Georgia football solidified its No.1 ranking after going to Columbia and kicking South Carolina’s tail. They gave no mercy and reminded the Gamecocks that football analysts could predict upsets all offseason long, but it doesn’t mean it’ll actually happen.
The Dawgs clicked on all cylinders as they left the hottest place in America with a 48-7 win over the Gamecocks. Georgia advances to 3-0 overall on the season, and it looks like the 2022 season could be another special one.
Head coach Kirby Smart has his team ready for war and gave South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer a tough lesson. Georgia was the better team from top to bottom, and if anyone suggests otherwise, they didn’t watch the same game.
Georgia football dominated South Carolina to earn impressive Week 3 grades.
Here are the grades for Georgia’s performance against the Gamecocks.
Georgia Football Offense: A
The offense put on a spectacular performance to remember, and can thank the sophomore tight end, Brock Bowers, for getting them the big lead early. Bowers had five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including one that went 78-yards in the third quarter.
Having fun out there 😁@StetsonIv | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/kUKSIm4eQy
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 18, 2022
Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett would go 16-of-23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for one touchdown, juking a South Carolina player out of his shoes. His performance would help the Bulldogs extend the lead early and keep their foot on the gas pedal until the fourth quarter.
No one should think that Georgia couldn’t score more because if Bennett had stayed in the game, it would have gotten uglier.
Overall, the Dawgs’ offense torched the Gamecocks’ defense early in this game, and the Gamecocks couldn’t recover.
Georgia Football Defense: A-
Georgia’s defense showed why it was the toughest defense in college football, as they only allowed one touchdown. This game was the first time Georgia allowed a team to get into the endzone this season.
The Dawgs recorded six tackles for loss, three interceptions, nine quarterback hurries and gave up 306 yards of total offense from the Gamecocks. Georgia’s pressure was too much for South Carolina to handle, and it was almost impossible to pass against or rush against at times.
Spencer Rattler drops back and… PICKED OFF by true freshman Malaki Starks ⭐️ https://t.co/j9l2Y8WDlm
— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 17, 2022
One player that made his mark today was defensive back Malaki Starks, who would get the game’s first interception and returned it to the 43-yard line of South Carolina.
He is one player to watch for on the defense that can make a real impact on the field. Starks isn’t the only one. Jamon Dumas-Johnson is another one. He led the Dawgs with six tackles. This entire group has playmakers growing stronger each week, and while it’s an A- this week, they will keep improving.
Overall Georgia football grade: A
Georgia proved today why they are the No.1 team in the nation. They dominated against South Carolina and will look to take the momentum from this win into the next game. The Dawgs are already showing that last year’s success wasn’t a fluke and that they will be contenders for many years.
The next game for Georgia (3-0 overall, 1-0 in the SEC) will be at home against the Kent State Golden Flashes (1-2 overall, 0-0 in the MAC) at noon. Georgia should be able to rest some of its guys and be fresh for the SEC gauntlet that follows this next game.