Melvin Ingram had never scored a touchdown in his career as a Gamecock.
Saturday, he found the end zone two different times.
The No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) (1-0) defeated the Georgia Bulldogs (0-2) (0-1) 45-42 in a classic SEC thriller in Athens, Ga.
After Carolina punted on their first two possessions, Georgia was able to draw first blood against the Gamecocks.
Freshman RB Isiah Crowell, who finished his SEC debut with 16 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown, busted off 15 and 28 yard gains in consecutive runs to start the Bulldog drive. Two Richard Samuels runs and an incomplete pass later, the Georgia offense was forced to settle for a 37-yard FG from PK Blair Walsh to make it 3-0.
Carolina's 3rd drive ended abruptly after an ill-advised throw for 5th-year senior QB Stephen Garcia was intercepted by UGA defensive standout Bacarri Rambo, leaving the Bulldogs with great field position, and an opportunity to widen their lead.
Again, Isiah Crowell would lead Georgia into Gamecock territory where the drive would eventually stall and Walsh connected on a 39-yard kick to increase the lead to 6-0.
After another Carolina punt, the Bulldogs moved the ball back into field goal range for Walsh, where he missed a 33-yard kick that could have put Georgia up 9-0.
The Gamecocks were able to get on the board after the two teams traded punts once again.
Stephen Garcia hit Junior wide-out Alshon Jeffery on a 34-yard touchdown connection after a broken play forced Garcia to roll out, putting the Gamecocks up 7-6.
"It was just a scramble play," said Jeffery about the Gamecocks' first score. "When the quarterback rolls out, coach Spurrier just tells up 'go deep'."
Georgia answered back with a big play of their own when QB Aaron Murray hooked up with a wide-open Rantavious Wooten to put the Bulldogs back on top 13-7.
Melvin Ingram then made his entrance.
After the Gamecocks stalled yet again, they lined up to punt from their own 32-yard line. The snap went directly to Ingram who rumbled 68-yards to pay dirt to put the Gamecocks on top 14-13, where the lead would hold until halftime.
"We had it in the playbook all year," Ingram said. "We called it a couple times earlier in the game but it wasn't on so we didn't run it. This is another stepping stone. We're trying to get better every week."
The Bulldogs climbed back on top 20-14 when Isiah Crowell caught a 23-yard pass and later a 17-yard pass from Aaron Murray for a touchdown.
Carolina was able to use a couple big defensive plays to turn the momentum in their favor. On the Bulldogs' next possession, Isiah Crowell fumbled at the South Carolina 39-yard line where CB Stephon Gilmore picked it up and weaved his way 56 yards inside the Georgia 10 to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Garcia scrambled into the end zone to make it 21-20 Carolina.
On the next possession, Antonio Allen picked off Aaron Murray and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to widen the gap to 28-20. Allen has scored a defensive touchdown in his last three games (at Clemson, vs. ECU, at Georgia).
Aaron Murray connected with Michael Bennett for a touchdown and then tied the game with a two-point conversion pass to Tavarres King, but a Jay Wooten 49-yard FG put the Gamecocks up 31-28.
Georgia continued to answer back, this time with Crowell's 15-yard touchdown to give the 'Dogs a 35-31 advantage, but Marcus Lattimore, who finished the game with 27 carries for 176 yards, scored his only touchdown with 3:28 left to give Carolina the lead for good.
Freshman defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney put the proverbial "nail in the coffin" when he sacked Aaron Murray and knocked the ball loose giving Melvin Ingram the opportunity to scoop and score his second touchdown of the afternoon.
A late Aaron Murray touchdown pass to King made the score 45-42 where it would become final.
The now No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks will face the option attack of the Navy Midshipmen this Saturday in USC's 2011 home opener at 6 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
