ORLANDO, Fla. -- After being overshadowed by role players earlier in the day, Georgia's biggest stars hooked up for the touchdown that put away the Capital One Bowl on Thursday.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford hit running back Knowshon Moreno on a 21-yard scoring strike with 3:43 to play as the No. 16

Bulldogs notched a 24-12 New Year's Day victory over No. 19 Michigan State.

Moreno struck a pose after the score, with his hands in the air in jubilation after beating linebacker Greg Jones in the right front corner of the end zone.

If Stafford and Moreno choose to leave early for the NFL , the play will be the last on-field impression the underclassmen will leave. Georgia fans among the crowd of 59,681 spectators at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium serenaded both with chants of "one more year" at the end.

Fueled by a career day by third receiver Michael Moore and a defense that racked up a season-high six sacks, the Bulldogs (10-3) notched their sixth 10-win season in eight seasons under coach Mark Richt. But this one was less fulfilling for a team that was ranked preseason No. 1.

"It was a long year, it was a tough year no doubt," Richt said. "In the end, we can hold our heads up high that it was a very good football season for us."

That sentiment won't be shared by the most passionate of Bulldogs fans. They were hoping the season would end with the Bulldogs playing for the national title under the moon in Miami, not on a windy day in Central Florida.

Stafford's touchdown pass to Moreno was his school-record 25th of the season. He was named the bowl's most valuable player after completing 20 of 31 passes for 250 yards. He tied a Georgia bowl record with three touchdown passes and had an interception.

Georgia did not reach a BCS game, but its much-maligned defense held Michigan State to fewer total yards of offense than BCS teams Ohio State and Penn State. The Spartans (9-4) mustered a season-low 236 yards.

Michigan State running back Javon Ringer, a Doak Walker Award finalist, was held to 47 yards on 20 carries for his second lowest output of the year.

"We came into the game saying we're going to stop their best player - Javon Ringer - and we did that," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said.

Seven different players combined for Georgia's six sacks. Senior Jarius Wynn's pair led the Bulldogs, who finished the regular season last in the SEC with 18 sacks.

"We just had something to prove in this last game," defensive tackle said Laney alum Corvey Irvin said. "We played with emotion and a great enthusiasm out there as a defense."

The Bulldogs held Michigan State to a pair of field goals until

8:50 remaining even though the Spartans started three of four first-half possessions in Georgia territory after miscues. The culprits were a Stafford interception coupled with a personal foul on the Bulldogs, an A.J. Green fumble on a reverse, and a nine-yard run by Brian Mimbs, who failed to get a punt off after a bad drop.

"We've just got to thank our defense for keeping us in it and giving us a chance to fight back," Stafford said.

The Bulldogs trailed 6-3 at halftime as the offense sputtered and Stafford missed several open receivers.Stafford completed 14 of 17 passes for 179 yards in the second half with touchdown passes to Moore and Aron White.

Reach Marc Weiszer at marc.weiszer@morris.com.