Auburn destroys Georgia in Bulldogs' first loss of season

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Auburn destroys Georgia in Bulldogs' first loss of season image

Auburn absolutely throttled Georgia in their game on Saturday to the tune of 40-17.

The game was close for all of one drive before the Tigers enforced their will on the Bulldogs.

MORE: Week 11, highlights, scores

Here's how the Tigers upended the No. 1 team in the country(all times Eastern):

Fourth quarter: Auburn 40, Georgia 17

7:08 p.m.: That'll do it. Auburn wins this one 40-17, and it looks as bad it was.

7:05 p.m.: Gus Malzhn has no mercy. He's got the backups i throwing for long passes in the fourth quarter. Whoof.

7:01 p.m.: Jake Fromm hits Riley Ridley for 14 yards and a touchdown, which capped a 14-play, 74-yard drive. Auburn still leads 40-17.

7 p.m.: Elijah Holyfield rushing it on fourth-and-1 and gets it by the nose of the football.

6:54 p.m.: Georgia converts on third-and-7 deep in Auburn territory. And now Gus Malzah is trying to challenge the play. Ruthless.

6:48 p.m.: Jake Fromm still in the game, hits Terry Godwin for 15 yards on first down. One play later, Fromm throws a deep ball but it's nearly picked off by Auburn.

6:44 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham hits Kerryon Johnson on the throw-back pass for a 55-yard touchdown. Johnson and Stidham have been insanely good in this one. Auburn leads Georgia 40-10.

6:36 p.m.: Auburn is mauling Georgia on third down. The Bulldogs' O-line is getting manhandled.

6:30 p.m.: Daniel Carlson gets the 37-yard field goal after Auburn stalls in the red zone. Auburn leads 33-10.

6:28 p.m.: Kerryon Johnson is just destroying defenders. He has gotten stronger and stronger as this game has gone on. He has 142 rushing yards in this game and 1,000-plus for the season.

6:27 p.m.: Thought Auburn would be content to run out some clock but Eli Stove on the end around went for 30 yards and it's clear the Tigers are still playing to score.

6:26 p.m.: Auburn gets five yards on the first play of the third quarter from Kerryon Johnson. It converts a third down and the Tigers are still pounding the rock. 

Third quarter: Auburn 30, Georgia 10

6:20 p.m.: Looks like Auburn is content to keep pounding the rock with Kerryon Johnson to dwindle down the closing seconds of the third quarter.

6:20 p.m.: Kerryon Johnson gives Auburn some breathing room with a 9-yard carry. Then a 4-yard carry gives Auburn a fresh set of downs.

6:18 p.m.: Another three-and-out for Georgia, but at least the Bulldogs are able to pin the Tigers a their 3-yard line.

6:16 p.m.: Nick Chubb gets three yards on the first carry of the drive. Georgia has it at rougly midfield.

6:15 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham is sacked on third-and-9, so Auburn will punt. A touchdown here for Georgia would put the Bulldogs right back in it with three minutes left in the third quarter.

6:13 p.m.: Kerryon Johnson rushes for nine yards, giving him 100 yards on 20 carries. It's his ninth 100-yard game of his career. But an Auburn illegal procedure makes it 3third-and-9. Also ...

6:08 p.m.: Georgia can't score a touchdown off the big play from Fromm and Wims, but Rodrigo Blankenship hits a 47-yarder t make it 30-20. He's now 1 for 2 on the game.

6:06 p.m.: Jake Fromm hits Javon Wims for a 44-yard gain down to the Auburn 31. They may need some more of those kinds of plays if they want a chance to get back into this one.

6:03 p.m.: It has been that kind of day for Georgia.

6 p.m.: Two plays into the drive, Jarrett Stidham hits Ryan Davis on the wide receiver screen for a 32-yard touchdown. Auburn leads 30-7 and this one's no longer in contention.

