The 2017 SEC Championship Game

For the first time since 2013 Auburn plays for the conference championship.  We all know what happened with that team.
After beating Georgia and Alabama over a three week period Auburn won the West.  Georgia won the East.  The East was settled several weeks ago.  The West wasn't settled until we beat Alabama.
The 10 and 2 Tigers vs. the 11 and 1 Bulldogs.  Can Auburn beat Georgia again?
Much has been made of the status of Kerryon Johnson.  No doubt he is the spasrkplug of the offense. KJ hurt his shoulder in the Alabama game.  He is listed as a game-time decision.  Even if he can go he cannot possibly be 100%.  Can we win without a 100% Kerryon Johnson?  Can we win without him at all?
Much has been made of the crowd.  Each team gets 16,300 tickets, but the remaining 41,000 seats are expected to be top-heavy Georgia since their people have know for several week that they would be in this game, and Auburn has known for just the last week.  Some people think Jordan-Hare had a lot to do with beating Alabama and Georgia.  Will the more hostile environment be a factor today?
Auburn is a 2 point favorite.  This surprises me.  I thought it would be a tossup.
I have to think Georgia has the advantage.  I will be surprised if we win.
My guess is that Georgia will start the game with the most energy.  Georgia will take the lead.  If we win it will be in the fourth quarter, coming from behind.
Prior to our game Oklahoma rolls over TCU 41 to 17 to clinch their spot in the playoff.
Let's get it on!

FIRST QUARTER

This is the 26th SEC Championship game.  The game started in Birmingham and migrated to Atlanta.
Kerryon Johnson is on the field as AU receives to start the game.
The Tigers drive smartly down the field mixing the run and pass to the UGA 10.  KJ is out there contributing.  Our offense is alive on this opening drive.
Timeout Auburn with a second and goal from the five.
KJ runs the Wildcat but he loses a yard.
Third and goal from the 6.
A bullet to Nate Craig-Myers in the back of the end zone for the score!!!
That was a great drive mixing the run and pass.

Auburn 7  Georgia 0

Georgia scored first three weeks ago.  Auburn returns the favor.
I've seen the AU offense start out good before and not maintain it.  We've got to keep it going for four quarters.
Georgia collects two first downs and moves into AU territory to the 47.
There is our first sack on Fromm back to their 46.
Third and 13 for Georgia from around midfield.
Fromm is sacked again!!!  The Bulldogs have to punt.

Auburn starts from our 20 after giving up two first downs but then pushing Georgia back on two sacks.
No go this time and the Tigers punt on 4th and 8.

Georgia begins on their 32.  Decent flip of the field on the kick.
Georgia is three and out and on 4th and a yard and a probable fake punt lineup Auburn calls timeout.
Georgia does punt and Roberts fair catches at the 24.
The Tigers move quickly into Bulldog territory thanks to a nifty pass to Stove.
Auburn is at the UGA 38.
Third and three at the 33.
KJ pushes up the middle for the first down.  A tough, tough run by Kerryon Johnson.
First and 10 at the Georgia 30 as the quarter ends.

SECOND QUARTER

The first quarter was a good start.  We have to keep it up for four quarters.
First down to the 18 behind Kam Martin.
On third down Stidham loses the ball and Georgia recovers at their 16.
One of their players punched it out of Stidham's hands.
We were moving the ball but the turnover is big as all turnovers are in a game like this.

Chubb runs to the 32 behind a toss sweep.
Second play no gain.
Georgia is trying to run wide rather than between the tackles.
First down to the Georgia 47.
First down Georgia to the 17.
That's two wide-open receivers.
The Bulldogs are moving quickly on this possession.
Marlon Davidson is on the grass at the 19.
He leaves the field under his own power after the injury timeout.
We need some Red Zone defense.
Pass interference in the end zone.
First down for Georgia at the two.
First play TD pass to the back of the end zone.
Georgia takes advantage of the fumble and drives 84 yards to tie the game.

Auburn 7  Georgia 7

Gotta shake it off and get our offense going again.
The Tigers go three and out and Georgia has all of the momentum.
Auburn was dominating but a simple turnover has changed the game at this point.
The Auburn punt rolls dead at the Georgia 32.
How about a Georgia turnover?!

8:33 to go in the half.
First play Georgia runs to midfield.  They are having success running to the outside.
Running wide and quick passes is their game.
A short pass to Michel to the 14.  Georgia is rolling as we miss tackles.
A short pass wide to Chubb to inside the five.
We can't stop their wide plays.
Georgia is called for offensive pass interference.
The ball moves back to the 18 third and goal.
There's a run to the 10 fourth and goal.
The field goal attempt is good but at least we held them to three.

