Todd Gurley may be back for Georgia, but Nick Chubb has been leading the way on the ground for the Bulldogs in the first half while Gurley gets back in the mix. Behind the running of Chubb and Gurley, Georgia owns a 17-7 halftime lead on the visiting Tigers.
After being upset at home last week by unranked Texas A&M, No. 9 Auburn made sure to get off on the right foot this week on the road against No. 15 Georgia. On the opening offensive possession of the game, Auburn marched right down the field on Georgia’s defense. Cameron Artis-Payne capped a 10-play, 70-yard drive with a 26-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Todd Gurley made his return official by returning the Auburn kickoff 32 yards. An offensive holding penalty brought the ball back to the Georgia 22-yard line, but Gurley was back. He did not touch the football on Georgia’s first possession, but he did on Georgia’s second possession. Auburn knew it was coming though, stuffing both Gurley runs for a total loss of three yards. Georgia ended up having to punt the ball away, but Auburn’s Quan Bray fumbled away the football to Georgia’s punt coverage team.
Starting just inside the red zone, Gurley carried the football for an 11-yard gain to help set up a Hutson Mason touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell three plays later to tie the game at 7-7. Chubb later added a touchdown run to go with his team-high 67 yards. Georgia added a late field goal by Marshall Morgan to take a 17-7 lead.
Both teams need a win to keep their respective division championship hopes alive. With Mississippi State’s loss to Alabama, Auburn needs to keep pace with the Crimson Tide. The Iron Bowl once again could determine the SEC West, just as it did a year ago. Georgia is also looking to keep pace with Missouri. Missouri leads the SEC East by one game and is currently playing at Texas A&M.