2017 The Georgia Game

It's Georgia time again.  The game is the feature CBS game kicking off at 2:30 at Jordan-Hare.  The Dawgs are a 2.5 point favorite.  Georgia comes in at 9 and 0 under Kirby Smart; the Tigers are 7 and 2.  Auburn must win to continue a magical season.  I hope it's a doozy.

FIRST QUARTER

The game starts badly.
Georgia drives 70 yards for a touchdown going right thru our defense.
More passing than running.  Not good at all.

Auburn 0  Georgia 7

The Tigers drive to the Georgia 37 but the drive stops there.
Daniel Carlson hits a 54 yard field goal.  At least we scored in response to their opening touchdown.

Auburn 3  Georgia 7

Will our defense be there on Georgia's second possession?
From their 22 the Bulldogs quickly cross the 30 for a first down.
From the 35 we get a huge sack from Andrew Williams and Georgia punts on 4th and 18.
Roberts fair catches just inside the AU 40.
Good stand by the defense on that possession.  Our defense was there.

Our offense needs to continue to move the football to keep the pressure off of our defense.
The Tigers move smartly to a first down at the Bulldog 15.
But then we face third and 10 from there as the quarter winds down.
False start and now it's third and 15.
We need touchdowns in the red zone to win this game.
We have to settle on another field goal attempt.
On that last series Georgia got pressure on Stidham.
The field goal is good.

Auburn 6  Georgia 7

Okay, but field goals are not going to win this game.
Gotta get 6 from inside the red zone.
UGA gets a good runback to their 47 as Carlson for the second time fails to get a touchback.
The quarter ends with Georgia facing third and three on this possession.

SECOND QUARTER

Roberts knocks down the third and 3 pass and Georgia punts to the Auburn 9.
The Tigers drive smartly to a first down at the Georgia 13 meshing the run and pass.  KJ looks good.
Alas, we move to a third and 10 from there and a timeout.
These red zone difficulties have to stop if we are going to win this game.
No third down conversion and once again it's field goal time.
The 30 yarder is good.

Auburn 9  Georgia 7

The Tigers take the lead but it's bittersweet.
I don't know if our offense can continue to move ball like they have so far.
From their 27 Georgia goes three and out again.
We get an 11 yard sack on third down.

The punt goes to the Auburn 33.
Stidham is sacked on third and Auburn is punting from the 23.
Georgia is getting pressure on our QB.  We've gotta shore up our pass protection.
First and 10 Georgia at their 34.
We'd had momentum lately but have managed only 9 points while forcing three straight three and outs.

On their next possession we stop them on third and one and Georgia punts.
Abetted by an interference call on the receiving of the punt Auburn starts at their 30.
We move to 4th and a punt but Georgia ruffs our kicker.
That's 15 yards and a first down Auburn.
The Tigers move to first down at the UGA 42.  Let's go!
STIDHAM HITS SLAYTON ON A 42 YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS!   SLAYTON CATCHES THE BALL ON THE ONE AND ROLLS OVER THE DEFENDER INTO THE END ZONE.  WOW OH WOW!

Auburn 16  Georgia 7

Still over 4 minutes left in the half.  Auburn gets the ball coming out.
Georgia converts a third and long to the Auburn 41, but we push them back to a 4th and 15.
Auburn assumes possession on our 10 with the clock running down in the half.
Georgia calls timeout with 43 seconds left as Auburn faces third and 7 from our 13.
Auburn faces 4th down with 36 seconds left.
We need a good punt and good punt coverage.
Alas it's a good punt but the coverage is terrible and Georgia is at our 26.
Georgia shows poor clock management as they run on first down and get off only one play before the FG attempt of 42 yards.
The kick is NO GOOD!
Auburn will take a 16 to 7 lead to the locker room.
Can we keep it going in the second half?
Is Georgia rattled???

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers receive and drive to a 3td and 3 in Georgia territory and a first down completion but the refs take it away on a review.  We clearly get robbed.
But Georgia muffs the punt and Auburn has the ball on the Bulldog 23.
The Tigers move methodically to the end zone as Stidham runs it in from the 7.
Yes!!!

