Georgia rolls past Charleston Southern 55-9
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia scored two touchdowns on its first three snaps, including an 83-yard touchdown run by Nick Chubb, and the No. 9 Bulldogs rolled past Charleston Southern 55-9 on Saturday.
Hutson Mason played only the first half and threw three touchdown passes, including two to Chris Conley. Mason's 35-yard scoring pass to Conley came on Georgia's first play following a fumble recovery by Ramik Wilson. Mason added touchdown passes of 19 yards to Justin Scott-Wesley and 23 yards to Conley.
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.
Charleston Southern (8-4), hoping for a spot in the FCS playoffs, was held to 211 total yards.
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.
Following Mason's 35-yard scoring pass to Conley, Georgia again quickly struck on its second possession. On second down 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.
The 83-yard touchdown run was Georgia's longest since an 89-yarder by Tim Worley against Florida in 1985.
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.
Todd Gurley, the Bulldogs' junior tailback who suffered a season-ending left knee injury in last week's game against Auburn, had the leg in a brace and was used a crutch while standing on the sideline.