Where did that come from? Georgia fans everywhere are wondering how their Bulldogs were able to completely dominate No. 20 Auburn 45-7 in front of a sold-out crowd of 92,746 in Athens today. The Dawgs had struggled with several mediocre teams this year, but had no such issues against the defending national champions.
The story was how Georgia dominated the first half. Led by their passing game and suddenly impregnable defense, Georgia raced to a 35-7 halftime lead. Aaron Murray was 13-for-16 with 216 yards and four touchdowns in the first half and Tavarres King, Michael Bennett, Bruce Figgins and Malcolm Mitchell each had touchdown grabs. Bennett’s was especially enthralling as the former Alpharetta Raider made a falling catch in the end zone for a 27-yard score.
In the first half, Georgia had 326 total yards to 89 for Auburn. Tigers quarterback Clint Mosely was sacked four times in the half.
The Dawgs got it started after the opening kickoff with an eight-play 70-yard touchdown drive. Murray threw to King for the first points of the game. Following a touchdown drive from Auburn that featured two trick plays, the Bulldogs would score on three of their next four first half drives, including a 24-yard interception return for a score by Bacarri Rambo.
From there, it was no contest. Murray finished 14-of-18 for 244 yards. With the Dawgs throwing only two second half passes, the running game profited. Carlton Thomas ran for 127 yards on 15 carries, while Isaiah Crowell totaled 132 yards on 24 carries. Georgia ran for 304 yards.
Georgia is typically a team that does not put much emphasis on time of possession, but the Dawgs held the ball 40:55 to Auburn’s 19:05.
The Tigers came in with a vaunted running game featuring Michael Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb, but left Athens after grinding out just 51 total yards on the ground.
Total yardage in the game was 528 to 195.
Georgia can clinch the SEC Eastern Division title with a win over Kentucky next week in Athens.
SOME FIRSTS …
-The win marked the first time Georgia has beaten Auburn three straight times in Athens. The series was played in Columbus until 1959.
-It was the first time since the 2003 Alabama game that Georgia had posted 35 points or more at the half against an SEC opponent.
-For the first time since 1981, the Dawgs have beaten SEC rivals Tennessee, Florida and Auburn in the same season. It is just the second time since 1982 that Georgia has beaten both Auburn and Florida in the same year.
-Bacarri Rambo’s first half pick-6 was the first defensive score of the year for Georgia. The Bulldogs are the last SEC team to have scored defensively.
-Georgia had its longest two scoring drives of the season today: in the first half the Dawgs scored on a 6:03 drive, then topped that with a 7:23 drive in the fourth quarter.
-Murray became the first UGA quarterback to throw for more than 25 TDs in the season. His four TD passes pushed him past Matt Stafford’s 25 from 2008.
-It was the first time since the 2009 Georgia Tech game that two Bulldog backs ran for more than 100 yards.
-It was Thomas’ first 100-yard game of his career.
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good comments. Hopefully the Dawgs are back on the right track.