Georgia keeps Auburn at arm's length in 31-13 victory

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia is back in the win column after controlling but not dominating Auburn in a 31-13 win. The Bulldogs move to 4-1 on the season after playing just their second home contest in the first six weeks.

Carson Beck connected on 23 of 29 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Trevor Etienne piled up 124 total yards on 22 touchdowns while reaching the end zone twice on the ground. The Bulldogs also benefitted from two first-quarter sacks from junior defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.

Things started almost exactly how Georgia wanted them too. The Bulldogs stopped Auburn on the opening possession despite surrendering one first down. The offense got off to its fastest start against an FBS opponent this season, reaching the end zone with the opening possession. Etienne capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run and the Bulldogs grabbed a quick 7-0 lead after the PAT.

Auburn cut the lead to four on its next possession with a 10-play drive that ate up over five minutes of clock. The Tigers got inside the Bulldog 10-yard line but it stalled there and Towns McGough connected on a 27-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of the home team.

The next two Georgia possessions yielded nothing in terms of points although one did get one did get into field goal range before it was stalled by a holding penalty on 3rd and 1. It wiped out a 19-yard run by Trevor Etienne.

It was the Bulldogs final possession of the first half before they got on the board again. After getting the ball just into plus territory, Georgia took five plays to travel 49 yards and Beck found Dominick Lovett for a 12-yard touchdown. Auburn tried to put points on the board at the end of the half with a long field goal but the Bulldogs blocked it.

The second half started with the ball in Georgia’s hands and it did nothing with it, going three and out. Auburn used its first possession to cut into the lead and reach the end zone for the only time on the day. Jarquez Hunter made it happen with a 38-yard touchdown run around right end. The PAT put the score a 14-10, Georgia.

Kirby Smart’s team took the game over from there. Georgia got into the end zone with a long touchdown drive that lasted almost six minutes. Etienne ran it in again, this time from one yard out, and the PAT pushed Georgia’s lead to 21-10.

Auburn’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs. The Tigers went for it on 4th and 1 in their own territory but Georgia snuffed out the Peyton Thorne keeper to turn the Tigers over on downs. Georgia made the most of the short field, needing just five plays to travel 49 yards as Beck hit Bell for a three-yard touchdown. The PAT put Georgia up by 18 at 28-10.

The two teams traded fourth quarter field goals and Auburn made a late run at the end zone before turning it over on downs. The Bulldogs kneeled on it in the final minute and put the game away 31-13.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a home matchup with Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast by The SEC Network.

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