Georgia offense stocked for Auburn visit

photo Quarterback Hutson Mason looks to pass against Arkansas on Oct. 18 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

ATHENS, Ga. - Only two things could stop Georgia's offense during last Saturday's 63-31 win over Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium.

The halftime horn and the final horn.

Georgia scored touchdowns on every possession and heads into Saturday night's showdown against visiting Auburn averaging 43 points per game. The single-season school record of 37.8 points a contest was set by the 2012 Bulldogs.

"I think the Kentucky game was our most complete game offensively," senior center David Andrews said this week, "so we've got some momentum going."

And some reinforcements.

Georgia began this season with receivers Malcolm Mitchell, Justin Scott-Wesley and Jonathon Rumph sidelined by injuries. The Bulldogs won four of their first five games behind the strength and power of star tailback Todd Gurley, but Gurley was suspended Oct. 9 for receiving $3,000 for signed memorabilia.

Freshman Nick Chubb replaced Gurley the past four games and was spectacular, rushing 102 times for 671 yards, and Georgia's injured receivers started returning to the offensive mix as well. Mitchell has 11 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games, while Rumph had four receptions for 81 yards in Lexington.

"They've played without some of their more skilled, talented guys and done a very good job without them," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Now the fact that they've got them all definitely presents some challenges. We know those guys pretty good and how talented they are."

The Bulldogs, who are 7-2 overall, 5-2 in Southeastern Conference play and ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll, went 3-1 during Gurley's absence. The offense turned the ball over one time in that four-game stretch -- Chubb fumbled after a 35-yard gain against Florida -- and has been clean in terms of penalties.

Georgia's offense has turned the ball over only five times all season, while every other offense in the SEC has endured at least 10 turnovers.

"Football is really just all about execution, and we're doing a good job of not shooting ourselves in the foot," Bulldogs senior quarterback Hutson Mason said. "We don't have a lot of penalties, and we haven't been turning the ball over a lot. We're taking the game plan that our coaches are giving us, and we're doing a really good job of executing.

"When Todd was out, I think guys just really stepped up, and that's what it really came down to. Chubb did a phenomenal job of handling 30 carries a game, and it seemed like we got better in the passing game and made plays when we needed to make plays."

Georgia's scoring average has been aided by freshman receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns at Kentucky, and the defense. Defensive end Josh Dawson recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Tennessee, and cornerback Devin Bowman from Ridgeland High School had a 63-yard interception return for a score against Vanderbilt.

Yet the efficiency of this season's offense has not been lost on Bulldogs defenders, who prefer to take the field following a Georgia touchdown.

"Scoring points on offense hasn't been an issue since I've been here," senior cornerback Damian Swann said. "We've always been able to compete and score points, and when you're on the sideline watching it, you want to get a stop after they put up seven. When they score, we feel like it is then on us and that we have to go out and get a stop or a turnover to give those guys the ball so they can go back out and do what they do."

Said senior nose tackle Mike Thornton: "To finally see Hutson step into his role and do what he's been doing for our team is great. I would hope that they're clicking on all cylinders going into this game, and I think they are."

Auburn ranks third in scoring offense with 38.7 points a game, and both the Bulldogs and No. 9 Tigers (7-2, 4-2) have scored at least 20 points in every game. It would not be a surprise if 20-20 was the halftime score inside Sanford Stadium, given these two offenses and how shaky the defenses have been in recent weeks.

The Bulldogs have allowed 30 or more points in three consecutive games, while the Tigers have yielded 30 or more four straight times, including last Saturday's 41-38 upset loss to Texas A&M.

"You never know how the game will unfold," Malzahn said. "Every game is a little bit different as the matchups go, and from a coach's standpoint you just have to be prepared. Obviously in our two losses this season we did not get off to good starts, and we need to do a better job in that area."

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

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