SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 24, 2011
Georgia built a 17-point first-half lead and its defense locked down struggling Mississippi in a 27-13 victory Saturday in Oxford, Miss.
Quarterback Aaron Murray threw two touchdown passes in the first half and rushed for a score to spark the Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 SEC). Murray rushed for a 1-yard score in the first quarter, and connected with Orson Charles on a 2-yard touchdown pass and Aron White on a 35-yard touchdown with 2:38 left in the half for a 24-7 lead.
Ole Miss scored on a Nickolas Brassell 81-yard punt return for a touchdown with 49 seconds left in the first half, pulling within 24-13. But the Rebels (1-3, 0-2) struggled again on offense, finishing with just eight first downs and 51 yards rushing.
Georgia freshman Isaiah Crowell rushed 30 times for 147 yards. Murray completed 17 of 26 passes for 268 yards.
The Bulldogs came in 18th in the nation in scoring offense (40.7 points per game). Georgia kicker Blair Walsh missed three of his five field-goal attempts.
One week after throwing five interceptions in a loss to Vanderbilt, Ole Miss quarterback Zack Stoudt was ineffective once again.
Georgia returns home next Saturday to play host to Mississippi State before consecutive conference road games at Tennessee and at Vanderbilt.
The Rebels play at Fresno State next Saturday before returning home for two challenging games against No. 2 Alabama and No. 12 Arkansas.