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Here are some quick thoughts on Georgia’s 48-6 win over Southern in Athens Saturday:
What it means: This was little more than a glorified scrimmage for Georgia against an FCS foe. It was, however, a nice tune up for more important games on the horizon. For Southern, the $650,000 check it took home made the trip a little (or a lot) brighter.
What I liked: The Bulldogs didn’t play with their food. The primary goal for games like this is to keep everyone healthy, which is best achieved by building a big early lead and resting starters late. Georgia got off to a fast start, thanks to two straight three-and-outs from its defense. That set the offense up for 10 quick points, and after a 17-0 first-quarter lead, things were very much going to plan. Nick Chubb helped to salt the game away in the third quarter, carrying the ball on the first three plays of the second half for 35 yards. Two plays later, he finished off the drive with a nine-yard scoring run, and the rout was on. Greyson Lambert has also completed 34 of his last 35 passes in the past two games.
What I didn’t like: With that 17-0 lead, the Georgia defense let down a bit. Southern went on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 7:51 of the second-quarter clock, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown run from Lenard Tillery. There weren’t many penalties on the Bulldogs in the game, but an offside call wiped away an interception in the second quarter, and an illegal formation flag erased a 44-yard scoring strike from Lambert to Malcolm Mitchell in the third.
Part of the agreement for this game stipulated that Southern’s band, “The Human Jukebox,” perform at halftime.I wish the SEC Network would have given them more than 21 seconds of air time.
Breaking: Southern’s Human Jukebox responsible for lowest halftime hot dog sales in Sanford Stadium history. Nobody left their seat.
— Tom Hart (@tom_hart) September 26, 2015
Who’s the man: Chubb had only 33 yards in the first half, but he exploded in the third quarter to finish with 131 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. He added a receiving score as well.
Key play: With the score 17-6 late in the second quarter, Southern’s Demerio Houston dropped a deflected ball from Brice Ramsey. That interception would have set the Jaguars up with decent field position near midfield for a chance to cut into the Bulldog lead before the half. Instead, Marshall Morgan tacked on a 25-yard field goal to make it 20-6 at intermission.
What’s next: Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC) will welcome Alabama between the hedges next Saturday. Southern (2-2) will take a week off before returning to SWAC play at Alabama State on Oct. 10.
Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.
