University of Georgia Athletics
Post-game Notes: Georgia vs. South Carolina
September 13, 2009 | Football
*Wild Win Between The Hedges: No. 21 Georgia (1-1, 1-0 SEC) collected its first win of the year, edging South Carolina 41-37. The Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1 SEC) ran 83 plays, the second most ever allowed in the Mark Richt era which began in 2001. Georgia beat Vanderbilt in 2001 when the Commodores ran 88 plays and racked up 436 yards in a 30-14 Bulldog win. For the ninth time in the UGA-SC series under Richt, the game was decided by seven points or less and the Bulldogs are 7-2 in these tight tussles.
*Big Night For Curran Again: For the second game in a row, sophomore linebacker Rennie Curran led the Bulldogs in tackles, and tonight he tied his career high 15 (9 solo, 6 assist). He had 15 against Kentucky last year. Tonight marked the seventh game Curran had 10+ tackles in a game. Also, he had the final pass breakup to preserve the victory. Last year against USC, Curran forced a fumble at the 2 yard line that was recovered by Asher Allen that preserved Georgia’s win when Carolina was heading for a game-tying TD midway through the fourth quarter. Curran was the second leading tackler in the SEC last year with 115.
*54 Combined First-Half Points, 78 Overall:. The 54 first half points scored was the most by Georgia and another team in one half since 1991 when Georgia and Kentucky combined for 55 (Georgia 35-20). This matches the most first-half points scored by the Bulldogs since 2006 when they led Western Kentucky 31-7 at the half and eventually won 48-12. Tonight, USC ran 49 plays in the first half while Georgia ran 27. Georgia’s 31 points in a half is the most against an SEC team since 2004 when the Bulldogs scored 42 points in the second half in a 62-17 road win over Kentucky. Tonight, the teams combined for 78 points, the most Georgia has been involved in an SEC game since last season when the Bulldogs beat Kentucky 42-38 in Lexington. In the UGA-USC series, this was the most combined points since 1970 when the teams had 86; a 52-34 Bulldog win in Athens.
*Taking It To The House: Sophomore defensive back Brandon Boykin set a school record and had the longest scoring play for Georgia in Sanford Stadium history after returning a kickoff 100 yards with 9:37 remaining in the first quarter. Thomas Brown (2006 in Athens, Tennessee) and Lindsay Scott (1978 in Baton Rouge, LSU) both owned the previous record after returning kickoffs 99 yards for TDs. The other 100-yard TDs in school history were Jimmy Campagna (punt return, Vanderbilt, 1952 in Nashville) and Charlie Britt (INT return, Florida, 1959 in Jacksonville).
Boykin also had a 48-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. He finished second on the all-time list for most kickoff yards in a single game with 187, the record is 190 by Scott Woerner on six returns. Kentucky in 1977. Boykin also registered his first career INT after picking off Stephen Garcia early in the second quarter. This was the first turnover caused by the Bulldogs this year. Georgia converted the INT into a 50-yard field goal by sophomore Blair Walsh.
*Speaking Of Walsh: Walsh’s 50-yard field goal makes him 4-of-7 from 50+ yards in his career and 2-for-2 for the year. Walsh drilled a career-long 53 yarder versus OSU last week. Tonight, Walsh added a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter for a 41-37 lead.
*Bulldog Record 252 Kickoff Return Yards: The Bulldogs set a school record with 252 kickoff returns yards on seven returns including 204 in the opening half. USC popped up most of the kickoffs in the second half. The previous record was 190 yards versus Kentucky in 1977. Georgia’s tally ranks fourth best in SEC history.
*Smith Gets Loose: Freshman Branden Smith took a reverse from redshirt freshman tailback Carlton Thomas 61 yards for his first career touchdown on just his fourth carry of his career. This was the longest rushing TD since Knowshon Moreno went 68 yards versus LSU in Baton Rouge in 2008. Smith also played at defensive back and on special teams in the first half tonight.
