2010 Week 3

In a week three matchup that had the whole country interested, #8 Georgia (1-0) hosted #16 USC (1-0). The Trojans had a disappointing 2009, finishing unranked for the first time since 2001, Pete Carroll's first year on the job.

There would be more disappointment for the Trojans in Athens. Georgia won the game in the surest way, winning in almost every facet statistically. They created more first downs, total y ards, rushing yards, passing yards, and did better on third downs. Each team turned the ball over twice, but the real domination was in time of possession, which Georgia controlled by almost a 2-to-1 margin.

USC scored on their first drive, a 46-yard touchdown pass from Corp to Ellison accounting for a 7-0 lead. Thomas Cody led the Bulldogs in an immediate response, finding Tavarres King on a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. The Bulldogs were then able to force a punt and got on a nice roll, scoring twice more in the first quarter to lead 21-7 headed into the second frame.

The Trojans converted all three of their red zone possessions into touchdowns on the day, and McKnight's 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was one such occasion. It put the Trojans back in the game, 21-14. The Bulldogs added distance with a field goal, then intercepted Corp and scored again on six-yard touchdown run by fullback Shaun Chapas a few plays later.

Freshman Thomas Cody was once again solid in this game, but it was Richard Samuel that took over to put the game away in the second half. As the defense stepped up and allowed just one scoring play in the second half, Samuel scored on a short run and a 52-yarder for the Bulldogs.

There were plenty of contributors on defense that deserved to be named. Reshad Jones and Makiri Pugh each intercepted a pass. Both of the freshman defensive tackles, Cory Lawrence and Paul West, had sacks. Middle linebacker Akeem Dent had six tackles, two for important losses.

Cody said his first home game was "better than I could have imagined."

"I love going on the road, but it was a special experience to take the snap at home for the first time," said Cody. "These fans were really behind us from the beginning and because of that it was easy to get energized."