By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
October 19, 2002

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia finally got its offense going Saturday.

David Greene threw for 319 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Musa Smith rushed for 102 yards and scored twice as No. 5 Georgia routed Vanderbilt 48-17 to remain the only unbeaten team in the Southeastern Conference.

The Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) scored on their first eight possessions in their highest-scoring game of the season. They led 31-10 at halftime, piling up more yards in the first two quarters than they had in four previous games.

Vanderbilt (1-6, 0-4) got a scare on its way to the game. One of the buses carrying players and coaches was involved in a wreck, but no one was seriously hurt.
Once they got to Sanford Stadium, the Commodores were no match for a Georgia team off to its best start since 1982.

The Bulldogs, who had been winning with defense and special teams, came in ranked 11th in the SEC and 94th nationally in total yards. That all changed against the worst defensive team in the conference.

Greene completed his first 11 passes, the streak broken on a drop late in the first half. That was one of the few mistakes by the Bulldogs, who passed and ran at will against the woeful Commodores.

Greene, who was averaging 208 yards per game, had 270 by halftime on 16-of-18 passing. He finished 20-of-23, throwing for two touchdowns and scrambling for an 11-yard score on his final play of the day.

Smith, who had TD runs of 1 and 14 yards, passed 100 yards early in the second half and got the rest of the game off. He wasn't slowed by a jammed neck, which caused temporary numbness in his arms the previous week against Tennessee.

Coach Mark Richt finally broke out some trick plays after conservative play-calling the first six games.

Early in the game, Tony Milton attempted to throw after catching a lateral pass in the backfield. Vandy foiled that bit of chicanery, but got burned on the opening play of the second period.
Greene fooled the Commodores with a play fake, hiding the ball against his body while the defense converged on the running back. Terrence Edwards suddenly took off down the middle of the field, sprinting past safety Jonathan Shaub to haul in a 65-yard touchdown pass that put Georgia ahead for good.

Greene's first TD was a 35-yard pass to Fred Gibson, who was demoted to second team the previous week because he wasn't giving enough effort.

Gibson began another game on the bench but came in on Georgia's second offensive play. He finished off the drive by faking out cornerback Aaron McWhorter, then catching the pass in the left corner of the end zone.

Gibson wasn't able to finish, going out with an injured left thumb.

Jon Stinchcomb, Georgia's best offensive lineman, also left the game in the first half after hurting his left knee. He didn't appear to be seriously injured, returning to the sideline in the second half with the knee taped and pads still on. The Bulldogs had no need to put him back in the game.

D.J. Shockley, who missed the previous month with a broken foot, took over after Greene went out. The redshirt freshman completed 7-of-9 for 94 yards and hooked up with Ben Watson on a 9-yard touchdown.

Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler, suspended the previous game, scored on a 1-yard run. Kwane Doster rushed for 118 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown.