No. 2 Georgia held on to defeat No. 6 Alabama, 20-17, on Saturday night.
It’s the first time since 2007 that the Georgia defeated Alabama in the regular season in Tuscaloosa.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“What a great college football game, great atmosphere. I’ve been in a bunch of those with them and they all seem similar, you know, just physical game back and forth, some critical calls, critical situations. You could go back and look at hundreds of them on there,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in his postgame news conference.
Dwight Phillips had a breakout performance with Georgia’s top running backs Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens out. Phillips finished with 17 carries for 120 yards, including a crucial run late in the fourth quarter.
“Y’all don’t know how special this kid is. He ain’t complained one time since being here. And he’s so tough for his size,” Smart said.
The game didn’t end without controversy. Referees did not throw a flag on what appeared to be a pass interference play in the endzone. A penalty would have put Alabama into field goal position with the chance to tie the game.
Instead, Georgia got the ball back and ran out the clock to secure the win.
With No. 1 Texas losing to Oklahoma, the Dawgs are certain to become the new No. 1 team when the Associated Press poll is released Sunday afternoon.
SCORING DRIVES
First Quarter
Georgia 3, Alabama 0: Peyton Woodring 43-yard FG
Second Quarter
Georgia 10, Alabama 0: London Humphreys 20-yard TD from Gunner Stockton
Georgia 10, Alabama 7: Marshall Pritchett 22-yard TD from Keelon Russell
Georgia 10, Alabama 14: EJ Crowell 1-yard rushing TD
Third Quarter
Georgia 17, Alabama 14: Gunner Stockton, 14-yard rushing TD
Georgia 17, Alabama 17: Conor Talty 39-yard FG
Fourth Quarter
Georgia 20, Alabama 17: Peyton Woodring 23-yard FG
