Evan McPherson reacts to brother Alex's game-winner: 'Just so proud of him'

Saturday afternoon, in Athens, Ga., Auburn kicker Alex McPherson trotted out to attempt the field goal of his life.

Elsewhere, on the beach during his bye week, older brother and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson watched Alex take down No. 1 Georgia when his 34-yard field goal went through the uprights.

“We were eating dinner at a restaurant down at the beach,” Evan told reporters Sunday, while making an appearance at the Hell is Real Derby for FC Cincinnati. “I tell you what, I was jumping up and down like a little girl, cheering like crazy after he hit that kick.”

Evan is no stranger to SEC football. The Bengals’ kicker spent his college career with Florida, also beating Georgia in his final season of college football. Seeing his younger brother do the same in walk-off fashion, after all of the adversity Alex has faced, meant everything to Evan.

“I was just so proud of him,” Evan said. “He’s worked really hard. He’s kicking really well, hasn’t really gotten a lot of opportunities, but just to go 2-for-2 and help his team in that sort of fashion against the No. 1 team in the country was awesome.”

The brothers constantly talk about their kicks, and as soon as Alex checked his phone after the game, there was already a text message from Evan.

“He texted me and told me how proud he was of me,” Alex said. “Man, I'm just so grateful to be a part of that family, that family tradition I guess.”

Earlier this season, Alex tied Evan’s career-long in college with his own 55-yard field goal against Southern Miss. While Alex thinks highly of that kick, the game-winner against Georgia is sitting at the top of the list for him, as it should.

The kick didn’t just end Auburn’s nine-game losing streak against Georgia. It didn’t just give Auburn its first win in Athens in over 20 years. It didn’t just give Alex Golesh his first signature win as head coach.

It gave Auburn the win it had been seeking for years.

“It was something he’ll remember forever,” Evan said. “And I think it’s something that the people of Auburn, Alabama, will remember forever, too.”