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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia ditched the running back-by-committee
and just gave the ball to Musa Smith.
The freshman ran with his chance, becoming the first Georgia
runner this season to gain more than 100 yards as the No. 22 Bulldogs rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to beat Mississippi
32-14 on Saturday night.
|  | | Musa Smith's 144 rushing yards made him the first Georgia running back to pass 100 yards in a game this season. |
Smith carried 21 times for 144 yards, scoring Georgia's first
touchdown and setting up the second before a sore shoulder sent him
to bench in the third quarter.
By then, he already had six more carries than any Bulldogs back
this year and eclipsed the previous season high by 45 yards.
"I wasn't used to that," Smith said, who expects to be ready
for the next week's finale against No. 20 Georgia Tech. "All year
long, we've been rotating. When I got it four or five times in a
row, I was winded. But it feels good."
The mistake-filled game included each team returning an
interception for a touchdown, not to mention a blocked extra point
and a bad snap on a punt that resulted in a safety.
To make matters worse, it was a miserable night. The temperature
was in the upper 30s, a steady rain fell throughout the evening and
86,000-seat Sanford Stadium was less than half-filled by the second
half.
But Smith made it a winning night for the Bulldogs (7-3, 5-3),
who snapped a two-game losing streak and likely ensured a bowl bid
no matter what happens against their state rival.
Ole Miss (6-4, 3-4) has lost two in a row, its hopes for a
fourth straight postseason invitation still up in the air. The
Rebels finish the regular season Thursday against No. 13
Mississippi State.
Smith, a freshman, scored Georgia's first touchdown on a 9-yard
run with less than three minutes remaining in the first half,
cutting Ole Miss' lead to 14-7 at the break.
Then, on the Bulldogs' first offensive play of the second half,
Smith broke loose a 40-yard run to the Ole Miss 11.
"He ran extremely hard and physical," said coach Jim Donnan,
who has rotated the carries among four backs most of the season.
"We wanted to get him lathered up if we could, and he definitely
responded to it."
After Smith's long run and a penalty, Cory Phillips connected
with Damien Gary on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Georgia still trailed
when Billy Bennett botched the extra point. But not for long.
A thoroughly miserable series began for Ole Miss when kick
returner Deuce McAllister collided with a teammate and went down at
the 15. Three penalties later, with the Rebels facing fourth-and-16
at the 9, A.J. Kiamie snapped the ball over punter Reagan King's
head, giving Georgia a go-ahead safety midway through the third
quarter.
From there, the Bulldogs quickly turned a close game into a
rout. Verron Haynes scored on a 1-yard run with just over a minute
left in the third quarter and Tim Wansley picked off a pass from
Romaro Miller, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown on the first
play of the fourth period for a 29-14 lead.
Bennett completed the scoring with a 49-yard field goal, a
career-best for the freshman.
Georgia, which ranked 74th nationally with 131.2 yards per game
on the ground, finished with a season-high 244 yards on 45 carries.
After Smith went out, Brett Millican ran for 60 yards and Jasper
Sanks added 40.
Phillips, starting his second straight game in place of injured
Quincy Carter, was 9-of-17 for 107 yards as Donnan relied mostly on
his ground game.
"Musa ran great," Phillips said. "He's a great runner and a
big guy."
Georgia got off to a terrible start. Ole Miss seized the
momentum right away by recovering an onside kick to begin the game.
The Rebels didn't score on that possession, but Syniker Taylor
put them ahead by bringing back an interception 65 yards for a
score less than seven minutes into the opening quarter.
Ole Miss made it 14-0 on Miller's 4-yard touchdown pass to
Charles Stackhouse halfway through the second period. But the
Rebels managed only 99 yards in the second half.
"We are kind of frustrated right now," running back Joe Gunn
said. "We just can't seem to win the ones that count."
Miller was just 11-of-25 for 87 yards and redshirt freshman Eli
Manning, son of Archie and younger brother of Peyton, finished up.
"It was tough to get into the game after being on the sidelines
in these conditions," said Manning, who was 5-of-12 for 88 yards
with one interception. "But every time I get into the game, I get
more confidence."
McAllister, the Rebels' leading runner this season, carried only
six times for 16 yards. He was away from the team most of the week
after the death of his older brother.
The Citrus, Peach, Music City and galleryfurniture.com bowls
were represented at the game.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Mississippi Clubhouse
Georgia Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Georgia's Tim Wansley steps in front of Romaro Miller's pass and takes it 35 yards for a touchdown.
avi: 2003 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Georgia's Jermaine Phillips slams into Charles Johnson causing the fumble.
avi: 2192 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Georgia's Musa Smith breaks through the hole at mid-field for a 40-yard gain.
avi: 833 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ole Miss' Syniker Taylor intercepts the Cory Phillips pass and returns it 65 yards for the touchdown.
avi: 1508 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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