COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Georgia’s Edwards Scores Five Times : SEC: Converted defensive back sets school record in 42-23 victory over South Carolina.

Converted defensive back Robert Edwards set a school record with five touchdowns, rushing for 169 yards and four touchdowns and also scoring on a 45-yard pass reception, leading Georgia to a 42-23 season-opening victory over South Carolina on Saturday.

Edwards scored on runs of 13, one, five and 58 yards in the second half after the Gamecocks had built a 17-7 lead on Reed Morton’s 27-yard field goal just over four minutes into the third quarter of the Southeastern Conference game.

Edwards’ scoring pass came with 11:15 to play when he caught a short pass from Mike Bobo over the middle and hit the right sideline, popping free on a crushing block on the corner by Hines Ward. Edwards’ first four scores came in a span of 11:22 and he added his 58-yard scamper with 3:01 left in the game.

The Bulldogs took charge with a superior kicking game that saw Chris McCranie set up two touchdowns with punt returns of 41 and 32 yards. Dax Langley kept the Gamecocks backed up with his towering punts.

Steve Taneyhill completed 34 of 51 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked six times and threw one interception, which was returned 15 yards by Ronald Bailey.

Taneyhill threw two scoring passes to Zola Davis covering 13 and 23 yards, the last on the final play of the first half to give the Gamecocks a 14-7 lead just after Edwards fumbled away a scoring chance that Carolina recovered in its end zone for a safety.

Taneyhill connected with Monty Means for 27 yards for his other touchdown with 4:48 remaining.

Bobo, who connected on 15 of 28 for 250 yards, had given the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 13-yard pass to Juan Daniels, all alone in the left corner.