SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 30, 2014
No. 13 Georgia 37, No. 20 Louisville 14: Freshman Nick Chubb carried 33 times for a bowl-record and season-high 269 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs downed the Cardinals in the 13th annual Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Chubbกฏs eighth straight 100-yard rushing performance จC this one coming against the nationกฏs second-ranked rushing defense จC tied former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker for the most by a Georgia freshman and set a school record for a bowl game. Hutson Mason went 10-of-15 for 148 yards and threw a touchdown to Chris Conley (four catches for 81 yards) before leaving with an injury for the Bulldogs (10-3).
DeVante Parker continued his late-season tear since recovering from a toe injury with eight receptions for 120 yards for Louisville (9-4), which was denied in its quest to record three consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time in school history. Freshman Kyle Bolin made his first career start and finished 20-of-40 for 301 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while Brandon Radcliff totaled 91 yards and a score on 19 carries.
Georgia took advantage of a personal foul on a third-down play on its opening drive and Mason connected with Conley for a 45-yard score five plays later before Bolin countered with a 17-yard TD pass to Gerald Christian on the ensuing possession. The Bulldogs caught Louisville unprepared midway through the second quarter with a quick snap, allowing Chubb to sprint 31 yards for a score and send Georgia to a 20-7 halftime advantage.
After the Cardinals downed a punt at the Georgia 3, the Bulldogs continued to pile up yards on the ground in the third quarter as Chubb broke loose for 82 yards on the next play and Sony Michel ran it in from 2 yards out two plays later. Chubb, who carried 21 times for 189 yards in the second half alone, capped off his dominant performance with an 8-yard score with 2:02 remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Mason did not return for the second half with vision problems. WR Michael Bennett, a fellow senior, was ruled out for the game after suffering a knee injury early in the second half. กญ Chubb finished the season with 1,550 yards, moving into fourth place on the schoolกฏs single-season rushing list, trailing three different efforts by Walker. The SEC Freshman of the Year compiled all but 224 of those yards in the teamกฏs last eight games as a result of playing behind Todd Gurley. กญ Parker ended his career with at least six catches and 104 yards in seven of his last eight games, dating back to last season.