The 2014 Georgia Game

Once more the South's oldest rivalry kicks off between the hedges at 6:15 on ESPN.  I think the Bulldogs are a slight favorite.  As always it's a big game for both teams. Both squads have lost 2 games. Their big running back Todd Gurley returns tonight after a suspension.  Auburn needs to beat both Georgia and Alabama to turn Amen Corner.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers receive and  march right down the field 70 yards for the touchdown mixing the pass and run.
CAP runs 26 yards for the score.  
The offense looks sharp to start this game.

Auburn 7  Georgia 0

Todd Gurley runs the kickoff back for the TD untouched but a holding penalty negates the score.
First and 10 Georgia at the Bulldog 22.
The Dogs move efficiently to the Auburn 44, fake a punt from there, and pick up the first down bur it's called back by a lineman downfield.  The Tigers are lucky on two big penalties on Georgia so far.
After the actual punt AU has the ball back on the 14.
The Tigers move out to their 40 but elect to punt on 4th and 1.
After a poor 27 yard punt Georgia has the ball back on their 35.
We need better punts than that.
Our defense stops Gurley twice for a loss and Ga. is three and out.  Good defensive stand right there.
Quan Bray muffs the punt and Georgia recovers.
A special teams miscue puts the defense on the spot at the Auburn 19.
We can't win making mistakes like this.  How unfortunate for our defense.  No excuse for this.
The TD pass comes from a 3rd and goal from the 7.
Auburn turns it over and Georgia takes advantage.
Another big mistake like last week.

Auburn 7  Georgia 7

The Tigers drive out to their 48 as the first quarter ends.
Our offense has shown so far that it can move the ball on Georgia.

SECOND QUARTER

After a holding penalty the Tigers have to punt.
Georgia starts at their 17 after a 44 yard punt.
The Bulldogs pick our defense apart down to the AU 38.
There is a run to the AU 19.
Our defense is yielding.
On 4th and 1 from the Auburn 9 their running back runs up the middle to the end zone.
That was too easy.  We had nobody there as the RB hit the line.
11 plays 83 yards.  Our defense is looking like last week.

Auburn 7  Georgia 14

Louis is dropped at the 18 on the kickoff.
After one first down Auburn is punting again.  Our offense has not been in a rhythm since the opening drive.
The punt goes inside the 10 but touched an Auburn player at the 19.
With 4:47 to go we cannot afford to give up another score in this half. 
The Tigers force a punt from their 38 but we get called for roughing the kicker.  Our guy was close to touching the ball but the call goes against us.  Stan White can't understand how our rusher didn't touch the ball.  We force a punt and let them keep the ball.
Away Georgia goes now.
First down Georgia at the Auburn 13.
A turnover on special teams and a costly penalty on special teams has doomed us in this first half.
Two critical mistakes is killing us plus Georgia is playing better than us.
The Dogs settle for a 32 yard FG with 29 seconds left set up by a miscue on a Georgia punt.

Auburn 7  Georgia 17

The quarter ends with Auburn getting a throw to the 1 to Louis.
After a promising start the Tigers falter due mainly to two critical special teams mistakes.
Georgia gets the ball to start the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

After an exchange of possessions the Bulldogs drive 57 yards with ease with power running.  Our defense is physically overwhelmed.  It's like we only have 7 players on defense with big guys against small guys.  Midway thru the third quarter it's all Georgia.

Auburn 7  Georgia 24

The Tigers cross midfield but come up empty on 4th and 7.
This game is over.  It could get very ugly before it's over.
Georgia drives for a field goal with less than a minute to go in the quarter after Malzahn has to challenge a touchdown call where their player clearly stepped out of bounds.

Auburn 7  Georgia 27

55 seconds to go in the quarter.  Surely if we don't score on this possession the game is truly over.
We have scored only 7 points in almost 3 full quarters.
The Tigers start at the 25.
The Tigers are at their 45 or so as the quarter ends.
It's down to cases as the Tigers must score on this possession.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers finally get a drive going down to the Bulldog 12.
On 4th down Marshall throws into triple coverage and an interception at the 2.
That should do it.
The Bulldogs muscle the ball down the field again gashing our defense running the ball.
This is total domination by Georgia.
Since our first TD drive it's been all Georgia.
What else can you say?  That was a 98 yard drive to finish off the Tigers.

Auburn 7  Georgia 34

Jeremy Johnson comes in and the Tigers cross midfield with JJ looking good but Quan Bray fumbles again and Georgia recovers at their 37.  Oh, well.  Georgia can run the clock out.
Forget about this one.
This is not the shootout we thought might happen.
This is not the season we had hoped for after beating LSU and Ole Miss.
Such is college football.