(16) AUBURN 45, (7) GEORGIA 34
ATHENS, Ga. -- Dameyune Craig ran for two touchdowns and threw
for another as 16th-ranked Auburn scored on four straight
possessions in the first half and easily defeated No. 7 Georgia,
45-34, in a pivotal Southeastern Conference matchup. Georgia
(7-2, 5-2 SEC) attempted to rally, and a pair of late
fourth-quarter touchdowns made the final score closer than it
really was. The Bulldogs saw their three-game winning streak
halted and likely fell out of contention for the SEC East
Division title.
Auburn (8-2, 5-2) remained in the West Division title equation
with the victory and helped erase memories of a 20-0 loss to
Mississippi State two weeks ago. The Tigers have won seven of
their last eight games in Georgia's Sanford Stadium.
After Georgia took the opening kickoff and moved quickly for a
touchdown, the Tigers responded with a scoring drive of their
own. Craig capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown plunge that
sparked a 24-point barrage. Jaret Holmes added a 29-yard field
goal with 34 seconds left in the first quarter before Demontray
Carter and Fred Beasley tacked on TD runs in the opening 4:36 of
the second. Auburn got a pair of third-quarter TDs, including a
76-yard scoring strike from Craig to Karsten Bailey, en route to
a 38-14 lead.
Craig completed 12-of-19 passes for 231 yards and Bailey finished
with four catches for 115 yards. Carter had 14 carries for 93
yards as Tigers finally got their ground game on track. After
recording just 11 rushing touchdowns in its first eight games,
Auburn scored five in the contest.
Georgia's Mike Bobo was 29-of-43 for 362 yards and three TDs.
Hines Ward finished with seven receptions for 98 yards as nine
different players caught passes for the Bulldogs. The vaunted
running attack of Georgia was held to 58 yards on 30 carries as
the Auburn defense bottled up Robert Edwards and Ward. Linebacker
Takeo Spikes had 13 tackles, including three for losses, for the
Tigers.
The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and moved 80 yards,
culminating in Bobo's 5-yard scoring strike to Corey Allen. But
the Tigers answered with a long drive of their own, and Craig's
touchdown plunge knotted the score. The Tigers went ahead for
good on their next possession. Moving 46 yards in nine plays, the
Tigers settled for Holmes' field goal. A Georgia turnover early
in the second quarter set up Carter's 11-yard run that made it
17-7.
Edwards scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and Bobo
opened the fourth with a pair of TD passes to Ward as Georgia
drew within 38-28. Georgia tacked on a TD on the game's final
play, but it was not enough as Auburn moved into a first-place
tie with Louisiana State in the SEC West Division. They are a
half-game ahead of Mississippi State, which also has two losses.
(16) Auburn 45, (7) GEORGIA 34
1 2 3 4 F
- - - - --
Auburn (16) 10 14 14 7 45
Georgia (7) 7 7 0 20 34
Georgia-Allen 5 pass from Bobo (Hines kick)
Auburn-Craig 1 run (Holmes kick)
Auburn-FG Holmes 29
Auburn-Carter 11 run (Holmes kick)
Auburn-F Beasley 5 run (Holmes kick)
Georgia-Edwards 1 run (Hines kick)
Auburn-Bailey 76 pass from Craig (Holmes kick)
Auburn-Craig 6 run (Holmes kick)
Georgia-Ward 45 pass from Bobo (Ward reception for two-point
conversion)
Georgia-Ward 8 pass from Bobo (two-point conversion failed)
Auburn-F Beasley 1 run (Holmes kick)
Georgia-Edwards 5 run
Auburn Georgia
First downs 20 22
Rushed-yards 43-159 30-58
Passing yards 231 362
Sacked-yards lost 3-25 3-17
Return yards 15 68
Passes 12-19-0 30-44-1
Punts 4-44.8 4-33.0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 4-48 1-5
Time of possession 29:13 30:47
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Auburn-Carter 14-93, F Beasley 16-62, R Williams 1-11,
Robinson 1-minus 2, Craig 11-minus 5. Georgia-Edwards 18-52,
Ward 5-23, Pass 1-3, Bobo 5-minus 8, C Bailey 1-minus 12.
PASSING: Auburn-Craig 12-19-0-231. Georgia-Bobo 29-43-1-362,
Ward 1-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Auburn-Bailey 4-115, Poor 3-41, R Williams 1-33,
Lowe 1-20, Dillard 1-11, F Beasley 1-9, Goodson 1-2.
Georgia-Ward 7-98, C Bailey 5-73, Edwards 5-39, Allen 5-30,
Small 3-35, Wiggins 2-24, Greer 1-41, Brown 1-22, Gary 1-0.
Att: 86,117
Courtesy of Infobeat Sports.