TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 5 Georgia beat No. 13 Auburn 21-14 on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium to improve to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in Southeastern Conference play.
Auburn is 7-3, 4-3.
SATURDAY'S STAR
Georgia sophomore punter Jake Camarda struggled at times earlier this season but was brilliant against the Tigers, pinning them deep with downed kicks at the 2-yard line, the 6, and two more at the 15, and that was during the first half alone. Camarda wound up punting 11 times for a whopping average of 50.7 yards.
SATURDAY'S STAT
The Bulldogs made it to their 40th quarter of the season before allowing a rushing touchdown. One of the most amazing streaks in college football ended with 7:03 remaining, when Auburn quarterback Bo Nix dived into the end zone from 2 yards out to pull the Tigers within 21-14. No team in more than 20 years has gone so deep into the year.
TURNING POINT
With 1:19 left in the first half and Georgia leading 7-0 with possession at its 19-yard line, Auburn called a timeout after a 5-yard D'Andre Swift carry hoping to get the ball back. Swift got loose for 16 on the next carry and then broke free for 26, setting up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jake Fromm to Brian Herrien to make it 14-0.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
After the Bulldogs went three-and-out on their first possession, they had a three-and-touchdown second drive that was punctuated by Fromm's 51-yard scoring strike to freshman receiver Dominick Blaylock. The stepson of Chattanooga Lookouts co-owner John Woods got behind the Auburn defensive backfield and dived into the end zone.
WHAT IT MEANS
Georgia has clinched its third consecutive Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title, a feat never before accomplished by the Bulldogs. Georgia is the first SEC East team to win three in a row since Florida captured the first five (1992-96), and the Bulldogs will remain a viable contender for the College Football Playoff after being No. 4 in the most recent rankings.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.