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Georgia led SEC in scoring and turnover margin in 2014

Nick Chubb
Photo: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia’s record-setting offense in 2014 led the Southeastern Conference in scoring while the defense posted the league’s best turnover margin as the Bulldogs finished with a 10-3 mark.

In Mark Richt’s 14th season at the helm, Georgia tallied 537 points and averaged 41.3 points a game, both school records, while the defense finished the year with a +16 turnover margin. Currently, Georgia ranks eighth nationally in scoring offense and fourth in turnover margin. The +16 turnover margin was the fourth best in school history and best since 1982 (+22). Incidentally in 2013, Georgia’s turnover margin was minus seven. The 2014 Bulldogs improved five spots to No. 5 in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 20.7 points a game.

This marks the 10th time that Georgia led the SEC in scoring offense and first since 2002. Before the 2014 season, the last time Georgia led the SEC in turnover margin was 1989. Also in 2014, Georgia led the SEC in rushing offense at 257.8 yards a game, tallying a school record 3,352 yards on the ground. It was the ninth time the Bulldogs have accomplished that feat and first since 1992. Georgia started the same offensive line in all 13 games this season, the first time that had been done since 2000.

Junior placekicker Marshall Morgan led the SEC in scoring with 115 points while freshman running back Nick Chubb finished as the SEC leader in scoring touchdowns with 16. Morgan is the 11th Bulldog to claim an SEC scoring title and first since placekicker Brandon Coutu in 2005. Chubb narrowly missed the SEC rushing title. He finished second with 1,547 yards, trailing only Auburn senior Cameron Artis-Payne who wound up with 1,608 yards. Chubb finished the season with eight straight games of more more than 100 yards rushing including two over 200 yards. Also of note, Georgia senior Damian Swann led the SEC with four forced fumbles.

Individually, Georgia set numerous season and career records in 2014 that are listed below:

*Average Gain Per Rush (Season): Todd Gurley, 7.41
*Average Gain Per Rush (Season/Min. 200 rushes): Nick Chubb, 7.06
*Average Gain Per Rush (Career): Todd Gurley, 6.44
*Best Completion Percentage (Season): Hutson Mason, 67.87
*Best Completion Percentage (Career/Min. 400 attempts): Hutson Mason, 64.98
*Most PATs Attempted/Made (Season): Marshall Morgan, 67 of 68
*Consecutive Field Goals Made (Career): Marshall Morgan, 20 {SEC Record}
*Most Punt Return Touchdowns (Season): Isaiah McKenzie, 2 (tied record)
*Most Kicks Blocked (Game): Ray Drew, 2 vs. Ga. Tech {a FG and PAT} (tied record)
*Most Return TDs (Season): Isaiah McKenzie, 3 (tied record)

Also, the school record-setting performances from the 2014 season included the following:

*Most Rushing Yards in a Bowl Game: Nick Chubb, 266 yards versus Louisville (SEC record)
*Longest Rush in a Bowl Game: Nick Chubb, 82 yards versus Louisville
*Average Gain Per Rush in a Bowl Game (Min. 30 atts.): Nick Chubb, 8.1 vs. Louisville
*Most Interceptions in a Bowl Game: Dominick Sanders, 2 versus Louisville (tied record)
*Most All-Purpose Yards: Todd Gurley, 293 yards versus Clemson
*Longest Kickoff Return TD: Todd Gurley, 100 yards versus Clemson (tied NCAA/SEC record)
*Most Punt Returns: Reggie Davis, 7 versus Clemson (tied record)
*Returned a Punt and a Kickoff for a TD: Isaiah McKenzie versus Kentucky
*Longest Fumble Return for a TD: Damian Swann, 99 yards versus Ga. Tech

The team records set in 2014 that also led the SEC are listed below:

*Most Points Scored: 537
*Highest Average Points Per Game: 41.3
*Most Yards Rushing: 3,352
*Average Yards Rushing Per Play: 6.04
*Best Completion Percentage: 67.39
*Most PATs Attempted/Made: 67 of 68

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