Dawgs Clinch East With Win Over South Carolina

UGA Sports Communications

Senior tailback Nick Chubb rushed for over 100 yards and freshman quarterback Jake Fromm hit 16-of-22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns to lead the No. 1 Georgia Dawgs past South Carolina, 24-10, Saturday at Sanford Stadium. 

With Kentucky's loss, the Dawgs win the SEC East Division and will meet the west winner in Atlanta on December 2nd. Georgia improves to 9-0 this season and a perfect 6-0 against Southeastern Conference opponents. This marks the first time since 1982 that the Dawgs are 9-0 and the seventh time in school history. The Gamecocks fall to 6-3 overall, 4-3 in the SEC. 

The Dawgs’ defense, ranked third nationally in scoring defense, continued its impressive run and held South Carolina to just 43 yards rushing and 270 total on the day. Junior linebacker Roquan Smith led Georgia with nine tackles, while J.R. Reed and Malkom Parrish each recorded interceptions Saturday evening. 

“The team has done a good job,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “We’ll have to continue to do that. The noise will get louder and the teams will get better and everyone will give us their best shot. It’s about how we prepare, so we’ve got to focus on that first. It makes the game easier on Saturday if we make it difficult on them during the week.”

The Dawgs started the game with an onside kick, which South Carolina recovered at the 50-yard line. The Gamecocks could not take advantage as the Georgia defense held and USC missed a 46-yard field goal wide right. 

After a fumble by Terry Godwin on Georgia’s first offensive possession, the Dawgs finally got on the board late in the first quarter. With Fromm lined up wide right and Sony Michel behind center, Michel took the snap and ran it in from eight yards out to put his team up 7-0 with 2:21 left in the opening quarter. 

South Carolina had the answer on its first possession of the second quarter as Jake Bentley hit Bryan Edwards to cap off a 10-play, 75-yard drive and even the score at 7-7. 

The Dawgs answered on the next possession when Fromm connected with a tip-toeing Javon Wims on the sideline to put the home team up 14-7. 

A 14-7 lead at the half ballooned to 21-7 thanks to a Fromm to Mecole Hardman 20-yard TD pass on the Dawgs’ first possession of the third quarter. 

Both teams swapped field goals late in the game and the Dawgs held on for the 24-10 win. 

Georgia now travels to Auburn this Saturday to face the Tigers.