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          Georgia's Aaron Murray sets SEC touchdowns record in win

          Nov 9, 2013
          • Associated Press

          ATHENS, Ga. -- Aaron Murray threw two touchdown passes to set the SEC career record, and Georgia broke open a close game with a dominant second half to beat Appalachian State 45-6 Saturday.

          Todd Gurley, J.J. Green and Brendan Douglas ran for touchdowns as Georgia (6-3) outscored the Mountaineers 31-0 in the second half after leading only 14-6 at halftime.

          Appalachian State (2-8) reached eight losses for the first time since a 3-8 finish in 1979. The Mountaineers, in their last season as a FCS team, are moving to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.

          Murray completed 19 of 26 passes for 281 yards with touchdown passes to Rantavious Wooten and Michael Bennett. He threw one interception. Hutson Mason took over in the fourth quarter and threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Kenneth Towns.

          Murray began the day one touchdown pass behind Danny Wuerffel's Southeastern Conference record of 114 at Florida from 1993-96.

          Murray matched Wuerffel's mark with his 35-yard scoring pass to Wooten in the first quarter. Murray, making his 50th consecutive start, threw over the middle to Bennett for a 23-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to set the record. He already set SEC career records for yards passing and total offense this season.

          Murray's scoring passes were rare highlights in a listless first half for Georgia.

          Appalachian State quarterback Kameron Bryant was effective with quick, short throws early in the game. Bryant was 8 for 8 passing for 73 yards to set up Drew Stewart's 33-yard field goal on the Mountaineers' opening drive. Andrew Peacock caught five passes on the drive and had 12 receptions for 90 yards in the game.

          Stewart added a 49-yard field goal, the longest of his career, late in the first quarter. He had another 49-yarder blocked at the line by Jordan Jenkins and was wide left from 46 yards in the second quarter.

          Bryant completed 22 of 39 passes for 221 yards with one interception. Marcus Cox led the Mountaineers with 23 carries for 59 yards.

          Mason, seeing his first pass attempts of the season, completed 11 of 16 attempts for 160 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

          Georgia's Marshall Morgan kicked a 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter before the Bulldogs launched their string of four touchdown drives.

          Murray had a 23-yard run and a 20-yard pass to Bennett on back-to-back plays before having an apparent touchdown pass to Reggie Davis wiped away because he threw the ball past the line of scrimmage.

          Murray recovered with a 12-yard pass to Bennett before Gurley scored untouched from the 2.

          Tray Matthews' hit caused a fumble by Cox early in the fourth quarter. Jenkins recovered the fumble at the Appalachian State 42 to set up Georgia's drive capped by Mason's touchdown pass.

          Gurley had 13 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown.

          Georgia strong safety Corey Moore was ejected in the second quarter when called for targeting on his hit on receiver Tony Washington. Replays indicated Moore led with his shoulder when he hit Washington's helmet on the incompletion.

          It marked the second time this season a Bulldogs player was removed from a game by officials for targeting. Defensive end Ray Drew was tossed in Georgia's 31-27 loss at Vanderbilt. Linebacker Ramik Wilson also drew a personal foul penalty for targeting in the Vanderbilt game but was allowed to remain in the game following a review of the play.