Gunner Stockton Steps Up Big During Georgia's Thrilling Win Over Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. — It wasn’t easy — it seldom is against Auburn — but the No. 10-ranked Georgia football team scratched and clawed its way back from a 10-0 deficit to knock off the Tigers, 20-10, Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Quarterback Gunner Stockton’s 10-yard run for a touchdown with 1:53 to play sealed the Bulldogs’ ninth straight win over the Tigers in the 130th edition of the Deep South’s oldest rivalry.
The Bulldog defense held Auburn scoreless for nearly the final three quarters after forcing a touchdown-saving turnover late in the second quarter to keep Georgia close. The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 SEC) got a field goal late in the half to make it 10-3, and then dominated the final two quarters.
Auburn (3-3, 0-3) had a 237-78 advantage in total offense and a 21:48-8:12 advantage in time of possession at the half, and by the end, Georgia finished with 296 yards to Auburn’s 277, and a 30:19-29:41 advantage in time of possession. Stockton completed 24 of 37 passes for 217 yards and also led Georgia in rushing with nine carries for 26 yards. Wideout Zachariah Branch had several crucial catches down the stretch and finished with nine receptions for 57 yards.
Georgia’s defense held Auburn to 40 second-half yards, with three straight three-and-outs at one point. Linebacker CJ Allen led the defense with 10 tackles, including two for loss and an 8-yard sack.
Auburn got the ball to start the game and drove 75 yards in 14 plays, taking a 7-0 lead on quarterback Jackson Arnold’s 2-yard run. At the end of the first quarter, with the Tigers threatening to score again, Auburn had a 141-14 advantage in total offense. Georgia was able to hold Auburn to a 25-yard Alex McPherson field goal, pushing the Tiger lead to 10-0 with 13:41 left in the half.
With less than two minutes to play in the half, Arnold dove over the pile from the 1 for the potential touchdown. But Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson punched the ball out and safety Kyron Jones recovered the fumble at the 2, earning the Bulldogs a huge stop with 1:32 left in the half.
Georgia got a lot of help from three Auburn penalties on the ensuing 12-play drive, including two 15-yarders, one for targeting and one for roughing the passer. Peyton Woodring got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with a 29-yard field goal, cutting the Tiger lead to 10-3 with 11 seconds to play until halftime.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs to start the second half, coming up empty on a fourth-and-5 pass attempt at the Tiger 46. Georgia’s defense then stopped Auburn on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 at the UGA 37.
Georgia’s offense began its next drive with a 21-yard Stockton completion to wideout Colbie Young. Later, Stockton hit receiver Noah Thomas down the middle for 30 yards to the 2. On the next play, running back Chauncey Bowens ran the ball in for Georgia’s first touchdown, tying the game 10-10 with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Allen sacked Arnold for a loss of 8 yards on third down to force an Auburn punt, and Georgia took over at its 40. After converting a fourth-and-1 at the Auburn 37 on a 4-yard Nate Frazier carry, the Bulldogs took a 13-10 lead on Woodring’s 53-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the quarter.
The Georgia defense forced a second straight three-and-out, and then Auburn’s Hudson Kaak’s punt went out of bounds after just 14 yards, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Tiger 45. On third-and-7 at the 42, Stockton hit receiver Zachariah Branch for a 13-yard gain to the 29. Georgia ultimately came up empty on the drive when Woodring missed a 45-yard kick with 11:44 to play in the game.
After another Auburn three-and-out, Georgia got the ball back at its 22. On third-and-8 from the 24, Stockton hit wideout London Humphreys for 17 yards to the 41. Completions of 9 and 10 yards to Branch moved the ball into Auburn territory, and on fourth-and-3 at the 40, Stockton found Humphreys again, this time for 8 yards.
Later in the drive, Georgia converted a third-and-1 at the 23 when Stockton found Frazier for a 6-yard completion to the 17. Three plays later, Stockton ran it in from the 10 to make it 20-10 with 1:53 to play.
The Bulldogs are back at Sanford Stadium next Saturday, when they host No. 4 Ole Miss.
