ATHENS, Ga. — Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie shared the spotlight, just like their high school days in South Florida.
Michel ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns and McKenzie scored on a punt return as the freshmen led No. 13 Georgia to a 66-0 rout of Troy on Saturday.
Michel and McKenzie, who played together at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, helped the Bulldogs score their most points in 20 years.
“It was fun to see those guys do that,” said offensive tackle Kolton Houston. “The future looks good with those guys.”
Freshman tight end Jeb Blazevich also made his first start for Georgia (2-1). Redshirt freshman Bryce Ramsey threw his first touchdown pass and another redshirt freshman, safety Tramel Terry, preserved the shutout with an interception in the end zone.
Michel, playing behind Todd Gurley, had a 75-yard gain to set up his second touchdown.
“I’m happy for him and I’m happy for myself,” said McKenzie, a wide receiver.
“We just came up here to do what we’d been doing. He’s been helping me out and I’ve been helping him out.”
Michel and McKenzie were on the field together in the second half with Michel taking the snaps in a wildcat formation. Coach Mark Richt referred to McKenzie as the “speed guy.” McKenzie showed why with a 49-yard run out of the formation.
“To know one of those two guys is going to get the ball is a smart thing,” Richt said. “They’re both very talented kids.”
Dontreal Pruitt completed 16 of 27 passes for 158 yards with an interception for Troy (0-4). Brandon Silvers, who started the first three games at quarterback, was held out after leaving last week’s loss to Abilene Christian with a concussion.
Troy quarterbacks had a streak of 176 consecutive passes without an interception end with Terry’s third-quarter play.
The Trojans’ last 0-4 start was in 1982.
“We got beat by a good team, and we aren’t very good, which is pretty obvious,” said Troy coach Larry Blakeney. “Certainly nobody had us picked to win, but I wish we could have played better and done a little better against Georgia. … We have work to do and painted a real scary picture of it today.”
The Bulldogs posted their highest scoring game since a 70-6 win over Northeast Louisiana in 1994 and their most lopsided victory since beating The Citadel 76-0 in 1958.
Troy finished with only 216 yards, including 68 on its first possession. The Trojans held the ball for 12 plays on the opening drive, but it ended when Ryan Kay was wide right on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
“We’ve got to be able to punch it in right there,” Pruitt said.
Georgia freshman tailback Nick Chubb had four carries for 10 yards less than a week after surgery on his broken left thumb. He wore a big cast on the hand.
Gurley was pulled quickly as the Bulldogs built a big early lead. He carried the ball on Georgia’s first four plays, including a 48-yard run, and finished with 73 yards on only six carries.
Georgia led 45-0 at halftime.
The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 52-0 on Hutson Mason’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Michael Bennett, who also had a 6-yard scoring catch from Ramsey. Mason completed 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia’s third quarterback, Faton Bauta, had scoring runs of 7 and 1 yards in the fourth quarter.
Tailback Keith Marshall, whose 2013 season ended with right knee surgery, left the game after taking a hit to the same knee late in the third quarter. Richt said Marshall will have a MRI but the injury is not believed to be serious.
Georgia lost two safeties early in the game. J.J. Green was ejected after drawing a targeting penalty on his helmet-to-helmet hit on receiver Chandler Worthy on the third play. Quincy Mauger was escorted to the locker room with what Richt said was a “stinger.”
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