an open week) at Sanford Stadium in Athens on October 9, 1982. After Ole Miss faced No. 4 Alabama and No. 9 Arkansas, No. 5 Georgia was the Rebels’ third consecutive opponent ranked in the AP Poll’s Top 10. The Bulldogs were considered 13½-point favorites. “Get the Picture”: With junior Herschel Walker on the verge of being the SEC’s all-time leading rusher, it was rather surprising Georgia opened the game without giving the ball to its star tailback. Instead, junior fullback Barry Young, who generally served as a blocking back for Walker, got the call. On the game’s first play from scrimmage from the 35-yard line, Young gained three tough yards. After quarterback John Lastinger picked up a first down on a run, Young went up the middle again for six yards, setting up second-and-4 from the Rebels’ 49-yard line. The Play For the third time in the game’s first four plays, Young carried the ball up the middle on a fullback plunge. And, it appeared, like before, he gained only a handful of hard-earned yards. Instead, after getting stopped at the line, Young broke off at right tackle and started streaking down the field. As Young was heading toward the Ole Miss goal line, the only defender with a shot of catching the rumbling fullback was speedy safety Johnny Armstrong. Armstrong grabbed hold of Young by the back of his silver britches around the 12-yard line, pulling him down at the 3 after a gain of 46 yards. Young later said that he ran as far as he did “because their secondary had followed Herschel [Walker] to the other side of the field.” On the play after Young’s 46-yard jaunt, Walker, on his first carry of the game, scored a touchdown from three yards out to give Georgia a 7-0 lead. Just before halftime, with the game tied 10-10, placekicker Kevin Butler made a then-school-record 59-yard field goal. The Bulldogs cruised in the second half, outscoring Ole Miss 20-0 to ultimately prevail 33-10. For the game, Georgia’s bend-but-don’t-break defense yielded a staggering 29 first downs and 524 total yards, yet allowed only a second-quarter touchdown and field goal. Walker rushed for 149 yards, breaking LSU’s Charles Alexander’s SEC record for career rushing yardage. Young rushed for a career-high 84 yards on eight carries, including his career-long run of 46 yards. “I have adjusted to the type of game I have to play,” Young said following the win. Notably, Young and Walker were roommates throughout the latter’s three-year career at Georgia. “We’re all trying to get Herschel the Heisman Trophy. I’ll be happy to say I blocked for Herschel and helped him win the Heisman.”