Jordan Hare is a weird place. Lane Kiffin said it best in 2023 on what it’s like to play on The Plains at night. “Weird things happen.” Well, Lane’s words rang true on Saturday night in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The recap is simple. Georgia wins. Auburn falls apart. How we got to that point is more convoluted and complex.
For the first 28 minutes of the game, Auburn could do no wrong on offense or defense. The defense smothered Georgia, limiting them to just 12 plays and 20 total yards. Auburn was moving the ball at will. Converting key third downs and keeping drives moving. Then came the fumble…
Weird Things Happen: Georgia Wins, Auburn Falls Apart
Auburn Fumbles Away the Game
Auburn was in control in the second quarter. They were up 10-0. With just over two minutes remaining, the Tigers were looking to cap off a 15-play, 75-yard, eight-minute drive and go up 17-0. And then disaster struck. On third and goal, Jackson Arnold fumbled the ball away from the one-yard line. The Auburn narrative will say that the SEC officials blew the call. “Clearly the ball crossed the plane.” Well, the officials didn’t see it that way. After video review, the call was upheld. Fumble. Georgia ball.
From there, the game was never the same. Georgia seized momentum, finally moving down the field and mustering a field goal, to trail only 10-3 heading into the half. Auburn Nation broke with that call. Twitter was going crazy. “The Damn SEC officials were giving the game away to Georgia…” or so the narrative went. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was also quick to pass the blame, a tactic he has employed time and time again as head coach of the Tigers. At halftime, Freeze sulked and moaned about how his team was getting ‘screwed.’
Freeze said he had “no clue” how that controversial goal-line fumble wasn’t ruled a touchdown for Auburn. He felt like Auburn “dominated the first half” and mentioned how the game had been full of stoppages — even saying the last few minutes felt like “the longest half of football ever.” Freeze also added that Auburn was “due a break.”
Everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face. The fumble was Georgia’s punch. Clearly, Freeze and Auburn didn’t have a plan.
Georgia Wins
This isn’t your 2021 or 2022 Georgia. As we said earlier this week, the talent gap among teams has narrowed. Georgia no longer has a wave of five-star defensive players. Instead, at times, they looked like a sieve in the first half. Arnold could do no wrong, running or throwing. It’s become a familiar troupe for Georgia fans. The Bulldogs will give the opposing team some points, appear lost on defense and possibly on offense, yet still manage to find a way.
Luckily, Georgia was able to still find a way. Unlike Auburn and Freeze, Georgia found a way instead of looking for excuses. Here is the drive chart for the Dawgs after the fumble.
- (2nd Qt.) 12-plays, 88 yards: Field Goal: Auburn 10, Georgia 3
- (3rd Qt.) 8 plays, 29 yards: turnover on downs: Auburn 10, Georgia 3
- (3rd Qt.) 5 plays, 63 yards: Touchdown: Auburn 10, Georgia 10
- (3rd Qt.) 9 plays, 25 yards: Field Goal: Auburn 10, Georgia 13
- (4th Qt.) 8 plays, 18 yards: Missed Field Goal: Auburn 10, Georgia 13
- (4th Qt.) 16 plays, 78 yards, 8:45: Touchdown: Georgia 20, Auburn 10
- (4th Qt.) 2 plays, VICTORY FORMATION
Never say die. Never say quit. Don’t make excuses. Just find a way. That is the Georgia way. That is why this team can and should not be counted out. Sure, it’s not always pretty. It’s not always clean. But, damn, is it exciting.
It only gets better as the Dawgs welcome Kiffin and Ole Miss Between the Hedges for a 3:30 pm kick.
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