Auburn 23  Georgia 7

We can't let up.
The kickoff is stopped at the 25.
We can't let up.
Georgia is not number one for nothing.
Still early in the third quarter.
We hold them on third down but get called correctly for offsides.
Georgia is on their 38.
A 10 yard sack!  Their QB is separated from the ball but Georgia falls on it.
Georgia moves to 4th and 17.
False start for Georgia.  I think Georgia is shook.
Ryan Davis runs the punt back to midfield!  AU did some kind of trickery as Stephen Roberts pretended to catch the punt but Davis fielded the ball.
There is a dead ball penalty on Georgia.
Auburn has the ball on the Bulldog 35.
From the 33 on second down Stidham hits Ryan Davis on a screen pass and Davis winds his way to the end zone.  Georgia blitzed and Stidham picked it up.  Yes, yes, yes!
Auburn is dominating Georgia.

Auburn 30  Georgia 7

We are midway thru the third quarter.
We can't let up.  We can't let up.
Georgia starts at their 25 even without the touchback.
On third down Georgia gets a completed pass to our 32.  Bad defense.
The Dogs move to third and 9.
The possession moves to 4th and 9 from the 30.
The FG attempt is good.

Auburn 30  Georgia 10

We can't let up.  Don't let Georgia back into the game.
We move to third and 5 from the 30.
False start so third and 10 from the 25.
Stidham loses 2 and Auburn has to punt.
A score by Georgia here and they are back into the game.

The punt only goes to their 45.
2:58 to go in the third.
Our defense needs to stand up.
Chubb runs for three.
Pass incomplete.
Pass incomplete.
Georgia is three and out.

The punt goes out of bounds at the three.  Backed up, we need to be careful.
Kerryon Johnson runs up the middle for 9.  Great first down play from our three.
First down Kerryon to the 17 as the third quarter clock winds down.
Kerryon to the 21 for a gain of 4.
There is a short pass inches short of the first down as the third quarter ends.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers take a 20 point lead to the fourth quarter facing third and short.
What will happen now?
The Tigers pick up the first down and down the field we go running between the tackles.
Looks like we're moving for a 97 yard TD drive when Stidham bobbles a snap on third and one and we have to settle for a 37 yard Daniel Carlson field goal.  Okay.

Auburn 33  Georgia 10

We can't let up.
10:06 to go.  That last possession consumed almost 7 minutes.
Georgia fair catches the kickoff at their 21.  That worked out well.
Fromm throw it away on first down under pressure.
A gain of one around left end.
Third and 9.
Our defense is drilling Fromm as the third down pass is harmless.
Our defense is getting after their offense.
Roberts provides a short punt return to the Auburn 26.

We can't let up.
9:13 to go.
Auburn is quickly out to the 38 for a first down.
The Georgia defense is wearing down.
Kj for 5 yards.  He has rushed for 167 yards so far.
Stidham keeps for two.
Third and three.
BAM!!!
A short pass back to his left as Stidham rolls right and KJ has virtual clear sailing to the end zone.
What a play call!  Turn out the lights, Georgia!  You have been completely dominated.

Auburn 40  Georgia 10

How sweet it is!  The Tigers ROLL over Georgia.
What a game!!!
Georgia gets the ball back trailing by 30 with 6:13 left.
Georgia moves the ball and on a close 4th down they are given the first down on a completion and a favorable spot.  Coach Malzahn calls for a review.  Auburn is correctly playing this game down to the end as if it's close.  3:38 to go.  The Auburn players are dancing on the sidelines.  The field ruling stands up.  Okay, first down Georgia.
From the 24 an incompletion.
Second and 10.
A run and now third and 5.
4th and 1.
A measurement.
First down by an inch.
Auburn is still playing this game down to the end.
First down pass to the end zone from the 14.

Auburn 40  Georgia 17

Georgia has 46 yards rushing.  This is phenomenal.
Rushing is supposed to be their strength.  Where was Chubb and company?  Our defense dominated them.
2:19 to go.
Georgia kicks it thru end zone.  Good.  No onside kick.
Malik Willis finishes the game.

Georgia scored on its first possession.  Georgia scored on its last possession.
Auburn completely DOMINATED in-between.
How great it is!!
"I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!"  COACH SAYS ON THE FIELD AFTER THE GAME.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 40  Georgia 17