Georgia Bulldogs pass first big test on record-setting night against South Carolina

The No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs needed to show that they could do more than just hand the ball to Nick Chubb and Sony Michel against South Carolina. They did that, and more in a 52-20 clobbering of nemesis Steve Spurrier.

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Since the start of the offseason, the questions about Georgia’s quarterback position have loomed large, and after the first two games of the 2015 season, analysts and fans were convinced that the Bulldogs would be a one-dimensional team.

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“Fooled you”…says Mark Richt.

Greyson Lambert, the Georgia quarterback who started the game against Vanderbilt going 0 for 7, and made the Bulldog Nation cringe with memories of last season’s less than stellar passing attack, had his coming out party against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and broke a decades old UGA passing record in the process.

Some of the records and landmarks reached by the Bulldogs in this win –

20 consecutive completions by Lambert (school record)
FBS record by Lambert for highest single-game completion percentage at 96% (min. 20 passes)
Nick Chubb only the fourth UGA sophomore running back to eclipse 2,000 career yards
Nick Chubb with 11th consecutive game rushing for over 100 yards (ties current FBS streak)

Georgia was a 17.5 point favorite in the game, and easily covered that spread.

The Gamecocks were simply overmatched in every aspect of the game, and Georgia took advantage of that fact, scoring on their first seven drives and not punting the ball until there were 20 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. It was a masterful display by the Bulldogs, and a frustrating night for Steve Spurrier.

Through the years, Spurrier has owned the Bulldogs when facing them, but it’s clear that these are programs heading in two different directions right now.

Everyone (myself included) figured the Bulldogs to give South Carolina a huge dose of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. While those two all-star running backs got their share of touches (and touchdowns, 5 between them), Georgia actually passed for 84 more yards than they rushed (330 to 246).

No, Aaron Murray didn’t make a return appearance…this was the Greyson Lambert show. The much-maligned former UVA quarterback looked like a completely different beast than he did in Georgia’s first two games, going 24 of 25 for 330 yards and three touchdown passes.

Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) warms up on the field prior to the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The stat that probably makes Georgia fans happier than any – his average was 13.2 yards per completion, throwing the ball to nine different receivers.

“Happy learned how to putt…uh oh”

The news isn’t all bad for Gamecocks fans, they may have found an answer at quarterback after losing Connor Mitch for the season last week. Lorenzo Nunez entered in relief of former 6th string quarterback and supermarket bag boy Perry Orth several times during the game, and looked like he has the ability to provide a spark for Carolina.

Nunez is more of an option quarterback, and will take some refining on his throwing motion, but he’s got lots of athletic talent and can probably keep the Gamecocks in a few contests this year. The Gamecocks fall to 1-2 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.

Georgia, now 3-0 and 2-0 in SEC play, will welcome Southern University to Athens next week, before preparing for the big showdown with No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 3 at Sanford Stadium.

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