*Give Me Some Moore: Senior split end Mike Moore hauled in a TD pass for the second straight game after snagging a 4-yard reception with 9:04 left in the third period. This was the fifth TD catch of his career. Both of his TD catches this season were for four yards and capped 80-yard drives.
*Points off Turnovers: Sophomore A.J. Green fumbled after making a reception in the first quarter, freshman defensive back Branden Smith lost a fumble while returning a kickoff in the opening period and Joe Cox threw an INT that was returned for a TD. The Bulldogs have six turnovers on the year. Opponents have scored 26 points off of those turnovers. The first turnover turned into a 23-yard TD drive, the second turned into a field goal after starting on the 8-yard line and the third was a 35-yard INT return. Georgia has forced one turnover and converted it into a field goal.
*Safety: South Carolina recorded a safety against Georgia after a snap sailed over punter Drew Butler’s head in the end zone late in the third quarter. The last time the Bulldogs surrendered a safety was 2006 against Western Kentucky (holding penalty in end zone).
*Blocked Extra Point: Sophomore DT DeAngelo Tyson blocked the first extra point for the Bulldogs since Kedric Golston blocked one against LSU in the 2003 SEC Championship Game.
*First-Time Starter: Redshirt freshman split end Tavarres King started the first game of his career.
*Other Firsts: Redshirt freshman Cornelius Washington registered his first career sack and the team’s first sack of the year during the opening quarter.
*Bouncing Back: The Bulldogs are now 22-5 after a loss during the Richt era.
*Injury Report: Senior DE Rod Battle injured his left knee in the second quarter and did not return.
*Up Next: Georgia (1-1, 1-0 SEC) makes the trip Fayetteville, Ark., and will play Arkansas (1-0) on Sept. 19. ESPN2 will televise the game live at 7:45 p.m. The Razorbacks opened the season by beating Missouri State 48-10 and were off this week. Georgia leads the all-time series 8-3 and Richt is 5-0 versus the Arkansas. The Razorbacks, LSU and Auburn are the three teams from the SEC West who the Bulldogs play in 2009.
*Big Night For Curran Again: For the second game in a row, sophomore linebacker Rennie Curran led the Bulldogs in tackles, and tonight he tied his career high 15 (9 solo, 6 assist). He had 15 against Kentucky last year. Tonight marked the seventh game Curran had 10+ tackles in a game. Also, he had the final pass breakup to preserve the victory. Last year against USC, Curran forced a fumble at the 2 yard line that was recovered by Asher Allen that preserved Georgia’s win when Carolina was heading for a game-tying TD midway through the fourth quarter. Curran was the second leading tackler in the SEC last year with 115.
*54 Combined First-Half Points, 78 Overall:. The 54 first half points scored was the most by Georgia and another team in one half since 1991 when Georgia and Kentucky combined for 55 (Georgia 35-20). This matches the most first-half points scored by the Bulldogs since 2006 when they led Western Kentucky 31-7 at the half and eventually won 48-12. Tonight, USC ran 49 plays in the first half while Georgia ran 27. Georgia’s 31 points in a half is the most against an SEC team since 2004 when the Bulldogs scored 42 points in the second half in a 62-17 road win over Kentucky. Tonight, the teams combined for 78 points, the most Georgia has been involved in an SEC game since last season when the Bulldogs beat Kentucky 42-38 in Lexington. In the UGA-USC series, this was the most combined points since 1970 when the teams had 86; a 52-34 Bulldog win in Athens.
*Taking It To The House: Sophomore defensive back Brandon Boykin set a school record and had the longest scoring play for Georgia in Sanford Stadium history after returning a kickoff 100 yards with 9:37 remaining in the first quarter. Thomas Brown (2006 in Athens, Tennessee) and Lindsay Scott (1978 in Baton Rouge, LSU) both owned the previous record after returning kickoffs 99 yards for TDs. The other 100-yard TDs in school history were Jimmy Campagna (punt return, Vanderbilt, 1952 in Nashville) and Charlie Britt (INT return, Florida, 1959 in Jacksonville).
