Again, Georgia scored over 30 points. But against No. 2 team in America, it was not enough as Auburn rolled past Georgia in a 49-31 win on the Plains.
After scoring 21 straight points in the first quarter, Georgia led 21-7. But a two touchdown deficit was no big deal for No. 2 Auburn tonight as the Tigers roared back to outscore Georgia the rest of the way 21-7.
Embattled Auburn quarterback Cam Newton did not seem to be distracted today despite the entire world of college football discussing his eligibility. The junior from College Park, Ga., ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tiger offense, despite stalling briefly in the first half, seemed to have the Bulldog defense on their heels much of the rest of the way. Georgia gave up the most points they have given up all season.
“I don’t think anyone thought it was over when it was 21-7,” said offensive tackle Clint Boling. “Obviously, we got up and they’re a great team and they were going to come back. They’re a great offense.”
Right after the Bulldogs scored their third touchdown, the Tiger offense took off. In fact, Auburn would score every time they touchdown the ball from then on. The Dawgs would finish with 31 points, extending their school-record streak of scoring more than 30 to six games- but they still lost by 18.
Was this the best offense Georgia has seen thus far this season?
“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” said defensive end Justin Houston.
Less than four minutes after A.J. Green caught his second touchdown pass of the day, Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb scored on a four-yard run with 12:26 remaining in the second quarter. Then, with only 51 seconds left in the half, tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen caught an 18-yard pass from Newton and the game was tied.
Auburn had recaptured the momentum and would not give it up any time soon. In the opening kickoff of the second half, kicker Wes Byrum executed a flawless onside kick which he recovered himself and Auburn had the ball back again. Nine plays and 59 yards later, McCalebb scored the second of three touchdowns he would scored on the day when he sprinted to his left from two yards out to give Auburn the lead again.
If tying the score prior to the half didn’t swing all the momentum Auburn’s way, the onside kick did. The second half was all Auburn after Byrum’s recovery.
“It was a big momentum change, but it would’ve been big if we could’ve gotten a stop,” lamented Houston.
It seemed as if the onside kick caught the Bulldogs off guard.
“We alerted (the kickoff team) it could happen” said Georgia head coach Mark Richt. “It’s tough because (there is) a dilemma for them. … Even though you tell them (to expect it) its tough on them to hold their water so to speak.”
It was a very emotional game for both sides. And the chippiness showed in the final minutes when a few scraps broke out on the field and flags flew on both sides. In fact, it got so bad that Richt decided to kneel on the final play to prevent any potential ejections and subsequent suspensions.
“We took a knee on the last play because it was just obvious to everybody that tempers were flaring and getting a little bit out of hand,” said Richt. “And I thought if we ran another play, there was a chance something could break out again. My goal was to take the knee and make sure nothing broke out. I wanted to make sure all our guys were available for the Georgia Tech game.”
Georgia will get the chance to play Tech in two weeks in Athens. As if there wasn’t enough on the line already between the two in-state rivals, both team could be playing to become bowl eligible depending on the result of the Tech-Duke game next week.
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Just beat Teck.