By JEFFREY COLLINS
The Associated Press
COLOMBIA – Georgia’s 45 to 16 victory over South Carolina was the Bulldogs’ biggest win this strange season on the scoreboard.
But Georgia coach Kirby Smart was unsure of his best game on Saturday night, with Gamecocks losing more than two dozen players and offering little resistance.
“It is difficult to say that because of the quality of the competition,” said Smart.
James Cook ran 104 yards on just six loads and three other Georgia coasts had at least 77 yards. It was just a game from the start. Georgia (6-2) led 21-0 after three possessions and South Carolina (2-7) had not yet achieved their first defeat.
Gamecocks can barely form a team. Almost 20 players were unable to play due to injuries or problems with the COVID-19. Another seven players dropped out, several since the school fired coach Will Muschamp two weeks ago.
Still, Smart said he was happy with the quick start and the 332 yards his team won on the ground.
“They didn’t play below that level,” said Smart. “They got people off the ball.”
After pitching for 401 yards on his first start last week, Southern California protractor JT Daniels made it 10 to 16 for 139 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Daniels knocked over some open receivers and took two bags, but Smart said he thought the sophomore was fine, making sure he made just a few mistakes.
“He took the things that the defense gave him,” said Smart.
Zamir White ran 13 times for 84 yards, Kenny McIntosh had 79 yards on nine loads and Daijun Edwards ran 14 times for 77 yards. The Bulldogs did not attempt a pass after Daniels made a 31-yard touchdown for Arian Smith in the first move of the fourth period, giving them a 45-10 lead.
Georgia recovered the ball 9:27 from the end and ran 12 times in a row, hitting a knee in the first and a goal in the 1 to finish mercifully. Bulldogs averaged 8 yards per race when Daniels’ bags were removed from their total.
South Carolina interim coach Mike Bobo said he was proud of the players he fought hard and did not give up, even when Georgia tried to score in the closing moments.
“Part of being a man is that you don’t make excuses and you don’t allow people to make excuses for you,” said Bobo, whose South Carolina team was without lead receiver Shi Smith and SEC dismissal leader Kingsley Enagbare.
South Carolina lost five consecutive defeats, allowing at least 45 points in four of the defeats.
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia: Now it’s almost everything for the bowl positioning for Bulldogs, assuming that COVID-19 allows the postseason to happen. Georgia has a small chance of making it to the SEC title game, but sixth place, Florida, needs to lose its last two to LSU and Kentucky.
South Carolina: Freshman quarterback Luke Doty had his first start, throwing for 190 yards in passes 18 of 22 with an interception and a touchdown. Running back Kevin Harris remains a rare bright spot, producing a difficult 53 yards on 17 loads. The right side Nick Muse took eight 131-yard passes.
DESTROYING A FRIEND
Smart and Bobo played together in Georgia in the 1990s and have been friends ever since. But that does not mean that Smart felt sorry for the situation in which his old friend finds himself.
“He doesn’t want my pity. He’s a football coach, ”said Smart. “He doesn’t need my pen and I’m not giving him any.”
REMEMBERING 2019
South Carolina beat then-No. 3 Georgia by 20-17 in double overtime in 2019, but that game’s three-interception hero, defender Israel Mukuamu, gave up the rest of the season after the Gamecocks sacked Muschamp two weeks ago.
Regardless of the different players on the pitch – both defenders have changed along with a number of others – defender Lewis Cine of Georgia said his team has not forgotten the defeat that hindered their season.
“It was great. It was amazing. We have redemption, ”said Cine.
NEXT
Georgia: The Bulldogs have their regular season finale at home on Saturday against Vanderbilt.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks are likely to end their season on Saturday in Kentucky. And the search for a new coach to replace Muschamp continues.