Trevor Etienne reflects on scoring walkoff TD, playing through rib injury for Georgia in SEC title game

Georgia are again SEC champions and the Bulldogs would not have prevailed over Texas on Saturday in Atlanta without the contributions of tailback Trevor Etienne. And the transfer gutted through an injury to join his team in the lineup.

Etienne had been out for a number of weeks with a rib injury but finally returned to the lineup on Saturday. He made his biggest contribution of all at the very end, too, punching in a game-winning touchdown in overtime to walk off a win against the Longhorns and lock up an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff for Georgia.

“I wanted it bad,” Etienne said of playing through his injury to sideline reporter Holly Rowe postgame. “I’ve never been part of something like this. This is why you come to Georgia.”

Etienne said his ribs felt “great,” too.

Etienne finished with 16 carries for 94 yards and both of Georgia’s touchdowns on the day. Etienne also had five catches for 28 yards.

And it was probably helped by the Bulldogs weathering a slow start and an injury to starting quarterback Carson Beck to win behind backup Gunner Stockton, 22-16, in overtime. Despite the quarterback swap, Etienne and the offense had faith in the operation.

“I’m just so proud of him. He worked so hard. Day in and day out. Never complains. Comes in a works day to day. It just goes to show how much work he put in. I’m proud of him, man,” Etienne said.

Etienne add that there was never a doubt that his team would prevail, as to a man the Bulldogs all believed they’d win.

“Resilient. No matter the ups and the downs, no matter how tough the game got, nobody folded,” Etienne said. “Nobody gave up. Nobody gave in. Everybody came out with the mindset we’re ready to go after halftime. We were down 6-3 and nobody showed any sign of weakness. That’s what I love about this group the most.”