Georgia cornerback Aaron Davis (35) breaks up a pass intended for Charleston Southern wide receiver Chris Theodore (84) during their game on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Athens, Ga.ATHENS, Ga. - There were no "game control" issues for Georgia on a brisk Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium as the No. 10 Bulldogs routed Charleston Southern 55-9.
Hutson Mason threw for 187 yards and Nick Chubb rushed for 113 as Georgia overwhelmed the Big South Conference's Buccaneers, who compete at the Championship Subdivision level. Mason didn't play in the second half, and Chubb didn't play after the first 20 minutes.
"We came out quick and jumped on them, and that's what we wanted to do," Bulldogs senior center David Andrews said. "Everyone was awake, and that's what you want to see in games like this."
The "game control" term was introduced to the national vernacular this past week when Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, the chairman of the College Football Playoff committee, pointed out how being in control of games factored into last week's rankings. There is actually a "game control" ranking, with the Bulldogs checking in at No. 5 this past week behind Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Oregon.
Georgia coach Mark Richt was unfamiliar with the term when asked about it last week, and his players did not have much of a grasp Saturday.
"I don't know what that means, nor do I really care about it," Mason said. "When you win, no matter if it's by a point or 30 points, that's really all that matters."
Said Andrews: "I couldn't begin to tell you what that is."
There was no questioning Georgia's control Saturday, as the Bulldogs scored three touchdowns within their first eight offensive snaps.
On Charleston Southern's third play from scrimmage, Buccaneers tailback Ben Robinson was hit by Damian Swann, causing a fumble that was recovered by Ramik Wilson. On Georgia's first play from scrimmage, Mason threw down the middle of the field for a 35-yard touchdown to Chris Conley.
Georgia's second drive began at its 15-yard line and lasted two plays, with Chubb racing 83 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0. The Bulldogs started their third possession at their 39-yard line and took a 21-0 lead five plays later, with that touchdown drive capped by a 19-yard pass from Mason to Justin Scott-Wesley.
By the time Georgia took a 38-0 lead with 4:11 to go before halftime on a 23-yard pass from Mason to Conley, the Bulldogs had 337 yards to 25 for the Buccaneers.
"I was very pleased with our team today," Richt said. "I thought we came in with a good focus and with good energy and good execution. I thought we did a very good job of respecting our opponent today."
Georgia will host in-state rival Georgia Tech this Saturday at noon on the SEC Network. It's a matchup of nationally ranked 9-2 teams, and it's one the Bulldogs will enter having not overlooked the outmatched Buccaneers, who finished their season at 8-4.
"You don't want to have a sloppy performance," Richt said. "Even when they scored in the second half, our guys were playing hard, and we got to play a lot of guys. I just think we came out today with a really good edge and the right mindset."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.