Ex-aide enjoys his return

ATHENS, Ga. --- Senior Day at Sanford Stadium attracted an old face to campus.

• Photos

Morris News Service

Holten Bradshaw takes a photo of the wreaths left at Uga VII's tomb. The mascot, who died Thursday, was buried at Sanford Stadium in a private ceremony Saturday. The main student section is behind Uga VII's doghouse, which sat empty for the game on the north sideline. The team wore dog-bone decals on their helmets Saturday night in honor of Uga.

Former tight ends coach David Johnson came back to watch his son, Andrew Johnson , take part in Senior Day activities.

"This is awesome, I've only been gone a couple of years but so much has changed," Johnson said. "Just to see the new student union building (Tate Center) and how great it looks, is awesome. They were just breaking ground on it when I left so it's great to get back and see some old friends and spend time with my son. I've got so many family and friends here, it's awesome."

Johnson left to coach tight ends at West Virginia after the 2007 season. West Virginia has an open date which coincided with Georgia's Senior Day.

"It's amazing how fast the time goes by," Johnson said. "It was wonderful to see that open date coincide like it did. It was just wonderful."

WOOTEN GETS FIRST TD: Freshman receiver Rantavious Wooten had a couple of firsts on Saturday. He made his first start of his career, stepping in for injured A.J. Green .

Wooten also made a 21-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter.

Wooten ran a post pattern on third-and-9 and Joe Cox hit him in stride at the goal line.

Wooten's touchdown catch was the first catch of the game by a wide receiver.

FAST START FOR TIGHT END: Georgia exploited the connection between Cox and Orson Charles early and often in the first half.

Cox hit Charles three times for 53 yards on the Bulldogs' first-quarter drive for a field goal.

Cox later found Charles for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Charles established career highs in the first half with four catches for 73 yards plus the touchdown.

SMITH BREAKS OUT OF RUSHING SLUMP: After only getting two yards on three attempts against Auburn last week, Branden Smith ran for 47 yards on two carries in the first half against Kentucky.

Smith's 31-yard end-around helped set up a touchdown pass from Cox to Rantavious Wooten in the second quarter.

Smith, full-time defensive back and part-time offensive back, also had a 16-yard end around to start the second-quarter drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Cox to Charles.

Reach Roger Clarkson at roger.clarkson@onlineathens.com.