Georgia running back Todd Gurley amassed 131 rushing yards against South Carolina Saturday, but the SEC East showdown was ultimately won by a rushing inch by Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson.
South Carolina regained some footing in the division in toppling the Bulldogs, 38-35. Thompson sealed it with a fourth-and-nothing quarterback sneak with 1:25 left to play that moved the chains by no more than a link in the chain itself. Whether Thompson gained the inch necessary to salt away the clock at the 50-yard line was so much in question, Georgia coach Mark Richt challenged the spot in hopes of getting the Bulldogs one more possession.
Once the original spot was confirmed, Gurley could only watch from the sideline as the Gamecocks took a knee to end it. Thompson completed 21 of 31 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, exposing the Georgia secondary every bit as much as Georgia's offense exposed the Gamecocks' run defense. South Carolina also got a big lift from running back Brandon Wilds, who rushed 14 times for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Gurley proved once again he is the SEC's top running back, and significantly extended the yardage gap between himself and South Carolina standout rusher Mike Davis (17 carries, 66 yards). Though only a junior, Gurley's own coach expects him to turn pro early next year, and NFL executives are already putting the 230-pound star in some elite company as a prospect.
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