‘Huge Statement Win,’ ‘Kirby Smart Finally Gets His Regular-Season Win’ — Georgia Fans React to Bulldogs’ First Tuscaloosa Win Since 2007
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No. 2 Georgia stayed unbeaten Saturday night, beating No. 6 Alabama 20-17 at Bryant-Denny Stadium for its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007.
Peyton Woodring, who had missed a 39-yard try early in the fourth quarter, made a 23-yard field goal with 5:25 left for the winning points. The win moved the Bulldogs to 6-0 and 4-0 in the SEC, while the Crimson Tide fell to 5-1 and 3-1.
Gunner Stockton Leads Georgia Past Alabama in Tuscaloosa
“The Dawgs are on a roll!” Georgia Football, the Bulldogs’ official account, wrote on X.
Georgia trailed 14-10 at halftime, the first time it had trailed this season. Trae’shawn Brown’s 58-yard run set up a 22-yard touchdown pass from Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell to Marshall Pritchett, and EJ Crowell scored from 1 yard out on the final play of the half.
“We gave them a (58-yard) run on a missed (run) fit, then we busted a coverage,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said during his ABC halftime interview.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton answered on Georgia’s first drive of the third quarter, scoring on a 14-yard run to retake the lead at 17-14. He finished 18 of 22 for 249 yards with a 20-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys and an interception.
On Pro Football Network’s board, Stockton’s PFN Impact grade of 89.8 through Week 5 ranks 6th of 165 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks.
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“18 for 22 is a big time performance,” CEO Branding Expert wrote, answering Georgia Football’s celebration.
Still, Stockton had help on the ground — Georgia ran for 206 yards without leading rusher Nate Frazier or running back Chauncey Bowens. Dwight Phillips Jr., making his first career start, carried 17 times for 120 yards, and his PFN Impact grade of 81.8 through Week 5 is tied for 49th of 369 graded and qualified FBS running backs.
Bo Walker added 69 yards, including a 37-yard run to the Alabama 8 that set up Woodring’s go-ahead kick.
“Huge statement win by our #Dawgs on the road at Bama!!” one Georgia fan wrote.
The victory was Georgia’s third over Alabama in their last 11 meetings and its first against the Crimson Tide in the regular season since 2007.
“Kirby Smart finally gets his regular-season win over the Crimson Tide!” another fan replied.
Officiating Calls Draw Scrutiny in Georgia Win Over Alabama
Alabama moved quickly after Woodring’s kick, with Russell hitting Rico Scott for 23 yards and Derek Meadows for 18. On second down, Russell threw to Scott in the end zone, and officials threw no flag after Georgia safety KJ Bolden made contact with Scott.
Bolden and Valdin Sone shared a sack of Russell on the next play, a 9-yard loss on third-and-10 that knocked Alabama out of field-goal range and forced a punt. Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread wrote that officials missed a clear interference call and that Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was livid with them.
“The PI was painfully obvious,” one fan replied, then asked for examples of missed calls that went Alabama’s way and changed the entire game.
Georgia had calls go against it early, though. A holding penalty wiped out a Georgia touchdown on its opening possession, and an offensive pass interference call left the Bulldogs facing second-and-27 before Woodring’s 43-yard field goal.
A review went Georgia’s way in the third quarter, when an apparent Alabama interception deep in Georgia territory was ruled incomplete.
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Greg Bluestein, chief political reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, offered Georgia fans a comeback for any Alabama fan who complains about the officiating, telling them to “just respond that Tyler Simmons was onside.”
Alabama never got the ball back. Stockton converted a third-and-7 from the Georgia 10 with a 17-yard completion to Elyiss Williams, and a personal foul on Alabama cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. later gave the Bulldogs a first down that let them run out the clock against a Crimson Tide team out of timeouts.
Looking Ahead in Week 7 to Auburn
Top-ranked Texas lost 27-24 to Oklahoma earlier Saturday, and the Associated Press wrote that Georgia’s win should vault the Bulldogs to the top of Sunday’s AP Top 25.
As of October 10, PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gave Georgia a 53.3% chance to win in Tuscaloosa, an 80.6% chance to reach the SEC Championship Game with a victory and an 85.3% chance to beat Auburn.
While Alabama plays at Tennessee, Georgia returns to Sanford Stadium for next Saturday’s Week 7 game against Auburn (3-2, 1-1), which was idle this weekend.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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