UGA notebook

ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu was warming up before Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe when coach Mark Richt approached and asked about his range.

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"I told him I felt I could hit anything from 57 to 58 yards," Coutu said. "I don't know if he thought I was kidding, but he did see me warm up, and I was kicking it pretty good."

Coutu proved it when he boomed a 58-yarder late in the fourth quarter, which tied for the third-longest field goal in Bulldog history.

The sophomore actually had room to spare. Coutu's kick easily sailed halfway through the uprights, although he never saw for himself.

"I was already running off the field because I knew I hit it good," Coutu said. "I'm just glad that (Richt) had enough confidence in me to let me try."

Richt certainly liked what he saw in Coutu, who took over the starting job from Andy Bailey in last year's season finale.

"(Coutu) is still a relatively young kicker; it is his first year starting," Richt said. "But it's good to know, as a coach and as a team, that you've got a player who is capable of making that kind of a kick."

Coutu's kick was the longest for Georgia since Kevin Butler's Southeastern Conference and school-record 60-yarder beat Clemson in 1984. Coutu's is the longest in school history without a tee. Butler also made a 59-yarder against Ole Miss in 1982 and Allan Leavitt connected for a 58-yarder against Vanderbilt in 1976.

MAKING IT COUNT: Defensive end Charles Johnson has only made five tackles for the Bulldogs this year, but he's certainly made them count.

The sophomore has five tackles, three for losses of 15 yards, including two sacks. On Saturday, he was Johnny-on-the-spot when he recovered a fumble by Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Steven Jyles in the end zone for Georgia's fourth touchdowns.

"When I got the ball I knew it was something special," Johnson said "It felt good being in the end zone with the ball in my hands."

The play made the score 34-7 and enabled the Bulldogs to put the game away after a slow start.

FIRST TASTE: Georgia got its first look at the SEC's new instant replay system and the Bulldogs liked what they saw.

Both reviews went Georgia's way, first when Kenneth Harris' 31-yard catch in the third quarter was ruled complete and later when Quentin Moses knocked the ball from Jyles' hand before Johnson recovered for the Bulldogs' fourth touchdown.

"I've really been kind of neutral about it, but for today, it worked out in our favor," Moses said.

INJURY UPDATE: Thomas Brown (shoulder), Sean Bailey (shoulder), Dannell Ellerbe (sprained ankle) did not dress out, but Richt expects the trio back for Saturday's game against Mississippi State.

Other injuries of note include defensive back Drew Williams, who injured his right leg in the third quarter, and linebacker Brandon Miller who pulled a muscle last week in practice.