November 13, 2004
Auburn makes their case against Georgia
The Auburn Tigers passed another test Saturday afternoon, manhandling the Georgia Bulldogs 24-6 before a record home crowd at Jordan Hare Stadium. With the win, the Tigers winning streak now stands at ten games. Auburn got redemption over Georgia, who was the last team to beat them.
Georgia came into the game needing a win to stay in the race of the SEC Eastern Division title with Tennessee. Auburn needed a win to stay in the race for the Orange Bowl at season's end.
The game was a top five match-up with national interest between two potential powerhouse teams with a lot on the line. It's too bad only one of the teams showed up to make it a game.
Georgia looked like the team that faced and beat LSU earlier this season on the first drive of the game, drivng down field for 62 yards. However, a missed field goal sent momentum onto Auburn's sideline and it remained there the rest of the afternoon. Auburn took the opening possession and for drove into the red zone--something the Tigers have done all year. And for the eighth time this year, they put points on the board and from that point on they never looked back.
Georgia had chances. A botched punt by Auburn in the second quarter gave Georgia some hope. But they couldn't capitalize and Auburn seized back momentum on a Carlos Rogers interception. The Tigers took the ball to their 29 yard line where Cadillac Williams took got the first touchdown pass of his career to Anthony Mix. The Tigers tacked on a field goal to lead 17-0 at the half.
Williams acounted for two touchdowns on the afternoon--one passing and one rushing. He had 101 yards for the game. Ronnie Brown had 51 yards and led the team in receiving with 60 yards on four catches.
Georgia scored a late touchdown from David Green to Anthony Pope but a two-point conversion failed. Auburn wrapped up the game 24-6 and kept their hopes for a national championship alive.
Georgia slipped to two losses in the SEC this year and must hope that Vanderbilt and Kentucky both can beat Tennessee in the next two weeks in order to force a rematch with Auburn in the SEC Championship Game December 4.
One scary moment in the game came in the third quarter when Georgia's Reggie Brown took a helmet to helmet hit on a reception and then fumble. Brown remained on the field for a long time, leading to the stretcher being brought onto the field. However, he was able to walk off under his own power and it was reported that he has a concussion. CBS showed him going to the locker room in a neck brace and reported he was taken to a local hospital. No further reports were available as of the time of this message.
Now, onto the implications of this game.
No matter how you look at it, Auburn manhandled Georgia. Outside of two drives--the first and the last, Georgia was completely outplayed...and not for the first time this season. Georgia has been suspect all year and it showed up again here.
Auburn continues to only get better as the season goes along. Yes, they face a bitter rival next week in Alabama, who was the number six defense in the country and then a potential rematch with Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game. Should they win out, Auburn clearly deserves a shot at the national title game. Right now, Auburn could hand with and probably beat either of the two teams ranked ahead of them. And were it not for the system of preseason polling, Auburn might be number one in the country.
They play in the toughest conference in the country. Hopefully things will shake out that Auburn can play for it, but it may not be easy. USC faces a weak conference and no championship game. Auburn Tiger fans should start pulling hard for Notre Dame to upset USC and give the Tigers the chance they deserve to play for it all.
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Comments & Trackbacks
Michael says:
posted on November 14, 2004 03:25 PM — linkAuburn is clearly the better team-and I am a die-hard dawg fan...I went there and have two degrees...I wish the Tigers the best of luck. I hope they rise to number two and smoke the Trojans in the Orange Bowl. To be honest, I have never much liked the Tigers, our rivals. But when Reggie Brown went down last night, your fans were chanting his name, trying to wake him up, hoping for the best. I think you guys are all worth a million dollars, every one of you. I was so scared, and your reaction to that brought tears to my eyes. Good luck Tigers, and go get them...Michael Mehrhof mmehrhof@yahoo.com
HJ Williams says:
posted on November 14, 2004 11:55 PM — linkIf the BCS does not give Auburn the # 2 spot tomorrow it will be an outright travisty. I think Auburn would mop up USC if given the chance and I really hope they get that chance. Oh yea, Utah at # 5 in the AP and now GameDay coming to Utah? This is huge, bigger than huge, gianormus! (Go Stanford!!!) and give those UTES a Rose.
Michael Hickerson says:
posted on November 15, 2004 09:55 AM — linkI think the only poll that actually reflects intelligent people who love college football is the Fanblogs poll. How do we get to be part of the BCS fomrula?!?
And Mike--I was pleased to see the class of the Auburn faithful in cheering for an injured player. That is what college sports is all about.
It's just too bad that 99% of the UGA fans don't realize that...
Realist says:
posted on November 15, 2004 01:37 PM — linkNo, there is no better team than Auburn. Congrats to the team and all of their fans. I heard the chants for Reggie as well and only wish that my fellow Dawg fans would act the same in a similar situation. Now finish what you have started and keep the National Championship in the SEC!
Hunter says:
posted on November 16, 2004 10:39 AM — linkI am a huge Georgia Bulldog fan, and I didn't realize Auburn is as good as they are. Auburn should be #1 in the nation followed by Oklahoma.
Kevin says:
posted on November 16, 2004 05:26 PM — linkMichael,
Those are some nice comments about Auburn and really shows the class of ALL Georgia fans. Georgia has always been the game I most look forward to because the teams always match up and play well against each other. We (Auburn fans) were all proud of our players after the hit that put Brown down. They always huddle together to pray for an injured opponent as do we at home.
Good luck against Tech.James A. Mills says:
posted on November 17, 2004 11:11 PM — linkAuburn is the real deal! I am just wondering why USC is sitting pretty at #1 considering all of the close calls that they have had this year?
