Georgia Downs Carolina In Opener, 33-24

Saturday, September 3

Atlanta, Ga.

5:30 PM

North Carolina

0-1

Georgia

1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Georgia

North Carolina

September 4, 2016 | Football

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

by Paul Newberry, Associated Press

ATLANTA—Nick Chubb rushed for 222 yards in his return from a gruesome knee injury, including a 55-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that clinched No. 18 Georgia's 33-24 victory over No. 22 North Carolina in Kirby Smart's debut as the Bulldogs' coach Saturday night.

Chubb scored a pair of touchdowns for Georgia (1-0), sending the largely red-clad crowd at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game into delirium when he broke loose down the right sideline with 3:34 remaining and the Bulldogs clinging to a two-point lead over the Tar Heels (0-1).

Leaving no doubt he was fully recovered from a horrific knee injury that looked like it might be career-threatening, Chubb carried a staggering 32 times and was every bit as dominating as the Heisman-touted back he was before.

Georgia also got some promising play from freshman quarterback Jacob Eason, who didn't start but was on the field as the Bulldogs rallied from a 24-14 deficit in the second half.

North Carolina ripped off 17 straight points, including a pair of touchdowns by T.J. Logan that included a 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

But a pair of pass interference penalties on freshman cornerback Patrice Rene set up a touchdown that got Georgia back in the game, and two more penalties - one an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on coach Larry Fedora - backed the Tar Heels up deep in their own territory, leading to a safety when Elijah Hood caught a short pass in the end zone and was quickly knocked down for a safety.

Fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert started at quarterback for Georgia, but Eason - a touted freshman Georgia fans were clamoring to see - hooked up with Isaiah McKenzie on a 51-yard pass that set up William Ham's go-ahead, 29-yard field goal with 5:27 remaining.

UP NEXT

North Carolina: The Tar Heels hit the road again next Saturday to face Big Ten school Illinois. It will be their first visit to Champaign since 1971. North Carolina leads the series 3-0, including last year's 48-14 rout in Chapel Hill.

Georgia: The Bulldogs take big step down in competition when they host FCS school Nicholls State between the hedges. After a tough opener, it should provide a chance for give some playing time to those further down the depth chart.