ATHENS, Ga.- What started out as a glimmer of hope for Western turned out to be just that: a glimmer.

The Toppers received a gift in the first half but couldn’t capitalize on it as Georgia rolled over Western, 48-12.

The Bulldogs got off to what appeared to be a big advantage when sophomore punt returner Mikey Henderson ran back a 50-yard Topper punt 66 yards. But he made a mistake before he crossed the goal line.

Henderson flipped the ball up in a premature celebration, fumbling out of the back of the end zone. After review, Western was awarded the ball.

A Western three and out allowed Henderson to make up for his early mistake with a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown.

“It doesn’t get much more frustrating than that,” coach David Elson said. “You don’t know until you see the film, but some of our guys told me on the sideline that they just missed him. They had a shot and just missed a tackle. We’ve spent a lot of time on our punt and special teams, so that’s very frustrating.”

The Toppers had little answer for the Bulldogs but also had their share of mistakes that allowed Georgia to score the game’s first 31 points.

Senior tailback Lerron Moore fumbled on Western’s first play from scrimmage following the touchdown. Georgia added another touchdown three plays later on a 18-yard pass from senior quarterback Joe Tereshinski to senior split end Mario Raley.

Western also had to re-kick after a penalty negated junior punter Tanner Siewart’s 53-yard punt that would have sent the Bulldogs starting at their own 30-yard line. Georgia started at Western’s 46-yard yard line after the re-kick.

The Toppers couldn’t muster anything until their final drive of the first half. After moving the first down chains for the first time all game, senior quarterback Justin Haddix found junior wide receiver Curtis Hamilton cutting to the right sideline for a 41-yard pass.

Later in the drive Haddix again hooked up with Hamilton for a 17-yard
touchdown.

Hamilton tied his career high for receptions finishing with four catches for 71 yards.

“Justin and I have been connecting good since last year, and we have good chemistry,” Hamilton said. “It always feels good to get in the end zone and I mean, it was the only one we scored. We need to do better but we’re gonna watch film and just see what we did wrong.”

The Toppers had no rushing yards in the first half and just 91 total yards to Georgia’s 147 yards. Western was outgained 295 yards to 193 yards for the game.

“Overall, I’m just kind of disappointed in our execution,” senior running back Lerron Moore said. “Up front, the pass blocking at the beginning of the game, we couldn’t pick up the blitz. They were doing everything right; we were doing things wrong, and it really killed us.”

The Toppers also came out with a surprise when freshman Blake Boyd got the start at outside linebacker over senior Josh Johnson. Boyd had been practicing with the first team during the week. Elson said Boyd has improved and earned the starting spot.

“I came into camp, I knew I had to work, I knew I had people in front of me,” Boyd said. “I knew that I was gonna have to bust my butt, and I feel like I have. I had a good idea I’d be starting this game but I wasn’t positive.”

Western added a safety and a 45-yard field goal by junior kicker Chris James in the fourth quarter. Georgia tacked on a field goal and a pair of touchdowns in the second half for the final tally.

While it was unclear whether it was injury or just precaution, Haddix exited the field with ice wrapped on his left ankle. He was unavailable for comment.

“The score doesn’t necessarily mean the offense played well,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “We did some good things, but the defense provided a lot of opportunity. We’ve got a whole lot of potential.”

The Toppers will look to get back on the winning track at Eastern in the Battle of
the Bluegrass next Saturday. Georgia begins its 2006 play in the Southeastern
Conference at South Carolina on Saturday as well.

“Forty-eight points is 48 points, we’re not pleased with that, let’s get that very clear,” Elson said. “It’s our job to rise up and get them stopped when we give them good position. We’re gonna see some things that we like that shows we can play with anybody, and we’re gonna see some things that we don’t like. We’ll be able to take some confidence from it as well as learn from it and get corrections made.”

Reach Jason Stamm at sports@wkuherald.com.

Western 0 7 0 5 – 12
Georgia 17 14 3 14 – 48

SCORING

First Quarter
Georgia: Henderson 67 punt return (Coutu kick); Georgia: Raley 17 pass (Coutu kick); Coutu 27 FG.

Second Quarter

Georgia: Lumkin 2 rush (Coutu kick); Georgia: Brown 1 run (Coutu kick); Western: Hamilton 17 pass (James kick).

Third Quarter

Georgia: Coutu 30 FG.

Fourth Quarter

Georgia: Ware 41 run (Coutu kick); Western: safety; Western: James 45 FG; Georgia: Watson 13 pass (Coutu kick).

TEAM STATISTICS

Total Net Yards: Western 173, Georgia 288; Net Rushing Yards: Western 68, Georgia 136; Net Passing Yards: Western 105, Georgia 152.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Passing

Western – Haddix: 12-27, 125 1 TD, 1 INT.
Georgia – Tereshinski: 7-17, 90, 1 TD; Stafford: 3-4, 40, 1 TD; Cox: 2-3, 30, 1 INT.

Rushing

Western – Hayden: 10-45; Moore 13-29; Smith: 1-6; Letcher: 2-3.
Georgia – Ware: 6-67; Lumpkin: 5-27; Brown: 10-25; Stafford: 1-20.

Receiving

Western – Hamilton: 4-71; Quinn: 3-27; Gaebler 2-20; Brunemann: 1-8.
Georgia – Harris: 1-33; Durham: 2-27; Ware: 1-23; Brown: 3-20; Goodman: 1-18; Raley: 1-17; Watson: 1-13; Milner: 1-7; Massaquoi: 1-2.