Georgia 28, South Carolina 14: ‘Dawgs run the dang ball to a dang victory.

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC) churned out a bruising 326 rushing yards to snap a two game losing streak, downing South Carolina 28-14 in Williams-Brice Stadium. It was the Bulldogs’ first win in Columbia since 2008, and it was not as easy as the two touchdown margin might imply.

The Bulldogs tallied 195 rushing yards in the first half but a stone cold 3 of 13 passing ledger from Jacob Eason sent the Bulldogs to the locker room with only a 14-0 lead. When Nick Chubb dropped a wide open screen pass from Jacob Eason in the third quarter, with the margin closed to 14-7, it was easy to get the sinking feeling that things were turning in the wrong direction for this young Georgia team. Would they be able to shake off the Tennessee and Ole Miss losses?

To their credit the ‘Dawgs managed to make just few enough mistakes from there, and take advantage of enough Gamecock errors, to pull it out. A heads up return of a late Gamecock onside kick sealed Kirby Smart’s first victory as a head coach over his former Bulldog teammate Will Muschamp. Muschamp falls to 1-4 against his alma mater.

Georgia continues to make painful mistake after painful mistake. D’Andre Walker alone was good for two really bad penalties. But the offensive line showed that they’re capable of taking control against a merely fair defensive front, even if they’ve continued to be dominated by the best DLs on the slate.

Behind the leadership of a talented but inconsistent freshman QB, the Georgia offense found its footing on the ground. Sony Michel led all Bulldog rushers with 21 attempts for 133 yards. Nick Chubb followed closely behind with 16 carries for 121 yards, and freshman Brian Herrien continues to look solid, alternately churning and dodging to 81 yards on 9 rushes.

The Red and Black now travel back to Athens for a noon Homecoming date with the Vanderbilt Commodores. Until later . . .

Go ‘Dawgs!!!