University of Georgia Athletics
Dog Notes: Lambert Leads Aerial Assault
September 19, 2015 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
View Full Archive of the Frierson Files
ATHENS, Ga. -- You know you've had a big night when the school president can't get close to you.
With a media scrum four people deep surrounding Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert in the Bulldogs' locker room after his stellar performance at Sanford Stadium on Saturday night, UGA President Jere W. Morehead waited quietly at the back of the pack of reporters. A minute passed, then a couple more.
When it was clear that Lambert's time in front of the TV lights and microphones wasn't going to be over anytime soon, Morehead backed away. Some stars can't be reached, apparently.
It was a record-setting performance by Lambert worthy of great celebration, and a Bulldogs win -- a 52-20 thumping over South Carolina -- that was deeply satisfying for the seventh-ranked Bulldogs and their fans. Lambert set an NCAA record for completion percentage by going 24-for-25 (96 percent) for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
The junior transfer from Virginia, making his third start for the Bulldogs (3-0, 2-0 SEC), completed his first four throws, then missed one and then didn't miss again. He closed the game with 20 straight completions, besting Mike Bobo's Georgia record of 19 in a row.
"I can't believe he threw an incompletion," Georgia coach Mark Richt said afterward, drawing laughs from the reporters that minutes before were swarming Lambert. "I'm a little disappointed in that."
Whatever angst anyone had about Lambert's ability to throw smart and accurate passes, and lead an explosive Bulldogs passing attack, those worries went kaput Saturday. He was about as hot as a QB gets.
"I definitely could have hit (wideout Malcolm Mitchell) on a shallow cross," Lambert said of the incompletion. His pass was intended for tight end Jeb Blazevich. "I got a little bit greedy."
Yes, he was smiling as he said that. His smile could have lit up the Dogs' locker room, and maybe the whole stadium. Lambert, who'd failed to complete a pass in the first half at Vanderbilt last week before getting going in the second, had one of those extra-special days at the office. And he seemed to know it.
In the first half he completed 14 of 15 passes, for 190 yards. In the third quarter, after completing an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Sony Michel, he was 18 of 19 for 232 yards and three TDs. He wasn't done. He wasn't picky, either.
By the time Lambert got to take off his helmet for good and give way to backup Brice Ramsey, which finally occurred in the fourth quarter, he had completed passes to nine different receivers; seven of them more than once. Mitchell was his top target, catching eight for 122 yards and a touchdown.
"He was as cool, calm and collected as he usually is," said Mitchell of Lambert. "He stays focused."
Wide receiver Reggie Davis caught three passes for 52 yards and Michel caught three for 32, taking two of them in for touchdowns. Michel also rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
While the passing game was soaring better than it had all season, the Dogs' run game was, well, the Dogs' run game. Nick Chubb did what he's done from his first start last season: he ran for more than 100 yards. The star sophomore had 159 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, his 11th straight 100-yard game.
"I would say everybody prepared well and we came together as an offense during practice to prepare for this moment," Michel said. Both Michel and Richt commented that the offense looked particularly sharp during Monday's practice, setting the tone for the week.
Dogs Come Home
A pair of former Georgia standouts and current Kansas City Chiefs were on the sideline Saturday. Quarterback Aaron Murray and wide receiver Chris Conley, both backups with the Chiefs, were on hand to see the Dogs' triumph. When they were shown together on the big screen late in the first half it generated what may have been the loudest roar of the night.
They were just two of several former Dogs who turned out for Georgia's big win. And among them were quite a few that are at or near the top of UGA's career lists.
Murray wrapped up his stellar UGA career in 2013 (he's the SEC's career leader with 13,166 passing yards and 121 touchdown passes) and Conley (10th all-time with 1,983 receiving yards and tied for fourth at UGA with 20 TDs) was a senior last season. On hand and serving as the Dogs' honorary captain was former star wideout Terrence Edwards, who still holds the school record for career receptions (204), receiving yards (3,093) and touchdown catches (30).
Also involved in the action was former star running back Garrison Heart (second all-time with 3,232 rushing yards), who led a pregame cheer.
Morgan Makes Stops
Marshall Morgan made a 30-yard field goal at the end of the Dogs' opening drive, which came a play after Lambert's only incompletion. But that's not why he was chuckling in the locker room after the blowout.
Lambert had three touchbacks on his eight kickoffs against the Gamecocks (1-2, 0-2), but he also had to do a bit more when South Carolina did produce a big return. Morgan made a pair of tackles of returner Shon Carson.
"I think the technique might have just been God-given," Morgan said of his form on the open-field tackles.
Joking aside, Georgia did give up three long returns. After UGA took a 10-3 lead on a 2-yard Chubb TD run, Carson had a 28-yard return. Carson had a 27-yarder after Georgia's next score. And late in the half, after the Dogs took a 24-10 lead on Lambert's 5-yard TD pass to Mitchell with 17 seconds left in the quarter, Collin Barber kicked off and Carson returned it 51 yards and the Gamecocks got a face-mask penalty, setting up a field goal to make it 24-13 at the half.
Nibbles
UGA linebacker Jake Ganus led the Dogs with seven tackles. More importantly, after the game he proposed to his girlfriend on the 50-yard line. She said yes. ... Dogs safety Dominick Sanders had his second interception and long return in as many games. The sophomore iced the Dogs' win at Vanderbilt last week with an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown. On Saturday, Sanders, soon after Georgia went ahead 31-13 in the third quarter, picked off a Perry Orth pass and returned it 33 yards to the USC 11. ... Georgia's 52 points was the most the Dogs have ever scored against the Gamecocks and the most Georgia has ever scored on a Steve Spurrier-coached team.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
