The “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” has not been much of a rivalry lately with the Georgia Bulldogs dominating the series. That remained the same as Auburn loses 31-13 to Georgia. The Tigers have now lost to the Bulldogs eight consecutive times with the last win coming in 2017. Entering the game the issues with the turnovers from the Auburn offense was the biggest question. That was not an issue in Athens, Georgia with zero turnovers for Auburn. They just were not as good as the Bulldogs who were coming off a loss to Alabama.
Auburn loses 31-13 to Georgia
Tigers Offense Answers
The Auburn offense had moments on Saturday that challenged the Bulldogs defense. Quarterback Payton Thorne was 16 of 27 for 200 yards and the run game totaled 137 yards. Jarquez Hunter led the way for the running backs with 91 yards on 13 carries. After going down 7-0 early in the first quarter due to a Trevor Etienne two-yard touchdown, the offense answered with a score. The Tigers went on a 10-play, 62-yard drive that resulted in a Towns McGough field goal of 27 yards. That kick made the score 7-3 in the final minute of the first quarter.
On that drive, Thorne connected with KeAndre Lambert-Smith for 23 yards and Hunter had a run of 19 yards. That run by Hunter put the Tigers at the Georgia 12. For the rest of the first half, Auburn would settle for three Oscar Chapman punts and a turnover on downs to close the half.
Auburn’s Offense Finds the Endzone
Auburn forced a three-and-out to start the second half and found the endzone on their first drive after halftime. The Tigers did not throw a pass the entire drive that totaled 68 yards in six plays. Thorne added 25 yards in three carries before Hunter ran up the sideline for a 38-yard touchdown to make the score 14-10 with 9:45 left in the third. The next Tigers score would occur with 7:38 left in the game when McGough connected with a 26-yard field goal. Before that kick, the Bulldogs had added two touchdowns, and it only made the score 28-13.
A key moment in the game came earlier on a fourth and one at the Tigers’ 44. In the opening play of the fourth, Thorne tried to take a read-option to the outside but was stopped. Head coach Hugh Freeze was not happy with the decision. Perhaps he was looking for the quarterback to hand off to Hunter to pick up the first down.
Auburn Can’t Stop Beck
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had an up-and-down performance against Alabama in the prior game but was back to being consistent against Auburn. Beck gave the Tigers’ defense trouble all game going 23 of 29 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The Bulldog quarterback was 20 for 20 on passes of 15 yards or more. He was helped out by the run game with Etienne rushing for 88 yards and two scores. He also had six catches for 36 yards.
Beck guided the Georgia offense on an 11-play, 75-yard drive on their first possession to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 6:24 in the first quarter. A substitution penalty on Auburn gave Georgia an early first down after the Tigers had looked to force a punt. The big play of the drive was when Beck found Lawson Luckie for 33 yards after busted coverage by Auburn’s Eugene Asante. That set up the two-yard touchdown run by Etienne.
Keldric Faulk Steps Up
The Tigers’ defense did well for most of the first half after allowing that first score. Georgia was forced to punt on back-to-back drives that featured sacks. Keldric Faulk stopped a Georgia drive on a third-and-four play that resulted in a 12-yard loss. Faulk found his way to Beck on the next drive for the Bulldogs forcing another punt on a four-yard loss. Faulk ended the game with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Georgia Pulls Away
Georgia added to their lead at the end of the first half when Beck found Dominic Lovett for an 11-yard touchdown to go up 14-3. After the Tigers made it 14-10 in the third, Georgia scored on back-to-back possessions. They took a 21-10 lead when Etienne scored on a one-yard touchdown with 3:50 in the third. Beck found Colbie Young for a 27-yard pass play to get Georgia to the Auburn 23.
The next scoring drive was a quick one that lasted five plays and totaled 40 yards. This occurred after the failed fourth-down run by Thorne. Beck threw his final touchdown pass when he connected with Dillion Bell for three yards with 12:34 remaining in the game to go up 28-10. The Bulldogs distanced themselves from the Tigers with a 47-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring with 1:50 left to go up 31-13.
