Georgia won its first game of the season Saturday, using a huge first half to overwhelm visiting Coastal Carolina 59-0.

Sophomore Aaron Murray passed for three touchdowns, fueling a Georgia offense that scored five touchdowns on five first-half possessions in building a 35-0 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs (1-2), who lost to ranked Boise State and South Carolina in the season’s first two weeks, put it away early. Isaiah Crowell’s 27-yard touchdown run, Murray’s 1-yard touchdown run and Murray’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King gave Georgia a 21-0 lead after one quarter.

Murray found Malcolm Mitchell on a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and hit King on a 1-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the first half.

Murray completed 18-of-26 passes for 188 yards. Crowell rushed for 86 yards on 16 carries.

Defensively, Georgia held the Chanticleers (2-1) to 9 yards of total offense in the first quarter. Coastal Carolina did not pick up a first down until the opening play of the second quarter. Quarterback Aramis Hillary passed for just 27 yards.

The blowout temporarily provided a break from the constant speculation surrounding the future of head coach Mark Richt. Georgia failed to sell out Sanford Stadium on Saturday for the first time since 2000.

Georgia travels to Ole Miss next Saturday. Coastal Carolina, which fell to 0-5 against FBS teams, plays next Saturday at North Carolina A&T.