5:56 p.m.: Ryan Davis returns the ensuing punt 25 yards to midfield. Georgia's Sony Michel is then called for a personal foul after the fact. So not only does Auburn have the ball at Georgia's 35 to start the drive, but the Bulldogs are showing poor mental strength. This one's all Tigers right now.

5:54 p.m.: Nothing going for Georgia on third-ad-17. Bulldogs punt at its 32 ... or they would, if there wasn't a false start by the punt team. Georgia punting at its 27 and Auburn is set up for great field position.

5:53 p.m.: Jake Fromm is blasted from the left side by Dontavius Russell, who causes a fumble. Georgia recovers but it puts the Bulldogs way behind the chains.

5:52 p.m.: Georgia fails to get the third-down conversion ... but is saved by an offside call against Jeff Holland. The drive continues.

5:51 p.m.: Sony Michel gets six yards on the off-tackle carry. Not a bad start.

5:50 p.m.: Gut check time for Georgia. It has the ball at its 25-yard line and is in desperate need of a touchdown.

5:46 p.m.: Four plays later, Jarrett Stidham walks it in off the zone read from 7 yards out. Kerryon Johnson could have got a touchdown too, the way that play was blocked. Auburn leads 23-7 and this one is quickly turning into a rout.

5:44 p.m.: Disaster for Georgia. Mecole Hardman muffs the punt and gives Auburn the ball at the 23-yard line. You could not ask for a worse start to this half for the Bulldogs.

5:43 p.m.: Playing after halftime in Jordan-Hare Stadium: If Journey doesn't get you hyped, nothing will.

5:42 p.m.: Play is overturned. Auburn will punt on fourth down.

5:39 p.m.: Darius Slayton gets an 8-yard reception on third-and-3 but the play is under review. If it stands, Auburn will have the ball in Georgia territory.

5:39 p.m.: Eli Stove starts rushes for 14 yards on the end-around, followed by a 6-yard Kerryon Johnson run to get the ball out to the 45.

5:37 p.m.: Auburn has the ball to start the half. Dogs need a stop.

Halftime:

5:36 p.m.: Indeed.

5:35 p.m.: I'd say this is accurate. Jordan-Hare Stadium must be rocking right about now.

5:23 p.m.: And how about Kerryon Johnson? The Auburn running back has 76 yards on 15 rushes (5.1 yards per carry). That's more than Sony Michel and Nick Chubb have combined (39 yards).

5:20 p.m.: Auburn's defense has been dominant thus far in the game. The Tigers have three sacks and have limited the Bulldogs to just 35 total yards after its 70-yard opening drive. The Bulldogs have averaged 0.9 yards a carry — entering the game, they ranked ninth nationally by averaging 5.8 yards a carry.

5:17 p.m.: Stats from halftime:

Total yards: Auburn 201; Georgia 105
Passing: Auburn 12 of 19 (125 yards, TD); Georgia 4 of 9 (86 yards)
Rushing: Auburn 76 yards (18 attempts); Georgia 19 yards (21 attempts)
Penalties: Auburn 2 penalties for 15 yards; Georgia 5 penalties for 55 yards
Third down: Auburn 2 for 8; Georgia 2 for 7

Second quarter: Auburn 17, Georgia 6

5:15 p.m.: Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship misses it wide right from 42 yards out after Georgia rushes the ball for a yard before spiking it. Auburn has a 17-6 halftime lead.

5:14 p.m.: When will Auburn learn? Don't punt it to Mecole Hardman. He takes it at the Georgia 45 and returns it to the 26 with 22 seconds remaining. 

5:12 p.m.: Georgia stops the third-down play from Auburn. Barring any penalties the Bulldogs should have good field position with about 30 seconds left to score in the half.

5:10 p.m.: Georgia trying to get the ball back with 42 seconds remaining. They have one more timeout. Auburn, it's important to note, has the ball to start the second half.

5:09 p.m.: Former Auburn players clearly liking what they see from this team today.

5:07 p.m.: Georgia can't convert its second third down from the Auburn 46. Carlton Davis may have pushed the receiver out of bounds but it seems the ball was uncatcheable. Auburn will take over after the punt at its own 10.

