ATHENS, Ga. — Alex McPherson kicked the game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired and a running game dominated by quarterback Byrum Brown led Auburn to a 27-24 win over No. 1 Georgia on Saturday.
It was the second straight week that the top team in the AP Top 25 lost to an unranked opponent, following the then-No. 1 team. 1. Texas lost to Oklahoma State last Saturday.
Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton led the team on a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but fumbled it with 58 seconds left, giving the Bulldogs a go-ahead lead.
Stockton also had two interceptions, and he fumbled the ball on a run in Auburn’s 46. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed was healthy in the 44 for the Tigers at Auburn. A roughing pass penalty by Georgia’s Gabe Harris Jr. set up McPherson’s game-winning field goal. Auburn players packed the field.
Brown rushed for 115 yards, a touchdown on 26 carries and a passing score.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) ended a nine-game winning streak against Auburn and a 53-game winning streak against unranked teams with a loss that would have ended the Bulldogs’ brief one-week stay in the AP Top 25.
Auburn (4-2, 2-2), who plays LSU next Saturday, beat the Bulldogs on the field. Tailback Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury to start for Georgia but was ineffective, gaining just 19 yards on nine carries.
Georgia trailed 24-14, but Peyton Woodring tied the game on a 42-yard field goal. Stockton started the game with a touchdown drive at the Georgia 6 and finished with a 94-yard touchdown drive in 13 plays, capped by a 4-yard pass to London Humphreys.
Stockton’s two interceptions in six games doubled his interception total from last season. The Bulldogs were also hurt by turnovers, including three personal foul penalties.
After Georgia took a 14-0 lead, Auburn scored 24 more points.
Georgia, which has a bye before facing Florida State, which beat Texas on Saturday, looked dominant in the opening minutes despite Stockton having to leave after suffering a helmet first on the first play of the game. Ryan Puglisi completed three of his passes, including a 41-yard pass to Craig Dandridge Jr. and then a 15-yard scoring run to Dwight Phillips.
Stockton returned on the next possession and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for a 14-0 lead.
Auburn responded with a physical, run-first offense led by the 235-pound Brown, who was effective both in designing the run and taking off after returning the ball.
Since LSU lost to Arkansas 50-48 in double overtime on Nov. 23, 2007, the top-ranked team has won 93 consecutive home games against the top-ranked team.
takeout
Auburn: The Tigers responded in impressive fashion by scoring the final 17 points of the first half in a week-opening contest after giving up the first 14 points. Brown threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chase Nimrod, but it was his dominant role in the Tigers’ running attack that was most valuable. Brown wore down the Georgia defense with his physical running game. Jeremiah Cobb was also effective as a running back to complement Brown’s lead role.
Georgia: A week after a highly anticipated 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama, the Bulldogs seemed to fade in the second quarter as their defense put 45 plays on the field in the first half. However, after leading 14-0 in the first two possessions, the team failed to maintain momentum, and it wasn’t just fatigue.
Rookie linebacker Kamari Brooks’ personal foul hit on Brown in the final seconds was the key to Auburn’s tying touchdown. Stockton stared at receiver Humphries for too long on a pass and was intercepted by Anquan Fagans late in the first half.