CBS SportsLine wire reports
Sept. 12, 1998
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Georgia's Quincy Carter brought his baseball mentality to the football field.
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When he stepped onto Williams-Brice Stadium and saw his first hostile Southeastern Conference crowd of 83,411, he thought back to the horribly long bus rides through his two seasons playing in the Chicago Cubs organization.
He remembered the slumps, the months away from home, and realized playing SEC football anywhere was a breeze.
"BASEBALL PREPARED ME a lot as far as the adversity, going through things," said Carter, who ran for both touchdowns as No. 15 Georgia (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) topped South Carolina 17-3 on Saturday. "Last week, I was more nervous than this week."
That's when Carter debuted as Georgia's quarterback with a smooth-looking three-touchdown, 235-yard performance that left him the nation's most efficient passer.
But it was an edgy, uncertain Carter who played the first half against South Carolina (1-1, 0-1). He failed on a fourth-and-1, threw his first interception on a really bad pass and looked more like a walk-on than a potential star. He was 2-of-9 for 10 yards.
"The pressure probably got to him a little in the first half, but he knew within himself how he could play and played to the best of his ability," Georgia running back Olandis Gary said.
WHAT CARTER COULDN'T DO THROUGH the air, he did on the ground. His 1-yard leap gave Georgia a 7-0 lead and his second 5-yard score -- he reversed directions on South Carolina defensive end John Abraham and high-stepped it in -- sealed the Bulldogs victory.
Carter heated up after halftime, going 7-of-8 for 123 yards, including a 50-yard bomb to Champ Bailey on third-and-16 in the shadow of the Bulldogs' goalpost.
"I think this week was bigger than last week's win," Carter said. "Overcoming the type of adversity we did, we showed as a team that we believe in each other."
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Quincy Carter played like a seasoned veteran in Georgia's victory. (AP)
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The Gamecocks moved the ball nicely throughout the game, but couldn't break through Georgia's defense.
After Gamecocks linebacker Kenny Harney returned a fumble 35 yards to Georgia's 3, South Carolina had to settle for a field goal.
South Carolina quarterback Anthony Wright had a pass intercepted that led to Carter's first score. In the second quarter, Wright was cracked in the backfield by Georgia's Antonio Cochran for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-2 that ended a 7-minute drive.
Wright's second interception finished a 10-play drive in which the Gamecocks converted two fourth downs. Wright, who threw for three touchdowns and 180 yards a week ago against Ball State, finished 6-of-16 for 29 yards. The Gamecocks managed 132 yards of offense.
"WE HADN'T PLAYED ALL TOGETHER yet and maybe when we do, we'll be a respectable team," South Carolina coach Brad Scott said.
Carter looked much smoother in the second half, dazzling the crowd with his playmaking. On the second touchdown drive, Carter escaped rushers and flicked the ball to tight end Jermaine Wiggins for a first down.
Facing third-and-11 three plays later, Carter zipped a 12-yard pass to Bailey.
His 50-yard throw to Bailey on the fourth-quarter drive came after he winged an incomplete pass nearly 65 yards through the air.
That 16-play series ended with Hap Hines' 26-yard field goal.
Georgia coach Jim Donnan said Carter made a lot of athletic plays. But he said Carter was forced into some poor first-half throws a running game that had only gained 113 yards.
"I told him they had so many people committed to the run, we have to throw some more play-action passes and get them off the line," Donnan said.
South Carolina lost starting cornerback Andre Goodman for the season with torn ligaments in his right knee. He's the second starter in the secondary lost with that injury this season. All-SEC safety Arturo Freeman tore two ligaments in summer drills and is currently rehabbing his knee.