ATHENS, Ga. — Trevor Etienne shined for No. 5 Georgia, rushing for two touchdowns in a solid 31-13 victory against a struggling Auburn team on Saturday. The win allowed the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) to recover from their first regular-season loss in nearly four years, keeping their hopes for a national championship alive while extending their dominance in the Deep South’s oldest rivalry to eight straight victories.
Despite the favorable outcome, Georgia’s performance raised some eyebrows, as they faced a more challenging match against the Tigers (2-4, 0-3) than many anticipated. Kirby told the team it had potential to be tough. The DAWGS, who began the season as the top-ranked team and favorites for their third national title in four years, found themselves in a competitive battle against an Auburn squad that has now suffered six consecutive losses to Power Five opponents.
Etienne opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run during Georgia’s first possession, and he later added a 1-yard score in the third quarter, which required a video review to confirm. He ended the day with 88 rushing yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Carson Beck further solidified the victory with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Bell early in the fourth quarter, marking Beck’s second touchdown throw of the game. Auburn’s lone touchdown came from Jarquez Hunter, who broke a tackle near the line and sprinted 38 yards to the end zone, narrowing Georgia’s lead to 14-10. However, the Tigers lacked the offensive firepower needed to mount a serious challenge.
Coming off a heartbreaking 41-34 loss at No. 1 Alabama, Georgia was determined to make a statement. In Tuscaloosa, the Bulldogs had rallied from a 30-7 deficit only to fall victim to a late 75-yard touchdown pass that sealed their fate. While Beck did not have any major errors against Auburn, completing 23 of 29 passes for 240 yards, questions about Georgia’s dominance remain. They face tough road tests against Texas and Ole Miss in the coming weeks. Additionally, the defense took a hit when lineman Christen Miller left the game with a left knee injury.
As for the Tigers, they have a bye week before returning to action on October 19 against No. 9 Missouri, a team that faced a tough defeat at the hands of No. 25 Texas A&M. Georgia, meanwhile, will host Mississippi State next Saturday, looking to build on their performance and strengthen their position in the SEC.
(Photo Credit: Photo CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 by briman4031)