South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was thrilled with the play of freshman tailback Marcus Lattimore following Saturday's 17-6 win over Georgia, and that excitement had not waned Sunday.
Lattimore, the nation's No. 1 tailback signee last winter according to Rivals.com, shredded the Bulldogs for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
"After reviewing the tapes, I don't think I've ever had a running back break as many tackles as Marcus Lattimore did yesterday," Spurrier said. "I think the Georgia coaches really had a good scheme of things, but their guys just didn't tackle him. It was amazing to see how many tackles he broke. We didn't count them, but it was a whole bunch."
When asked Sunday how many missed tackles his Bulldogs had, Georgia coach Mark Richt didn't know but admitted, "There was a good bit."
The Gamecocks moved up to 13th in the latest AP poll, while the Bulldogs are unranked in September for the first time since 2001.
Saturday wasn't the first time Spurrier has bypassed the passing game to rely heavily on a tailback. His most notable examples during his 12 years at Florida were Fred Taylor's 234 yards on 43 carries during a Citrus Bowl win over Penn State after the 1997 season and Errict Rhett's 183 yards on 41 carries during a win over Georgia in 1993.
"Obviously that appeared to be the best way to try and win the game and put it away, so that's what we did," he said. "I'd almost believe that Georgia coaches will say, 'I can't remember a game where we missed so many tackles.' They really did not tackle well, which is unusual for Georgia teams.
"The coaches had them in position, but obviously coaches can't tackle for them. I'll bet they get that straightened out as they go through the season because they've got a good team, and they will be back having a big year."
Georgia is 0-1 in SEC play for only the third time under Richt, who has yet to experience an 0-2 league start but could with No. 12 Arkansas visiting this week. The Razorbacks lead the SEC in total offense (509.0 yards per game) and total defense (187.5) after feasting on Tennessee Tech (44-3) and Louisiana-Monroe (31-7).
The Associated PressGeorgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin couldn't keep South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore from scoring one of his two touchdowns Saturday as the Gamecocks won 17-6.
The Bulldogs are assured of not going through the conference schedule undefeated, something that last occurred in 1982.
"We're in last place in the East right now, but it's one game," Richt said. "There is just so much ball to be played this season."
Odds and ends
Georgia fifth-year senior Kris Durham ranks among the nation's top 50 receivers, 49th actually, with 79.5 yards per game. ... Richt said starting tailback Caleb King (ankle) should be fine this week. ... Georgia hopes to hear the result of its appeal regarding A.J. Green's four-game suspension as early as Tuesday. ... Richt said his guards struggled offensively and wants to get backup nose tackles Justin Anderson and Kwame Geathers playing time in relief of DeAngelo Tyson. ... Junior tackle Trinton Sturdivant played just three snaps Saturday.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or at (423) 757-6524.