Just one week after lighting up the scoreboard with 55 points, the No. 22 Georgia Bulldogs (1-1) couldn’t find the end zone against the stingy No. 24 South Carolina defense, losing the conference game 17-6.

South Carolina (2-0) converted third downs at will all afternoon ending up 9-of14 while dominating time of possession, keeping the ball for over 35 minutes in the contest.

After rolling through last week’s tune-up against sparring partner, Louisiana-Lafayette, Dawgs starting quarterback, Aaron Murray ended the day 14-of-21 for 192 yards and no TDs.

On the other side, true freshman running back, Marcus Lattimore, was the offensive player of the game rushing for 182 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns.

In all, the Gamecocks outgained the Bulldogs 354 to 253 yards including 189 to 61 yards on the ground.

Georgia was playing without their star receiver, A.J. Green who is sitting out a four-game suspension and his absence was clearly missed.

Georgia hosts Arkansas next week while South Carolina hosts Furman. Full box score on this game is here.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Although they lined up against a sparring partner in their opener, the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs were impressive and dominated Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, coasting to a 55-7 win.

In his college start debut, Dawgs quarterback Aaron Murray tossed three touchdowns and rushed for a fourth despite the fact his top receiver, A.J. Green, was watching on the sidelines. Murray’s final stats included 16-of-24 for 194 yards with wide receiver Kris Durham making 5 of those receptions for 83 yards.

Not that they needed it, the Dawgs offense got some scoring help from the defensive side of the ball as well when defensive back Jakar Hamilton returned a pick 17 yards to the house in the fourth quarter to make it 55-7. The Dawgs D also held Louisiana-Lafayette to 14 total yards on the ground on 29 carries.

Getting back to A.J. Green, the All-SEC first-teamer is stuck in limbo as he waits for the NCAA ruling pertaining to his possible involvement at a Miami party that was hosted by a sports agent.

Green wasn’t the only Dawgs’ player on out due to disciplinary actions. Washaun Ealey, another starter sat out as well. Ealey is one of the nine Dawgs who were busted this year with his charges including hit and run and driving with a suspended license.

Atlanta-Journal Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz thinks it’s time for Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt to answer to his team’s recent run-ins with the law.  

FINAL NOTE: Ealey is expected to start next week when the Bulldogs Georgia (1-0) visit Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks next Saturday for an SEC match-up.

MORE SEC: Gators look awful in win at The Swamp – Sports Climax

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