Auburn 7  Georgia 10

That was a break of a short in that it sure looked like Georgia was headed for the end zone.
The Tigers drive to the Georgia 43.
Third and five from the 38.
Stidham is sacked and we are out of field goal range at the 49.
Bad result on third and 5 from their 38.
Georgia regains possession with 49 seconds and they take a knee.

Auburn was dominating this game and one turnover in the Red Zone completely changed the momentum.
Georgia receives to being the second half.
We need some Kevin Steele defense in the second half.
In a way I'm glad it's only 10 to 7.
I figured we would have to come from behind to win this game.

THIRD QUARTER

Carlton Davis and Tre Williams are out of the game.
Georgia has first possession.
The Bulldogs come out running.  Gotta stop it.
Georgia moves to 4th and a yard to go and they punt.
The punt goes into the end zone.
Our defense stops on their first possession and we start from our 20.

The Tigers hit Ryan Davis on a big time third down 30 yard completion.
Quickly Auburn is on the Georgia 19.
We move to third and 6 from the 15.
Stidham manages to scramble only to the 14.
The FG attempt is blocked.  The drive is for naught.  Oh, no.
The snap is a little high.  Stovall got it down, but the timing was a big disrupted.
That's two trips inside the RZ for no points.
The story of the game so far.
The only good thing since the first quarter is that we trail by only three.
Georgia seizes the momentum with the block.  That's like a turnover.
This is a dangerous moment in the game.
Mistakes in the Red Zone.

Georgia starts on their 28.
There's a 15 yard penalty on Georgia on the first play.
First and 23 after the half distant penalty.
Georgia is three and out not able to overcome the penalty.
Roberts returns to the 31.
The Bulldogs are hit with a 15 yard face guard penalty.

Auburn starts at their 46.
Stidham scrambles to the Georgia 41.
We move to third and 10 with two unfortunate incomplete short passes.
They are getting pressure on Stidham.
Pass incomplete and Auburn has to punt.
Stidham had time there but either our receivers can't get one or Stidham can't pull the trigger.
If this continues Georgia will score again.
Our defense may have to score to win this one.
The punt goes into the end zone.
The way the game is going is in Georgia's favor but we are still down by only three.
Stidham seems uncomfortable and perhaps there is good coverage downfield.

Big Georgia first down completion to the Auburn 49.
It seems inevitable Georgia would eventually move the ball with our offensive missteps.
Chubb runs to the Auburn 24.
Our defense is giving way again as you would expect with our lack of offensive production.
The Bulldogs move to a field goal attempt.
The 35 yarder is good.

Auburn 7  Georgia 13

The difference in the game is that after that first drive Auburn has been in the Red Zone twice without scoring.  In return Georgia has two field goals after their touchdown.
Our offense must come alive.  We need good plays on first down.
From the 22 there is a 9 yard first down completion to Ryan Davis.
There is a long incompletion down the sideline to Slayton.
I don't like that play call because the third and one is not a gimme.
But KJ runs for the first down.
The third quarter ends as Stidham scrambles for 12 yards.
We are down to basics.

FOURTH QUARTER

Auburn starts the final quarter first and 10 at their 47.
First play of the quarter Kerryon Johnson fumbles and Georgia recovers.
The game has changed dramatically.

Georgia takes the ball at the Auburn 39.
First play Chubb runs to the 23.
Auburn is called for a late hit out of bounds as the Georgia player never went down.  Bad call. Oh, well.
Georgia is inside our 10.
Pass to the end zone for the score from the 7.
Well, we are in trouble now.
Two turnovers with Georgia scoring 15 points as the 2 pointer is good.

Auburn 7  Georgia 21.

We have given this game away with two turnovers and offensive ineffectiveness.
We are losing this game more than Georgia is winning it.
Turnovers by Auburn has determined the outcome.
13:06 to go but something has to change very quickly.
Georgia has scored 21 straight points.

From the 25 what can our offense do?
Auburn is three and out.  Auburn is punting as they are getting to Stidham as he cannot hit an open receiver.  Pretty much game, set, match.
Georgia is penalized 15 yards but the penalty occurred after the kick.
Our offense didn't come thru in this game.  Two turnovers.  Two visits inside the Red Zone with no points.  Lack of production on first down.  Too many third downs in obvious passing situations.  Stidham has a bad game seemingly not comfortable in the pocket.

Georgia has the ball back content to run the clock.
This is the end of a remarkable run at the end of the season that falls one game short.
Georgia gets a 67 yard run from scrimmage to the end zone.

Auburn 7  Georgia 28

A complete reversal from three weeks ago.
We beat ourselves but at the same time Georgia is clearly the better team tonight.

Our offense goes three and out.
Georgia keeps the ball down to the 2:07 mark.
Georgia keeps trying to score.  I have no problem with that.
Our last possession is futile.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 7  Georgia 28