SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 1, 2012
Georgia 45, Buffalo 23: Freshman Todd Gurley scored three touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, and the sixth-ranked Bulldogs shook off the Bulls in the second half.
Georgia (1-0) gave up 10 points in the final 2:12 of the first half to see its lead cut to 24-16 at halftime. But quarterback Aaron Murray capped the opening drive of the second half with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Rantavious Wooten to put the Bulldogs ahead 31-16.
Gurley scored on a 10-yard run with 10:26 left in the first quarter. Buffalo (0-1) answered five minutes later on Alex Zordich’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Alex Neutz, but Patrick Clarke missed the extra point. Gurley returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards down the left sideline to make it 14-6 Georgia.
Gurley rushed for 100 yards on eight carries, adding a 55-yard touchdown with 8:13 remaining.
Murray completed 15-of-26 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He found Tavarres King for a 63-yard touchdown early in the second quarter as the Bulldogs built a 24-6 advantage.
Buffalo made it interesting in the final minutes of the first half. Branden Oliver capped a 94-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, and Clarke converted the extra point with 2:12 left to bring the Bulls within 24-13. Clarke’s 18-yard field goal with 2 seconds left in the half made it 24-16.
Oliver finished with 112 yards on 31 carries and Zordich added 83 yards rushing.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Georgia RB Ken Malcome injured his left hand in the second half and did not return. … Buffalo outgained Georgia 151-84 in the second quarter. … The Bulldogs finished with 485 yards of total offense. … Keith Marshall, another Georgia freshman RB, gained 46 yards on 10 carries. ... Buffalo finished with 199 yards rushing.