Aaron Murray (11) and Todd Gurley (3) keep scoring for Georgia's high-powered offense. (Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE)
ATHENS, Ga. — Leading up to Saturday night, Georgia players didn’t have much to say about last year’s end-of-game brouhaha involving defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin.
However, if the fifth-ranked Bulldogs’ 48-3 rout of the Commodores were any indication, they certainly didn’t forget.
The game was never in doubt.
After rolling up a school-record 713 yards of offense last week against Florida Atlantic, the Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 SEC) sliced through the Commodores (1-3, 0-2) almost as easily for 568 yards.
Georgia was led by running back Todd Gurley, who continues to show that even as a freshman, he may be one of the best backs in the league. For the third time in four games, Gurley topped the 100-yard mark, rushing 16 times for 130 and two touchdowns Saturday.
He had plenty of company.
Quarterback Aaron Murray completed 18 of 24 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, while Keith Marshall rushed 10 times for 82 and two scores. Bulldogs senior Marlon Brown led all receivers with five catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Zac Stacy led the Commodores with 12 carries for 83 yards with quarterback Jordan Rodgers completing 13 of 23 passes for 218 yards.
It didn’t take Georgia long to put its stamp on the game, as the Bulldogs scored a pair of touchdowns in both the first and second quarters to grab a 27-3 halftime lead.
After forcing a punt on Vanderbilt’s opening possession, Georgia used a 22-yard punt return from Malcolm Mitchell to set up an efficient seven-play, 47-yard drive for a quick 7-0 lead.
Gurley did the scoring honors, running in from 4 yards out.
Marshall wasn’t about to be upstaged.
On Georgia’s next possession, the Commodores were called for roughing the punter, allowing the Bulldogs to keep the ball. After scampering for 8 yards on the next play, Marshall picked up a huge inside block, found a seam and raced untouched for a 52-yard touchdown. The extra point failed following a bad snap, keeping the game at 13-0.
The Bulldogs’ next two possessions also resulted in scores, first on a 22-yard pass from Murray to Tavarres King and next on a 1-yard dive by Murray, who started the game by completing his first 12 passes before finally throwing an incompletion late in the second quarter.
Vanderbilt’s only score of the half came late in the second quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Casey Spear.
NOTES: Georgia senior safety Bacarri Rambo and junior linebacker Alec Ogletree did not dress out for the fourth consecutive week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the two were serving a suspension. … Murray’s 12 straight completions to start the game were the third most for a Georgia quarterback in school history. He finished the first half having completed 12 of 14 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.
