No. 7 Georgia clobbers South Carolina 52-20

South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier is a gifted problem-solver, but this might be the problem with no solution.

The Gamecocks don’t have the offensive talent to play much beyond a conservative running game. That poorly complements a defensive front that gives up a lot of first downs.

That became abundantly clear during South Carolina’s 52-20 road loss to seventh-ranked Georgia Saturday at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs averaged 9.5 yards per offensive play in the first half to pull out to a 24-13 lead. South Carolina was outgained in the first half 323 yards to 150.

Early in the second half the Gamecocks (1-2, 0-2 SEC) tried to open up the offense and that only made things worse. Perry Orth, a former walk-on making his first start, threw an interception deep in South Carolina territory to set up the Bulldogs for a touchdown and a 38-13 lead.

Orth was pushed into the starting lineup when Connor Mitch suffered a sprained shoulder in a home loss to Kentucky last week. Mitch is expected to miss about a month.

Spurrier alternated Saturday between Orth and true freshman Lorenzo Nunez at quarterback.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s offense thrived around tailback Nick Chubb (159 yards on 21 carries) and quarterback Greyson Lambert. A former Virginia quarterback, Lambert set an NCAA record by completing 24 of 25 passes (96 percent). That was the best completion percentage for a player attempting at least 20 throws in a single game.

South Carolina next has a nonconference home game Sept. 26 against Central Florida. Georgia (3-0, 2-0) hosts Southern.

3 who mattered

Nick Chubb: He might not be quite as explosive as his predecessor, Todd Gurley, but Chubb is a power tailback who consistently gains first downs for Georgia.

Lorenzo Nunez: Nunez could end up South Carolina’s starter at quarterback.

Greyson Lambert: That decision to transfer from Virginia to Georgia sure looks wise.

Observations

▪ South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore (12 tackles) could probably benefit from adding some weight (218 pounds), but he’s always around the ball.

▪ Georgia honored a little boy who is a bone cancer survivor during a break in the first quarter. Darling kid and obviously a fighter. He was so excited by the applause.

▪ The graduate-transfer rule has worked quite well for Lambert. He is also eligible in 2016. He broke a Georgia record Saturday with 20 consecutive completions.

▪ Spurrier says he hates to punt, but he’s got a good one in Sean Kelly. Good directional punter and a strong leg.

Worth mentioning

▪ Sophomore Jeb Blazevich, who attended Charlotte Christian, is in his second season as Georgia’s starting tight end. He caught a six-yard reception the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage and was targeted but overthrown in the end zone on the same drive.

▪ An ankle sprain for South Carolina center Alan Knott forced freshman guard Zack Bailey to fill in. Bailey said he’d never played center before Saturday.

They said it

“We’d better make some changes somewhere. We’ve got to find some players who can tackle. Offensively I’m open to some suggestions.” – Spurrier.

“I thought we’d compete a little better on balls. I thought we would read their routes a little better.” – South Carolina co-defensive coordinator John Hoke.

“It’s unacceptable. We need to keep our poise in that situation.” – Hoke on the Gamecocks’ personal fouls in the second half.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 9:24 PM with the headline "No. 7 Georgia clobbers South Carolina 52-20."