Georgia tight ends aid Lambert's big evening

Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert (11) looks for an open receiver under pressure from the South Carolina defense during his game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Athens., Ga. Georgia won 52-20.
Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert (11) looks for an open receiver under pressure from the South Carolina defense during his game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Athens., Ga. Georgia won 52-20.

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Sanders continues interception surge Lambert sensational in Georgia romp past Gamecocks Georgia tight ends aid Lambert's big evening Brilliant Lambert leads Georgia to rout, 52-20

ATHENS, Ga. - Quarterback Greyson Lambert's record-setting night for the Georgia Bulldogs began with a simple 6-yard completion to Jeb Blazevich.

It would be the first of many attempts thrown to his tight ends.

Blazevich, Jay Rome and Jackson Harris combined on five receptions for 68 yards, aiding Lambert's 24-of-25, 330-yard night that set a new NCAA standard for passing accuracy.

"It's just part of our game plan," Lambert said. "They did a great job all night, whether it was blocking or pass-catching. It was a good night for them."

After opening with the pass to Blazevich, Lambert found Rome for a 20-yard completion to South Carolina's 2-yard line on Georgia's second possession. That set up Nick Chubb's touchdown run on the ensuing play that put the Bulldogs ahead to stay at 10-3 with 12:56 to go before halftime.

The catch was Rome's first of the season and his first since last November's loss to Georgia Tech.

"I wish I could have gotten in, but it was great to get my first catch of the year," the fifth-year senior said. "It was good to see not only the tight ends but the whole offense just rolling and clicking."

True freshman Jackson Harris got into the act on Georgia's third possession, catching a 21-yard pass. On Georgia's fourth and final drive of the half, Harris had a 15-yard reception to open the drive, and Blazevich added a 7-yard catch

Harris caught his first career pass, a 10-yarder, in last week's win at Vanderbilt.

"I obviously had goals of it being like this, but I've been very pleased with how things are going," Harris said after a two-catch, 35-yard evening. "It's exciting to see it come together."

Georgia has built a solid tight end pipeline in the Mark Richt era, but productivity from that position slipped a bit last season. Rome has been injury-plagued for much of his career, but his healthy status with the maturation of Blazevich as a sophomore and the impact Harris has provided has this group looking for more.

"We did a great job of looking at our talent base and taking advantage of their skill sets," Richt said. "It was just just one of those nights, and our tight ends did a great job."

Said Rome: "We feel like we can do it all as tight ends. We feel we've got a talented group. I'm the old guy in the room, and it's really a family atmosphere."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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