5:08 p.m.: One play later, the flea flicker fails as Deshaun Davis sacks Jake Fromm for a loss of six yards.

5:07 p.m.: Jake Fromm gets a massive third-down conversion on third-and-10. Jake Fromm hits Javon Wims who snatches the ball out of the air for a 30-yard gain.

5:05 p.m.: Bulldogs are only down by nine right now but it's still their largest deficit of the season. We'll see what Georgia is made of in this one.

5:03 p.m.: Things starting to get chippy. Auburn and Georgia players getting into it after Auburn kicks off to the Bulldogs. They take over at their 27. 

5 p.m.: Auburn leads 16-7. The Tigers are mauling Georgia right now and it's not particularly close. Georgia needs to have a score on this drive or it could get ugly.

4:59 p.m.: The touchdown from Stidham to Slayton:

4:58 p.m.: Georgia goes three-and-out again. Following possession, Auburn goes 70 yards for its first touchdown of the game. It's punctuated by a 47-yard touchdown connection between Jarrett Stidham and Darius Slayton (who, you'll remember, was dinged up earlier in the game).

4:46 p.m.: Georgia gives Auburn a taste of its own medicine on third down, with D'Andre Walker sacking Jarrett Stidham for a loss of nine yards. Bulldogs take over.

4:45 p.m.: Auburn in complete control of this game right now. Jarrett Stidham and Co. can put the Bulldogs in the hole early with a touchdown drive here.

4:43 p.m.: Georgia went 70 yards on its game-opening touchdown drive. In the three possessions since, the Bulldogs have gained a combined zero yards.

4:41 p.m.: Jake Fromm sacked for the second time today on third down. Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson get the sack, and Georgia has it fourth-and-20 at its own 19.

4:30 p.m.: Oh, Georgia's going to wish they had that back. Jake Fromm slightly overthrows Riley Ridley for a wide-open touchdown, but they can't connect. Third-and-10 upcoming.

4:39 p.m.: Mecole Hardman takes it out to the 29.

4:39 p.m.: Kerryon Johnson, meanwhile, making a case for best player in this game. He has 69 rushing yards on 10 carries. But Daniel Carlson might have him beat if he keeps kicking field goals.

4:36 p.m.: Georgia won this game last season without an offensive touchdown. Maybe Auburn's trying to one-up them this year?

4:35 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham misses his target on third-and-10. Daniel Carlson knocks his third field goal attempt through from 30 yards out to make it 9-7 Auburn. He's now three for three on the game with kicks of 54, 37 and 30 yards.

4:34 p.m.: Georgia forced to call timeout in that situation on third-and-10 from the 13. Bulldogs only had 10 men on the field, their second personnel issue this game.

4:31 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham hits Chandler Cox for 17 yards to get the ball inside the red zone. No fear from this Auburn offense right now.

4:29 p.m: It just keeps getting worse for Georgia. Kerryon Johnson gets a 8-yard gain, and then Georgia gets called for an unnecessary roughness call to add 15 yards. Auburn is rolling right now.

4:28 p.m.: Auburn using some up-tempo offense to get some big chunk yards. Jarrett Stidham hits Eli Stove for a 19-yard gain, then Kerryon Johnson rushes for a a 14-yard gain to take the ball to the 41-yard line. An illegal substitution gives Auburn the ball first-and-5 at its own 46.

4:26 p.m.: Jake Fromm's first incompletion comes on third down from the Auburn 46. The Tigers will take over at its 9-yard line.

4:24 p.m: Full stats from that first quarter:

First quarter: Georgia 7, Auburn 6

4:21 p.m.: That'll do it for the first quarter. Georgia is driving in Auburn territory. Jake Fromm with 56 yards on 3-of-3 passing and Auburn's Kerryon Johnson with 47 rushing yards on six carries (7.8 yards per carry). This has the makings of a good one.

