Knowshon Moreno ran for three touchdowns, and host Georgia, ranked No. 1 to start a season for the first time, beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday to give new mascot Uga VII a win in his debut.

Moreno needed only eight carries for 59 yards to tie his career best with three touchdowns. He added two catches for 53 yards.

Georgia led 38-0 before Georgia Southern scored on a 1-yard run by quarterback Lee Chapple late in the third quarter. The Eagles added two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Uga VII, a white English bulldog and son of Uga VI, who died this summer, drew a standing ovation and University of Georgia president Michael Adams and athletic director Damon Evans slipped a red collar over the dog's head in a pregame ceremony.

Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and was 13-for-21 passing for a career-high 275 yards.

Freshman receiver A.J. Green made a 36-yard catch to set up Moreno's first touchdown, a 2-yard run. Green added a 3-yard touchdown catch from Joe Cox for Georgia's final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Stafford threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Kris Durham in the second quarter and had a 5-yard scoring pass to Demiko Goodman in the third quarter.

Green wasn't the only Georgia freshman to play a prominent role.

Freshman tailback Caleb King led Georgia with 12 carries for 95 yards. First-year tailback Richard Samuel added six carries for 34 yards.

Freshman Blair Walsh kicked a 52-yard field goal.

Samair Baker scored on a 3-yard run for the Eagles (0-1) in the final quarter. Leander Barney added a 34-yard touchdown catch from Antonio Henton with 1:45 left.

Georgia suffered a potentially serious injury, losing starting defensive tackle Jeff Owens to a right knee injury in the opening quarter. He did not return. Details of the injury were not immediately available.

ALSO SATURDAY

NO. 5 FLORIDA 56, HAWAII 10: Hawaii started this season the same way it ended the last one -- getting blown out by a Southeastern Conference power.

Fifth-ranked Florida scored on offense, defense and special teams and routed the visiting Warriors 56-10 in the season opener for both teams.

Starting in place of Brent Rausch, Greg Alexander threw two early interceptions that Florida turned into touchdowns and fumbled twice.

Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was 9-of-14 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown. He ran nine times for 37 yards, most of them scrambles behind spotty protection.

NO. 10 AUBURN 34, LOUSIANA-MONROE 0: Ben Tate ran for 115 yards on 13 carries and host Auburn scored touchdowns on defense and special teams.

The Tigers scarcely needed to pass in debuting Tony Franklin's new spread offense, resorting to a still punishing ground game and defense while alternating quarterbacks on every series for much of the game.

MISSISSIPPI 41, MEMPHIS 24: Jevan Snead hit Shay Hodge with touchdown passes of 64 and 15 yards and host Mississippi beat Memphis in Houston Nutt's debut as Rebels coach.

With all eyes on Snead, making his first start, and Nutt, it was Dexter McCluster who provided the spark with 125 total yards and a touchdown run out of Ole Miss' new Wild Rebel formation.

ARKANSAS 28, WESTERN ILLINOIS 24: Casey Dick scored on a 4-yard run with 1:49 remaining, and host Arkansas avoided disaster in Bobby Petrino's first game as coach.

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