Georgia dominates second half to outlast South Carolina 24-14

ATHENS, Ga. — The 2023 version of the Georgia Bulldogs isn’t as dominant as a season ago, but they passed their first adversity test on Saturday with a 24-14 win over South Carolina in their SEC opener. UGA trailed by double digits at the half but dominated the final two quarters of play to win its 20th straight game.

Carson Beck finished with 269 yards yards on 27 of 35 passing while Daijun Edwards, in his first game of the season, piled up 118 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the victory. The Bulldog defense pitched a second-half shutout while holding South Carolina to XXX of total offense.

The opening kickoff was a sign of things to come in the first half. The ball kicked out of bounds and the Gamecocks took over with good field position at their own 35-yard line. Spencer Rattler marched the team down the field for a touchdown on the opening drive, connecting with Juice Well on a tunnel screen for a 17-yard touchdown on 3rd and long. The PAT staked South Carolina to a 7-0 lead.

Georgia responded with a long, 15-play drive that got into the red zone but stalled. The Bulldogs were forced to attempt a field goal where Peyton Woodring connected from 31 yards out to cut the lead to four points.

The Bulldogs forced punts on the next two Gamecock possessions, giving the offense a chance to take the lead but it did not capitalize. Georgia punted on its second drive but it got something going on the third. It, again, got the ball into the red zone and, again, stalled out. This time, however, Woodring missed the field goal.

South Carolina made the most of the gained momentum and put together a quick 80-yard drive. That one ended in another Gamecock touchdown with wide receiver Dakereon Joyner taking the direct snap and punching it in from two yards out. The PAT pushed the South Carolina lead to 14-3 and that’s how the first half would end.

The third quarter, however, was all Georgia. The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half and marched down the field. Beck found Rara Thomas for a 36-yard gain to the South Carolina 25-yard line. Then Kendall Milton ripped off a 15-yard gain and the Bulldogs punched it in two plays later as Edwards scampered in from seven yards out. UGA wanted to go for two but a delay-of-game penalty forced the kick. Woodring knocked it home to make it 14-10.

A Gamecock penalty on the ensuing kickoff combined with a second-down sack by Mykel Williams forced South Carolina to punt from deep in their own territory. Georgia took over in plus territory and, again, found the end zone. It took the Bulldogs nine plays to travel 49 yards with Dillon Bell running it in from three yards out. Woodring’s PAT gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead.

South Carolina got well into UGA territory with it’s next possession but the drive stalled. The Bulldogs sacked Rattler on third down to take the Gamecocks out of field goal range and they were forced to punt.

Deep in its own territory, Georgia came out swinging again but did not get points. The Bulldogs traveled 64 yards in 12 plays but a holding penalty negated a first-down pickup on 3rd and 4. Georgia was unable to get the first down and Woodring was brought on to kick it. He missed it again, this time from 43 yards out to keep the score at 17-14.

Glenn Schumann’s defense forced a three and out as the rain began to fall, giving the ball back to the Bulldog offense at its own 39-yard line. The Bulldogs used the opportunity to go up by two scores. Mike Bobo leaned on the ground game, Edwards and Bell, to start. Then after passes to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Bowers, walk-on running back Cash Jones picked his way off right tackle for a 13-yard touchdown. Woodring’s PAT pushed the Georgia lead to 24-14.

South Carolina made a couple of last-ditch attempts to try and get on the board but the Bulldogs came up with turnovers each time. Dan Jackson picked off Spencer Rattler to in Georgia territory and Tykee Smith got him with under 30 second left in the game to end it.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a fourth home clash in as many weeks. They will take on UAB on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.