ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia and Auburn have played nearly every season since 1892, engaging in a contentious rivalry full of games that will be long remembered. But that probably won’t include this one.
Georgia, coming off the epic comeback but heartbreaking loss at Alabama, looked less inspired and more methodical. Auburn, struggling and turnover-prone its first five games, uncharacteristically took care of the ball.
The result was the expected: Georgia won. But it came not in an impressive rout or a classic finish but more a slogging affair, a 31-13 final in a game Georgia was favored to win by 23 points.
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Some takeaways:
Starting fast, but then …
So much of the focus on Georgia during the week was on starting games better, rather than going down 28-0 to Alabama and taking until the second half to get touchdowns against Clemson and Kentucky. Strictly speaking, Georgia finally did that.
The Bulldogs got their first opening-drive touchdown — or points of any kind — against an FBS opponent this season. Georgia’s offense was so good on its first drive Saturday that it converted a third down when Auburn had 12 men on the field. The Bulldogs moved methodically down the field and punched it in.
The defense also set a good tone on the first play: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins sacked Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne.
But the quick start didn’t lead to much immediately. Georgia’s offense was more efficient than explosive, and the offensive line gave up two ill-timed sacks. Georgia’s secondary was suspect, yielding catches of 23, 17 and 13 yards on the first two drives, and anyone waiting for the game to turn on an Auburn turnover had to keep waiting.
Georgia’s defensive questions
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, seeking to build up Auburn, argued before the game the results have been skewed by the Tigers’ minus-11 turnover margin, and the Tigers did enter the game third in the SEC in yards per play (7.64).
That number will come down: Auburn was held to fewer than 6.0 on Saturday but moved the ball enough to reinforce that Georgia’s defense isn’t the dominant unit of old. Auburn tailback Jacquez Hunter had a 38-yard touchdown run when Georgia’s Joenel Aguero whiffed on what should have been a short gain. Thorne completed some intermediate passes while also extending plays with his feet.
The upshot for Georgia was pressure: Three sacks, two by Ingram-Dawkins, and Jalon Walker blew up a fourth-and-short Thorne rollout in the fourth quarter, essentially clinching the game.
But many of the issues present early in the Alabama game — tackling, giving up explosive plays, leakiness against the run — marred some moments of this one too.
Georgia’s ‘eh’ offense
If we’re going to credit Auburn with not turning the ball over, then Georgia should get credit too, especially after committing four turnovers at Alabama.
Carson Beck was efficient: 23-for-29 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. When he needed to make a big throw he did: Facing third-and-long and a probable punt in the third quarter, ahead only 14-10, Beck went down the right sideline on a deep ball to Colbie Young, who came back and hauled in the ball for a 27-yard gain.
It might have been a close call, but Georgia got it, just like it did four plays later when Trevor Etienne was ruled in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 1. Replays were inconclusive, the only definitive angle in real time by the line judge, who ruled it a touchdown and won the brief discussion. The review was that it stood, Georgia took a 28-10 lead and fans started heading to the exits.
Out of eight possessions, Georgia scored five times, including four touchdowns. That’s a rate teams will take most every game.
But this game didn’t answer whether Georgia would fully commit to the aggressive passing attack it showed the previous week. There weren’t as many downfield shots, with Beck and company seeming content to do what it took to get out with a win, rather than style points.
Other observations
• The offensive line, playing its second full game without Tate Ratledge, continues to be inconsistent. The third drive was an example, derailed by two mistakes: Dylan Fairchild’s holding call wiped out a third-down Etienne run down to the 11, and a play later, Drew Bobo was beaten for a sack, pushing the Bulldogs out of field goal range.
Bobo started at center in place of Jared Wilson, who is dealing with an injury but was healthy enough to suit up. Who starts at center going forward may be worth watching, especially until Ratledge returns and reclaims right guard, where Wilson could be an option.
• Inside linebacker Smael Mondon was seen in a walking boot and on crutches on the sideline. It appears he will be out for an extended amount of time, and his availability for the trip to Texas in two weeks is in serious jeopardy.
Georgia does have talent at linebacker, with Walker, CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson all making plays, especially Walker. But the consistency in the middle has been missing, even when Mondon was in there.
• Etienne was both Georgia’s leading rusher (81 yards) and receiver (at least in catches, with six for 36 yards). Young finished with 51 receiving yards, and Dillon Bell finished with 38.
(Photo of Dominic Lovett (6) and Lawson Luckie: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
