ATHENS, Ga. — Nick Chubb and Georgia took care of Charleston Southern early, looking to carry the momentum into next week’s state rivalry game against Georgia Tech.
Georgia scored two touchdowns on its first three snaps, including an 83-yard touchdown run by Chubb, and the No. 9 Bulldogs rolled past Charleston Southern 55-9 on Saturday.
Hutson Mason threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Chris Conley on Georgia’s first offensive play. On the second play of the Bulldogs’ next possession from the Georgia 17, Chubb ran right, turned the corner and then beat Buccaneers defensive backs Larenzo Mathis and Troy McGowens in the race to the end zone.
Chubb downplayed Georgia’s longest run since an 89-yarder by Tim Worley against Florida in 1985.
“It was clogged up in the middle so I bounced it out and it was wide open,” Chubb said. “I think anybody back there could have done the same thing. It was wide open and I had good blocking up front. I didn’t get touched.”
Chubb recorded his sixth straight 100-yard game, with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns on only nine carries in the first half for Georgia (9-2). The Bulldogs, who have completed their Southeastern Conference schedule, would land in the SEC championship game if Missouri, which played Tennessee on Saturday night, loses one of its final two games.
Georgia plays No. 17 Georgia Tech next week in each team’s final regular-season game.
Charleston Southern (8-4), hoping for a spot in the FCS playoffs, was held to 211 total yards.
“Obviously, Georgia is a great team and we didn’t put up much of a fight early on,” said Buccaneers coach Jamey Chadwell. “I am proud of our team for competing and continuing to fight to the end of the game. We wanted to try and get some points on the board and slow them down a little bit. I don’t know if we did that or not.”
Mason played only the first half and threw three touchdown passes, including two to Conley. A fumble recovery by Ramik Wilson set up the first scoring pass to Conley. The senior made a leaping catch under the crossbar for a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Mason also threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Justin Scott-Wesley.
Georgia led 14-0 less than 5 minutes into the game and built its lead, even with backups playing in the second half. The Bulldogs had 580 total yards — 310 passing and 270 rushing.
Georgia coach Mark Richt was happy his team wasn’t looking back at last week’s win over Auburn or ahead to Georgia Tech.
“I thought we did a very good job of respecting our opponent today and playing very well,” Richt said. “I just think we came out with the right edge, the right mindset.”
Mason’s touchdown pass to Scott-Wesley and Marshall Morgan’s 53-yard field goal pushed the lead to 24-0 before the end of the first quarter.
Charleston Southern had only two first downs until its final possession of the first half. David Kennedy’s 45-yard field goal capped a 47-yard drive, leaving Georgia with a 38-3 halftime lead.
Daniel Croghan III replaced Austin Brown at quarterback for Charleston Southern late in the field-goal drive. The Buccaneers stayed with Croghan in the second half. Christian Reyes had a 2-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
Reyes had 19 carries for 75 yards.
Brown completed 4 of 10 passes for 15 yards with an interception. Croghan completed 2 of 7 passes for 6 yards.
Mason completed 10 of 12 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Brice Ramsey threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jonathon Rumph in the third quarter. Quayvon Hicks broke several tackles on a 33-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Georgia freshman tailback Sony Michel had five carries for 21 yards after missing one game with an ankle injury. He missed four games with a shoulder injury earlier in the season.
Georgia safety Dominick Sanders left the game in the first quarter with a bruised left shin. Richt said X-rays showed no fracture.
Todd Gurley, the Bulldogs’ junior tailback who suffered a season-ending left knee injury in last week’s win over Auburn, had the leg in a brace and was used a crutch while standing on the sideline.
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