Unranked teams had lost 195 consecutive games against AP No. 1 teams when trailing by 14 points entering Saturday.
Auburn gave up two touchdowns within 10 minutes of kicking off against Georgia, but there was no panic on the Auburn sideline. It was just about playing the next play, and it led to a historic 27-24 comeback victory for Auburn.
“Every time we came back to the sideline, it was, 'Bro, we've got to stay in this,” said linebacker Elijah Melendez. “This isn't over.' First quarter, they were running a bunch of different formations and trick plays. Eventually, they had to play football and beat us. They had to eventually beat us at football.”
Georgia tallied 164 yards of total offense through its first two drives on 12 plays. An average of 13.7 yards per play. Where did things sit with Auburn at that moment?
“Next-play mentality,” said defensive lineman Cody Sigler. “No matter what you got, you always got a chance to win a game. Fourteen points, that's really nothing in the football game. That's just two possessions away from getting back in.”
Auburn’s offense responded to the second Georgia touchdown with one of its own, making it 14-7. It seemed to spark the defense, which following the Auburn touchdown, forced two punts, blocked a field goal and intercepted a pass defensively to close the half.
“It obviously helped that there was answers offensively where you felt like you were able to climb back into it,” said head coach Alex Golesh. “That's a resilient group, man.”
Auburn led 17-14 at the midway point, but unlike two weeks ago at Tennessee, the Tigers held firm out of halftime. The offense scored on its opening possession and Melendez came up with his third career interception on Georgia’s first possession of the second half.
“The quarterback just overthrew it, and I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time,” Melendez said.
Meanwhile, Auburn’s rushing defense played one of its best games. In two of its last three outings, Auburn allowed more than 230 yards rushing to its opponent. Facing Georgia, the Tigers gave up 113 yards on the ground.
“That was the No. 1 key to our victory, stop the run,” Melendez said. “Just be physical. Me and the d-line and the other linebackers, we made a promise to each other: They keep talking about our rush defense. We're not gonna let them talk about that no more. So, no matter what it takes, we're gonna play to the physicality level that we have to. We made a promise to each other.”
Late in the game, however, Georgia found success. The Bulldogs executed a 13-play, 94-yard drive that ended in a game-tying touchdown with less than three minutes to go.
“There was some busts on there, there was a couple missed tackles,” Golesh said. “It was literally the first time where I'm like, ‘Okay, did we just wear down?”
Auburn’s offense punted on its ensuing possession and gave the ball right back to the Bulldogs. It was on that possession where Sigler pressured Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton into a fumble, which Auburn recovered.
“That was just the right play at the right time,” Sigler said. “I was able to stick my arm out and get it. People were saying I couldn't see it. But I could barely see it, and I just punched it out.”
It was the definition of resiliency. From getting punched in the mouth on the drive before to making a play when needed the most.
“You put a drive together and don't get any points there, offensively,” Golesh said. “The ability to go, then put our defense back out there, trust them, create a takeaway, and then set ourselves up to kick a game-winner in a spot where Alex (McPherson) was comfortable -- the ability to put it where he wanted it. Proud of our kids.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