4:20 p.m.: Georgia's Mecole Hardman takes it all the way to the 47-yard line for the Bulldogs. Great starting field position. He's now averaging 33 yards per kick return this season.

4:18 p.m.: Players are breaking all sorts of records in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, it seems.

4:16 p.m.: Auburn has it fourth-and-16 from the 20-yard line. But Daniel Carlson is money, and hits the 37-yard field goal. The Tigers have cut into that Georgia lead, making it 7-6. He's now 17 of 23 this season.

4:15 p.m.: Auburn with success rushing the ball: 26 yards on those last three plays. Seventeen of them came from Kerryon Johnson runs. Hes developed into a true No. 1 option.

4:14 p.m.: Auburn will be happy for the free yards, Georgia.

4:12 p.m.: Auburn tries its second trick play of the game with the attempted flea flicker. The receiver wasn't open though, and Georgia got plenty of pressure on Jarrett Stidham. Third-and-1 upcoming.

4:11 p.m.: Kerryon Johnson gets a 5-yard gain on third-and-3 and puts the ball in Georgia territory. Tigers driving.

4:10 p.m.: Auburn tries the fake reverse-pass. Receiver Ryan Davis has a wide-open Jarrett Stidham, but the quarterback can't haul it in. Tigers have it second-and-10.

4:07 p.m.: It's worth noting Nick Chubb has passed Bo Jackson for fourth place among SEC career rushing leaders. With 14 yards so far, he now has 4,305 all-time rushing yards. He now needs 252 yards to pass Kevin Faulk of LSU for third-most all time. Unlikely that he gets that today.

4:06 p.m.: Nope. Jake Fromm is sacked in the pocket, blindsided by Jeff Holland for a loss of nine yards. Holland, by the way, is one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC this season.

4:05 p.m.: Another third-and-long situation. Will Jake Fromm get another clutch third-down play?

4:03 p.m.: Nick Chubb starts off Georgia's second offensive possession with a pair of 6-yard runs.

4:02 p.m.: Auburn will want Darius Slayton back in this one.

3:59 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham gets what basically amounts to a pressure sack on third-and-7 from the Georgia 37. Good thing for Auburn, Daniel Carlson booms a 54-yard field goal to make it 7-3 Georgia. He is an incredible weapon for the Tigers.

3:58 p.m.: Now Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton wobbling off the field. He's Auburn's second-leading receiver with 401 yards this season.

3:57 p.m.: And now Auburn using the WIldcat! Kerryon Johnson gets 20 yards and the Tigers are now driving in Bulldog territory.

3:56 p.m.: Jarrett Stidham hits Nate Craig-Myers for a 13-yard gain on second down. Tigers are moving fast early. 

3:54 p.m.: Auburn's turn to get some points on the board. Jarrett Stidham faces a 7-0 deficit early.

3:53 p.m.: Hmm. ...

3:51 p.m.: Nick Chubb gets on the board first with a 1-yard Nick Chubb touchdown from out of the Wildcat. Jake Fromm went 3 for 3 on that eight-play opening drive for 56 yards, and had completions of 28 and 26 yards. Impressive from the freshman.

3:49 p.m.: One play later, Jake Fromm hits Terry Godwin for a 25-yard gain into the Auburn red zone. Bulldogs aren't afraid to air it out early.

3:48 p.m.: Third-and-7 and Georgia's Jake Fromm gets a beatufiul throw to Javon WIms for 27 yards and a first down. Bulldogs driving at the Auburn 39.

3:47 p.m.: First carry, Nick Chubb is gobbled up after a 1-yard gain. Something tells me rushing yards will be hard to come by in the first quarter.

3:46 p.m.: Here we go! Georgia takes over on offense to start the game.

Pregame:

3:45 p.m.: Jordan-Hare giving Georgia a nice, warm welcome:

3:20 p.m.: Who has the biggest game?

3:15 p.m.: Auburn's starting lineup against Georgia:

3:10 p.m.: Oh, this should be fun.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.