Post Game Notes

UGA Sports Communications

First Loss Of The Season: 

Georgia fell to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC after today’s 40-17 loss to Auburn. Also, today was the first time since the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame game in South Bend in week two (Sept. 9) that Georgia trailed in a game. In that contest, No. 24 Notre Dame went ahead 19-17 with 10:21 left and held the lead until Georgia kicked a field goal with 3:34 remaining to go up 20-19 and that would be the final. Today with 12:08 left in the first half, Auburn took a 9-7 lead and then extended it to 16-7 with 4:09 left in half and that would be the halftime score. Ultimately, Auburn scored 30 unanswered points until a 47-yard field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship made it 30-10 with 5:23 left in the 3rd quarter.

Georgia now sees its all-time series lead with the Tigers trimmed to 57-56-8. Today was the fourth time that the teams met when both were ranked in the top 10, and the Tigers have won each time (1971, 1983 & 2004). This was the first time that the Dawgs were ranked higher in these top 10 matchups.

Early Points at a Premium: 

At the half, Auburn led 16-7. Both teams came in averaging 36 points a game today. The Tigers added three TDs plus a field goal in the second half for a 40-17 victory. TheDawgs came in ranked third nationally in scoring defense at 11.7 points a game. Today, Georgia’s leading tacklers were junior LB Roquan Smith with 12 and redshirt sophomore J.R. Reed with a career-high 11. 

Rushing Tally: 

After allowing four sacks, Georgia’s net rushing tally was 46 yards on 32 attempts. The Dawgs had given up just nine sacks on the year coming in today. Senior Nick Chubb had a team-high 27 yards on 11 attempts. In the first quarter on a six-yard run, Chubb moved up to fourth in SEC history in career rushing yards passing Auburn’s Bo Jackson (4,303 yards). After today, Chubb’s current total is 4,318 yards.

Passing Game: 

In the first half, freshman QB Jake Fromm was 4-for-8 for 86 yards and finished 13-for-28 for 184 yards and one TD. On Georgia’s opening drive of the game, he led an eight play, 70-yard touchdown drive capped by senior tailback Nick Chubb’s 1-yard plunge for his 43rd career TD overall and 39th rushing. Fromm converted a 3rd and 7 by completing a 28-yard pass to senior Javon Wims who finished with a career-high 96 yards on three catches. Georgia was forced to punt on five of its final six drives of the half plus missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of the half. In the second half, Georgia’s scored 10 points including a 14 play, 74-yard TD drive capped by a 14-yard pass from Fromm to Riley Ridley.

Busy Day For Hardman: 

Sophomore Mecole Hardman finished with 203 all-purpose yards including 142 on kickoff returns, 43 on punt returns plus 7 on the ground and 11 receiving. In the first half alone, he had 162 return yards. Coming in today, he had 288 return yards (178 KOR, 110 PR) for the year. On the final kickoff of the first half and in the second half, Auburn popped them up short. In the second half, Hardman had one fumble on a punt return that led to a Tiger touchdown and a 23-7 deficit.

Points Off Turnovers: 

Georgia did not force any turnovers while AU got seven points off 1 fumble on a punt mishandled by sophomore Mecole Hardman. Opponents have scored 38 points off 12 Dawg miscues. Meanwhile, Georgia has scored 48 points off 14 turnovers.

For Starters: 

True freshman tailback D’Andre Swift made his first career start while sophomore TE Charlie Woerner made his first start of the year and third of his career. Swift is the 14th first-time starter this year including fifth true freshman this season. Senior SS Dominick Sanders made his team-leading 48th career start including his 28th consecutive start.

Captains: 

Georgia’s captains were seniors Sony Michel (TB), junior Terry Godwin (WR) and Lorenzo Carter (OLB).

Up Next: 

Georgia (9-1, 6-1 SEC) returns home next Saturday where it will face Kentucky at 3:30 pm (CBS Sports). The Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 SEC) were at Vanderbilt today.