No. 3 Georgia Defeats No. 24 Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jake Fromm threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, all three of Georgia’s latest running combo scored touchdowns and the third-ranked Bulldogs came away with a 41-17 victory over No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday.

Fromm was 15-of-18 passing, including a 34-yard TD pass to Mecole Hardman. D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien looked every bit as effective as NFL runners Nick Chubb and Sony Michel did a year ago in leading Georgia to the College Football Playoff.

Holyfield led the way with 76 yards and a 5-yard score. Swift had a 17-yard TD run, and Herrien piled on with a 15-yard scoring burst in the third quarter as Georgia went up by 31 points. That’s when many in the crowd of 83,140 began to file out in disappointment – a familiar ritual against the Bulldogs.

Cornerback Deandre Baker set the tone on defense early with an interception off a tipped ball in the opening minute that led to a quick, if unconventional touchdown. Baker let the ball loose before crossing the goal line, but teammate Juwan Taylor picked it up and took it the final yard for a 56-yard score.

From there, Georgia’s defense and run game took over. The Bulldogs outrushed South Carolina 271 yards to 54.

When South Carolina had a chance to tie it after Rashad Fenton’s interception deep in Georgia territory, the Bulldogs allowed just a yard on the next four plays. They took over on downs after Bentley’s fourth-down incompletion.

Georgia rarely let up. South Carolina drove 70 yards to the Bulldogs’ 5 in the fourth quarter before safety J.R. Reed’s end-zone interception.

South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley threw for 269 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Game Changer

Georgia scored on its final offensive possession of the first half on a 44-yard field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship, giving the Bulldogs a 20-10 halftime lead. Georgia got the ball to start the second half and scored on six plays, capped by a Mecole Hardman 34-yard touchdown reception from Jake Fromm as Georgia scored 21 straight points in the third quarter.   

Key Stat

54 – The Georgia defense held the Gamecocks to 54 rushing yards on 20 carries in the win. Georgia also held the ball for 35:43 in the game.  

Up Next

South Carolina wraps up a three-game homestand this Saturday (Sept. 15) against Marshall. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPNU.