Athens, Ga. — No. 5 Georgia rebounded from its first regular-season loss last week against Alabama and got an extra boost following the game.
Running back Trevor Etienne rushed for two touchdowns, Carson Beck threw two touchdown passes, and the Bulldogs overpowered a struggling Auburn team for a 31-13 victory on a hot Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium.
Not long after Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) secured its eighth consecutive win in the Deep South’s oldest rivalry, news broke that No. 1 Alabama — the team responsible for Georgia’s heartbreaking 41-34 loss the previous week — was shockingly upset by Vanderbilt 40-35.
Georgia fans across the stadium and nearby parking lots erupted in celebration of the unexpected result from Nashville, which gave their team a boost in the conference race.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart arrived late to his postgame press conference, just after Vanderbilt’s win was confirmed.
“A lot of people don’t give Vandy the credit they deserve,” Smart said. “But I respect them. I respect Coach (Clark) Lea, their team, and their quarterback. Nothing surprises me in this league.”
The Bulldogs started the season ranked No. 1 and remain contenders for their third national championship in four years, though their performance against Auburn (2-4, 0-3 SEC) lacked the expected dominance.
“Welcome to the SEC,” Smart remarked. “It’s a challenge every week, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
Auburn has now lost six straight games to Power Five opponents, increasing the pressure on second-year coach Hugh Freeze.
“Obviously, it’s been a disappointing season,” Freeze admitted. “This is another setback we didn’t expect.”
With temperatures climbing into the mid-80s, Etienne opened Georgia’s scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run on their first drive. He later added a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter after a controversial play, where one official ruled him short of the goal line while another called it a touchdown. The score was upheld after a video review.
Etienne finished the game with 88 yards on 16 carries.
“The touchdowns are great, but what matters are the hard yards,” Smart said. “He fights for those tough yards.”
Beck sealed the game with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Bell early in the fourth quarter. The fifth-year quarterback completed 23 of 29 passes for 240 yards, also connecting with Dominic Lovett for an 11-yard touchdown.
Beck’s performance marked a solid comeback after a rough outing against Alabama, where he threw three interceptions, lost a fumble, and committed a safety by intentional grounding.
In that game, Georgia had rallied from a 30-7 halftime deficit, but their final chance in Tuscaloosa ended with a Beck interception in the end zone.
“He’s a fighter, a winner,” Smart said. “I’d go to battle with him anytime.”
Auburn’s only touchdown came from Jarquez Hunter, who broke a tackle and sprinted 38 yards to cut Georgia’s lead to 14-10. However, the Tigers didn’t have the offensive firepower to truly threaten the Bulldogs.
Up Next for Georgia:Plays Mississippi State in an SEC game next Saturday at home.
