Georgia exorcised some demons Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The second-ranked Bulldogs had misplaced 5 straight regular-season video games in opposition to Alabama earlier than coming away with a 20-17 win over the sixth-ranked Crimson Tide.
The Southeastern Convention rivalry hasn’t been totally that one-sided. Georgia received the SEC championship sport over Alabama final December and notably received its first nationwide title since 1980 with its 33-18 win over the Crimson Tide within the nationwide championship sport on the finish of the 2021 season.
However a collection that had been fairly one-sided — Alabama received 10 of 11 video games in opposition to Georgia between 2008-25, together with regular-season video games every of the final two seasons — could lastly be absolutely turning within the different route.
Kirby Good, who was in his first season as Alabama’s defensive backs coach the final time Georgia received at Alabama in 2007, downplayed how a lot ending that drought meant. However a few of his postgame actions could say in any other case.
“I don’t decide my happiness or success on how we play Bama,” Good stated after the win. “I’ve bought a variety of respect for this place.”
This win was a powerful show of the machine that Good has inbuilt Athens.
Gunner Stockton, who could also be one of the crucial underappreciated gamers within the nation, accomplished 18 of twenty-two passes for 249 yards, a landing and an interception. On the midway level of the common season, he’s accomplished 76.6% of his passes for 1,298 yards, 14 touchdowns and two picks.
Good’s year-in-and-year-out elite-level recruiting additionally paid off on either side of the ball. With high operating backs Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier each sidelined, Dwight “Peanut” Phillips Jr., a former four-star prospect casually ready his flip within the wings, rose to the event with a career-high 120 speeding yards.
“What an incredible child, man. This Dwight Phillips, man, y’all don’t know the way particular this child is,” Good stated. “He ain’t complained one time since being right here, and he’s so powerful for his measurement.”
The Georgia protection was its often stifling self as nicely. An Alabama offense which entered tenth nationally in yards per play (7.22) was held to 346 yards of offense.
Sophomore sensation quarterback Keelon Russell, who had 10 TD passes throughout the prior three video games with a completion share above 72% in every of them, accomplished simply 16 of 30 passes (53.3%) for 185 yards and one TD. The Bulldogs additionally ended Russell’s run of three straight video games with a speeding landing.
With No. 1 Texas dropping Saturday, the trail is paved for Georgia to return to the highest of the polls this week. And after the Bulldogs adopted SEC championships with quarterfinal exits within the School Soccer Playoff in every of the final two seasons, this can be the staff to return Good to varsity soccer’s mountaintop.