Boykin also had a 48-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. He finished second on the all-time list for most kickoff yards in a single game with 187, the record is 190 by Scott Woerner on six returns. Kentucky in 1977. Boykin also registered his first career INT after picking off Stephen Garcia early in the second quarter. This was the first turnover caused by the Bulldogs this year. Georgia converted the INT into a 50-yard field goal by sophomore Blair Walsh.
*Speaking Of Walsh: Walsh’s 50-yard field goal makes him 4-of-7 from 50+ yards in his career and 2-for-2 for the year. Walsh drilled a career-long 53 yarder versus OSU last week. Tonight, Walsh added a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter for a 41-37 lead.
*Bulldog Record 252 Kickoff Return Yards: The Bulldogs set a school record with 252 kickoff returns yards on seven returns including 204 in the opening half. USC popped up most of the kickoffs in the second half. The previous record was 190 yards versus Kentucky in 1977. Georgia’s tally ranks fourth best in SEC history.
*Smith Gets Loose: Freshman Branden Smith took a reverse from redshirt freshman tailback Carlton Thomas 61 yards for his first career touchdown on just his fourth carry of his career. This was the longest rushing TD since Knowshon Moreno went 68 yards versus LSU in Baton Rouge in 2008. Smith also played at defensive back and on special teams in the first half tonight.
*Give Me Some Moore: Senior split end Mike Moore hauled in a TD pass for the second straight game after snagging a 4-yard reception with 9:04 left in the third period. This was the fifth TD catch of his career. Both of his TD catches this season were for four yards and capped 80-yard drives.
*Points off Turnovers: Sophomore A.J. Green fumbled after making a reception in the first quarter, freshman defensive back Branden Smith lost a fumble while returning a kickoff in the opening period and Joe Cox threw an INT that was returned for a TD. The Bulldogs have six turnovers on the year. Opponents have scored 26 points off of those turnovers. The first turnover turned into a 23-yard TD drive, the second turned into a field goal after starting on the 8-yard line and the third was a 35-yard INT return. Georgia has forced one turnover and converted it into a field goal.
*Safety: South Carolina recorded a safety against Georgia after a snap sailed over punter Drew Butler’s head in the end zone late in the third quarter. The last time the Bulldogs surrendered a safety was 2006 against Western Kentucky (holding penalty in end zone).
*Blocked Extra Point: Sophomore DT DeAngelo Tyson blocked the first extra point for the Bulldogs since Kedric Golston blocked one against LSU in the 2003 SEC Championship Game.
*First-Time Starter: Redshirt freshman split end Tavarres King started the first game of his career.
*Other Firsts: Redshirt freshman Cornelius Washington registered his first career sack and the team’s first sack of the year during the opening quarter.
*Bouncing Back: The Bulldogs are now 22-5 after a loss during the Richt era.
*Injury Report: Senior DE Rod Battle injured his left knee in the second quarter and did not return.
*Up Next: Georgia (1-1, 1-0 SEC) makes the trip Fayetteville, Ark., and will play Arkansas (1-0) on Sept. 19. ESPN2 will televise the game live at 7:45 p.m. The Razorbacks opened the season by beating Missouri State 48-10 and were off this week. Georgia leads the all-time series 8-3 and Richt is 5-0 versus the Arkansas. The Razorbacks, LSU and Auburn are the three teams from the SEC West who the Bulldogs play in 2009.
Georgia Football 2026 GDay Spring Game - Postgame Player Sound
Saturday, April 18
Georgia Football 2026 G-Day TV Highlights
Saturday, April 18
2026 GDay Spring Game - Coach Smart Press Conference
Saturday, April 18
Georgia Football - Coach Smart Spring Practice Press Conference
Tuesday, April 07