Herrera says delay left Dogs 'flat'

photo Georgia fullback Quayvon Hicks (48) runs for yardage against South Carolina during their game on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 38-35.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Blame it on the weather.

Georgia senior inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera credited South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks for making numerous big plays offensively, but he wasn't as fond of Mother Nature after the 38-35 loss. Saturday's 3:39 p.m. scheduled kickoff was pushed back due to lightning in the area, and the game did not get under way until 5:05.

"We came out there flat, and they came out there and scored quick," Herrera said. "You sit down, get ready and warm up. Then you go back, warm up and go back."

Persistent lightning was occurring after 3, so it quickly became evident the game would not kick off on time. The Southeastern Conference has a policy of a 30-minute delay when a lightning strike is reported within a few miles of the stadium.

The teams agreed to a 20-minute warmup when a starting time was determined, and the Gamecocks and Bulldogs entered the field around 4:15 and warmed up for several minutes before being sent back to their locker rooms following another lightning strike nearby.

At that point, the teams agreed to a 10-minute warmup whenever a new start time was announced.

"I gave a pregame talk before we hit the field, and we ended up doing two of those," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "I thought my second one was better than the first one. You're just trying to be ready when the time comes."

Said Herrera: "Sit down and stretch, and sit down and stretch. It's what we did the whole time."

Gurley's busy night

Georgia junior tailback Todd Gurley rushed 20 times for 131 yards and a touchdown, and he also had a 54-yard score negated by a holding penalty on left guard Brandon Kublanow.

The Heisman Trophy candidate was not a factor receiving, with the Gamecocks holding him to 4 yards on four catches.

"Obviously I didn't do enough right," a dejected Gurley said.

He did plenty right, including a third-and-16 run late in the third quarter when he headed left and then reversed field for a 17-yard pickup and a first down.

"I just knew we needed a first down," he said.

Avoiding Gurley

Gurley's 100-yard kickoff return in the season opener certainly impacted Clemson, and it impacted South Carolina as well.

Gurley was the deep return man on kickoffs again Saturday, but the Gamecocks stayed away in the early going. Landon Ard's first of six kickoffs was received by reserve tailback Brendan Douglas, who returned it from the 20 to the 31, and his second kickoff was fair-caught by Jeb Blazevich at his 27.

Ard eventually kicked deep and tallied three touchbacks. To open the second half, he placed a kick to where Brendan Douglas backpedaled and collided with Gurley, resulting in a fumble the Bulldogs recovered at their 15.

Odds and ends

Georgia leads the series with South Carolina 47-18-2, but the Bulldogs are just 3-6 when both teams are ranked. ... Senior inside linebacker Ramik Wilson tallied 13 tackles and two tackles for loss. ... Hutson Mason's 33-yard touchdown pass to freshman tailback Sony Michel less than five minutes into the game was the first aerial score inside Williams-Brice Stadium for the Bulldogs since David Greene found Reggie Brown in Georgia's 20-16 win in 2004. ... Senior defensive tackle Toby Johnson made his first career start for the Bulldogs, as did freshman receiver Isaiah McKenzie.

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

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