Home sweet homecoming. Georgia returned home for the first time in a month for Homecoming and a familiar opponent. The Bulldogs knocked off Auburn 31-13 in the 129th meeting of the two schools. Georgia returned to Sandford Stadium after a close win against Kentucky and falling short last week to Alabama. Kirby Smart laid out three keys for Georgia to be successful on Saturday in the pregame. He wanted the Dawgs to start fast, play consistently, and finally play complimentary football. While it wasn’t always pretty or easy, Georgia jumped out to a lead early and maintained it throughout the game. Let’s look at some of the key storylines from Georgia’s win.
Home Sweet Homecoming: Georgia Defeats Auburn 31-13
Georgia showed that they received Smart’s message loud and clear. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins opened the game with a sack of Auburn Payton Thorne. Whether it was a busted (frustrating) play by the Tigers or an elite play by the defensive tackle, it helped set the tone that Georgia would try to dictate the tempo on defense. After an Auburn punt, Georgia went 11 plays in 75 yards for their first touchdown against an FBS team in the first quarter this season. Georgia had only scored touchdowns against FCS Tennessee Tech this season.
Although Georgia would not score until late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs consistently moved the ball. Both teams spent most of the game running the ball, making it quicker with fewer possessions. Georgia scored on five of its nine possessions in the game, with one ending on kneel-downs to end the game, making for a home-sweet homecoming. One of the big keys to Georgia’s success on Saturday was the emergence of its running backs, led by Trevor Etienne.
Offense Etienne’s Big Day
Etienne was brought in during the offseason to upgrade Georgia’s running back room. Georgia fans have been waiting for Etienne to make an impact this season. The former Gator was the difference-maker on Saturday. He rushed the ball 15 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Its versatility has made Georgia running backs elite in the past. Etienne showed that side by also catching six balls for another 36 yards. Time after time, Etienne broke big runs or got the tough yards to secure a key first down or touchdown. His one-yard run with less than five minutes to go put the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry on ice.
👀
📺 ABC#GoDawgs | @Trevor_Etienne pic.twitter.com/yjZFA7sIGc
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) October 5, 2024
Defense Bends But Doesn’t Break
The defense looked better on Saturday than in Tuscaloosa a week ago. The Georgia defense stepped up and got off the field on third and fourth down. Auburn was 4-12 on third down and just 1 of 3 on fourth down for the game. Dan Jackson also continued to have a big game. Jackson blocked an Auburn attempted field goal on the half’s final play. Smart was asked about Jackson and the team’s play during his on-field halftime interview. “It’s about time we blocked one. We’ve put in a lot of work in practice to get that done.” While optimistic about Jackson’s block, Smart was not as optimistic about his team’s performance. “It was good and bad. Hot and cold.”
Georgia’s defense continued to show themselves porous against the run game. Thorne could scramble and extend plays with his legs when he had them in the right play. Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter was a thorn in the Georgia defense most of the game. Hunter rushed 13 times for 91 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown where he found the edge and stiff-armed a Georgia defender on his way to the end zone. Taking proper angles and maintaining containment are two keys that must be addressed if Georgia is to improve its run defense.
The Georgia defense played consistently enough to keep Auburn off the field and exploited Thorne’s mistakes. Commentator Greg McElroy and Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze voiced frustration about their quarterback’s decision-making. At one point, Freeze could be seen mouthing the words, “No, no, no, what are you doing?” Those are the clips that made Saturday a home-sweet Homecoming for the Dawgs
Insights from Carson Beck
Carson Beck was interviewed after the game by ESPN’s Molly McGrath. Beck had a nice game, bouncing back from last week’s four turnovers. He finished the game 23 of 29 for 24o yards and two touchdowns. Most impressive was that he completed passes to nine different receivers. Here are the three key takeaways from the interview.
- Team Focus and Preparation
Plenty was made about Beck and Georgia coming up short last week in Tuscaloosa. Beck praised his team’s relentless focus and preparation throughout the game. He highlighted how their dedication in practice led to their overall success on the field. Beck emphasized that every player knew their role and executed with precision, leading to a well-rounded performance on both sides of the ball. - Key 4th Down Conversion
Georgia essentially put the game away when they converted a critical 4th and 1 inside their 35 with a little over five minutes remaining. Beck explained the significance of that moment. “That 4th down was a real momentum shift for us in the 4th quarter.” The conversion essentially locked up the game for Beck, but there was more to it. The conversion wasn’t just about gaining yards but setting the tone and swinging the momentum in Georgia’s favor. - Overcoming a Tough Week
Reflecting on what he learned from a challenging week, Beck acknowledged the difficulty and the growth that came with it. He described the team as “multi-faceted,” able to adapt and “fire on all cylinders” when needed. The week tested their resilience, and Beck pointed out that the experience brought the team closer and prepared them to deliver when it mattered most.
Don’t Take the Cheese
McGrath tried to get Beck to bite when asked about his thoughts on Alabama being down (at the time of the interview, to Vanderbilt). Beck’s media training paid off. Beck said he was focused on his team and locked into what he and his teammates could control. Sorry, Molly. There is no rat poison here.
Next Up for Georgia
The win was Georgia’s 27th straight win at home, and Georgia is now 39-1 at Sandford Stadium, leading at halftime under Smart. The Bulldogs continue their October homestand next week when they welcome Mississippi State. Hail State is struggling under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs are 1-4 on the season and have been outclassed in SEC play. We’ll have a more thorough preview next week in our Between the Hedges preview. Gametime is set for 4:15 pm and will be shown on the SEC Network.
