Here are the five biggest takeaways from South Carolina’s third consecutive home victory over Georgia, Steve Spurrier’s record-setting 16th as a head coach against the Bulldogs:

South Carolina needed a big game from Dylan Thompson and he delivered: Starting fast was a team strength during the Gamecocks’ recent 18-game winning streak that spanned 2.5 seasons and South Carolina followed a similar blueprint against the Bulldogs. Thompson led his team on a 9-play, 75-yard march to open the game, capped by a well-placed back shoulder throw to Shaq Roland at the pylon to lead 7-0. Two possessions later, Thompson connected with Pharoh Cooper on an 8-yard swing and the electric sophomore did the rest. Outside of a late mistake on a bad decision to Georgia corner Damian Swann, Thompson’s 70.0 completion percentage was a career-best when he’s thrown at least 20 passes.

Steve Spurrier’s not done yet: Cautiously optimistic is how I would describe the HBC heading into Saturday’s game, a play-caller confident in his group but a bit perplexed knowing a loss would define his team’s season. Not only did the spunky 69-year-old coach center the first-half game plan around a quarterback who has been sporadic with the football early this fall, but his confidence in Brandon Wilds after an early fumble paid dividends late. The Gamecocks ran 72 plays and 42 came via the ground game. That’s been a winning recipe for South Carolina since winning the East title in 2010.

Tackling was improved, but gaps in secondary remain an issue: Georgia’s first drive was tough to stomach — a blown coverage for a 36-yard gain followed by a tunnel screen to Sony Michel who went untouched for a 33-yard score. Angles at the point of impact remain a problem, but after the bulldogs’ opening possession, South Carolina settled down at the back end and gave up just 122 passing yards the rest of the way.

Several breaks fell the Gamecocks’ way: The ball bounced in South Carolina’s direction — as it often does at Williams-Brice Stadium — several times in a matchup of division heavyweights, none bigger than Marshall Morgan’s 28-yard missed field goal late in the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks also benefited from a holding penalty that wiped away Todd Gurley’s 54-yard touchdown run, a defensive flag negating a first-half interception and a judgment call in the final 90 seconds on 4th-and-inches that secured the win.

Destination Atlanta still within reach: I wrote several times this week that the Gamecocks’ season hinged on Saturday’s outcome and South Carolina didn’t disappoint. A preseason Top 10 looked anything but through the first two games but finally showed why it was picked to win the Eastern Division over Georgia and Florida with a spotlight performance. It’s still early, but an 0-2 start in conference play would’ve been a death blow as far as end-of-season goals are concerned.