If anyone was worried about that noon start for Georgia in South Carolina on Saturday, the Bulldogs put that concern to bed early. Georgia scored touchdowns on its first 3 possessions and came out with a 79-yard touchdown pass to start the third quarter, dispatching of any doubt in a 48-7 rout of its rival. The 41-point margin is the Dawgs’ biggest blowout in series history.

Bowers, who had been somewhat quiet by his standards through the first 2 games, caught 5 passes for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 1 more for his first scores of the season.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett turned in what should now be considered a typically efficient performance, passing for nearly 300 yards and 2 touchdowns before turning the ball over to backup Carson Beck for mop-up duty. Bennett added an 11-yard TD run that made the score 38-0 midway through the third quarter before taking his place on the bench. It was Bennett’s 3rd straight game with a rushing touchdown — and this one came on a nifty zone-read concept in which he juked a rushing defender.

The defense, which has somehow taken second billing to the offense early the season, again shut down its opposing offense. Although the Gamecocks were able, at times, to move the ball in the first half, they were kept off the scoreboard. In 12 quarters of play so far this season, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 130-10. The Bulldogs recorded 3 more interceptions in the game, one each for Malaki Starks, Dan Jackson and Trezmen Marshall, who had a late-game pick at the Georgia 10.

Here are a few takeaways from another dominating Georgia performance.

Brock Bowers can move with the football

As if there was any doubt what the sophomore tight end could do for Georgia, he gave a not-so-subtle reminder to open the third quarter of the game on Saturday.

Having been relatively quiet in the first 2 games – no touchdowns, less than 100 yards receiving – Bowers erupted against South Carolina. He recorded a rushing touchdown in the first quarter and a nice scoring catch in the second on which he outjumped the defender as he fell out of bounds in the corner of the end zone.

He then showed another way to beat defenders when he caught a pass up the seam for the Bulldogs, juked two defenders and showed off his blazing speed for a 79-yard score.

His fellow tight ends had a good day, as well. Freshman Oscar Delp caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Beck in the third quarter to make it 45-0.

Malaki Starks looks like Georgia’s next defensive star

Starks turned in as good an interception as you’ll ever see in Georgia’s win over Oregon in the opener. On Saturday against South Carolina, he recorded his second interception of his freshman season.

He stepped in front of a Spencer Rattler pass in the first quarter, reading the route perfectly, and then ran 42 yards the other way before being dragged to the ground. Five plays later, the Bulldogs were back in the end zone, up 14-0, and on their way to an easy victory.

The emergence of Starks has helped make Georgia’s secondary, which was already very strong entering the season, into one of the best units in the country in the early weeks of the season. Safety Dan Jackson added an interception for Georgia in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs continued their suffocating play in the defensive backfield.

Without the benefit of a significant pass rush, an ongoing storyline for Georgia that might deserve more attention if it ever becomes a problem, the secondary still kept the Gamecocks out of the end zone while the first-teamers were on the field.

These Dawgs can hunt

Before the season, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said that his team wouldn’t be the hunted, it would be hunters. Three weeks into the season, the Bulldogs have held up that promise.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs again ran up a big lead and again didn’t take their feet off the gas in the second half. While they struggled to move the ball a week ago in the second half, Bennett, Beck and Co. tacked on a handful of big plays after the break to continue to put the game away.

There was Bowers’ 79-yard score and Delp’s 28-yarder, and the defense displayed the same intensity that helped the team go ahead by 24 before the break.

After the long touchdown pass to Bowers, Bennett – who has now passed for nearly 1,000 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions so far this season – added an 11-yard touchdown run, juking the defender out of his shoes before waltzing into the end zone.

In addition to his passing numbers, Bennett has 3 rushing touchdowns this year, as well.