7 hrs back
Involved Push
AP
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Georgia coach Kirby Good and his No. 1 Bulldogs are sending messages to anyone who believed they ended up heading to drop off right after a nationwide championship.
The hottest statement arrived Saturday in a 48-7 victory above South Carolina (1-2, -2) in their Southeastern Conference opener, the place the Gamecocks wanted a touchdown with 53 seconds to go to keep away from starting to be the fifth shutout sufferer of the Bulldogs (3-) in their earlier 14 games.
In the meantime, the Georgia offense acquired 547 yards, scoring on eight of its very first 9 belongings and was averaging nearly 10 yards a participate in just before the backups arrived in and took their foot off the gasoline in the fourth quarter.
Even even though 15 players still left for the NFL soon after successful Georgia’s very first nationwide title due to the fact 1980, there however is even now loads of expertise and an mindset that profitable a championship leaves guiding, mentor Kirby Smart claimed.
“That was a very unique team. That is likely to linger in our creating,” Kirby claimed. “Not the championship, but the way they practiced, the way they carried themselves.”
Stetson Bennett went 16 for 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a different rating. Just like the Bulldogs’ 49-3 victory around Oregon and 33- acquire about Samford, Bennett did not get a snap in the fourth quarter. He reminded his teammates that it won’t stay this quick.
“We are going to have to perform a 4-quarter sport at some stage. We’re heading to have to continue to be in form,” Bennett claimed. “This is just not heading to take place every 7 days.”
Limited conclude Brock Bowers experienced five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a rating. Georgia let 10 players have the ball, dashing for 212 yards.
The Bulldogs’ defensive line overcome South Carolina’s entrance. A defender was in quarterback Spencer Rattler’s facial area just about each and every time he dropped back again extra than 3 ways. The Oklahoma transfer obtained off just 3 deep balls, with two of them intercepted. He did not engage in in the fourth quarter and was 13 of 25 for 118 yards.
“I clearly did a horse-crap job of receiving our staff completely ready to play today no matter of how a lot of fellas we experienced out,” said South Carolina mentor Shane Beamer, who was missing 6 defensive gamers. “I do not even want to hear it. We had a good enough team to go out there and contend.”
The 41-issue victory was Georgia’s biggest versus the Gamecocks in their 75 meetings. It was South Carolina’s worst reduction considering that a 56-6 defeat to Florida in 2008.
SHUTOUT SO Near
That touchdown that ruined the shutout still stung, primarily after Trezman Martin intercepted a fourth quarter-pass at the Georgia 9 that appeared to snuff out the Gamecocks’ very last opportunity with 4:33 to go.
Linebacker Nolan Smith stated there is no garbage time for the Georgia defense, which authorized an offensive touchdown for the first time in the previous five standard-period game titles.
“If you are on the area, you are a starter,” Smith said. “That’s our system of operate. That is our entire defense.”
BENNETT BARFS
After throwing a landing to Bowers in the second quarter, Bennett threw up on the industry as his teammates celebrated in the end zone. He mentioned he was dry heaving for the duration of the travel but stayed in. Intelligent reported he thinks Bennett was nervous about the warmth and drank much too a great deal water.
Bennett didn’t skip a participate in.
“It strike me all of a unexpected,” he mentioned, smiling. “I ate a ton of grapes. Probably I had a undesirable grape.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia: Struggles versus groups like South Carolina applied to determine the Bulldogs. At 1 stage when Steve Spurrier was Gamecocks mentor in the early 2010s, South Carolina won four of 5 in the sequence. But following Saturday, Ga has gained 15 of its very last 16 in excess of SEC East teams.
South Carolina: Beamer seems to be breathing everyday living into a method that experienced shed 13 of its previous 16 when he took over in 2021, but there is still a major hole to the greatest. In his second year, Beamer is -4 from Major 25 groups, dropping by an regular of approximately 24 details.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Beating an SEC opponent by 41 factors need to be ample to keep the Bulldogs at No. 1.
UP Subsequent
Georgia: The Bulldogs have 1 much more nonconference tuneup, this time against Kent Condition, ahead of actively playing seven SEC video games.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks dip out of the SEC for a house recreation up coming Saturday towards Charlotte.
