Well, that was interesting.

An 11-point halftime deficit for the 2-time defending champs turned into a 24-14 victory over South Carolina. Georgia’s conference debut was hardly the statement that many expected.

Here are 3 takeaways from UGA’s comeback win:

1. Georgia’s defensive second half was vintage Dawgs

Lights out. After the break, Georgia looked possessed. After Spencer Rattler got off to a fantastic start, it felt like the Gamecocks offensive line had no answers for Mykel Williams and that Georgia pass-rush.

Here were South Carolina’s first 4 drives of the second half as Georgia regained the lead:

  • Punt
  • Punt
  • Punt
  • Turnover on downs

South Carolina gained just 48 yards on those 4 drives, which was less than the masterful 10-play, 65-yard drive it had to open the game. Sure, it helped Georgia that Gamecocks’ leading receiver Juice Wells went down after the opening series, but still. That defensive front totally dominated.

Pitching a shutout in the second half was exactly what the doctor ordered.

2. South Carolina showed up with some bad intentions. It just didn’t leave with them.

South Carolina didn’t just deliver an opening haymaker. It delivered several early-round uppercuts. Tonka Hemingway, Deebo Williams and the rest of that front 7 prevented Georgia from doing what it did best. That is, run the football. Brock Bowers couldn’t get loose, either.

Give Rattler credit. The guy who entered the day 4-1 vs. AP Top 10 teams in his career wasn’t afraid of that atmosphere. He completed 16-of-18 passes for 152 yards in the first half, and he did so without Wells after he hurt his ankle on his touchdown to start the scoring.

But yeah, the second half felt like UNC all over again for the Gamecocks. It’s not necessarily a surprise that South Carolina’s offensive line couldn’t handle Georgia in the trenches. It was perhaps just a surprise that it took as long as it did for that mismatch to surface.

3. At what point do these slow starts actually cost Georgia?

It’s a fair question.

Georgia continues to get off to pedestrian offensive starts. A lack of downfield shots is obvious. Not being able to target Bowers early on is an issue, and the lack of physicality in the ground game was an issue, as well. UGA has 10 first-quarter points so far, and that’s in 3 home games as a considerable favorite.

Mike Bobo’s red-zone play-calling left something to be desired, and Carson Beck didn’t look particularly comfortable. The lack of chunk plays early on has been well-documented. Not having Ladd McConkey didn’t help, either.

On the bright side, Georgia has shown a knack for responding well in the third quarter. We questioned if this team would be challenged in the second half at all. Going into the locker room with a double-digit deficit was certainly challenging.

Soon or later, though, a more inspired start will be necessary for the Dawgs to get to where they want to go in 2023.