ATLANTA — Trevor Etienne rushed for a game-winning four-yard score in overtime, clinching the Southeastern Conference Championship for the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs with a 22-19 win over No. 2 Texas.
Etienne rushed for 94 yards and two scores, as Georgia (11-2) won despite starting quarterback Carson Beck missing the entire second half with an injury. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before replacement Gunner Stockton threw for 71 yards and an interception.
After Bert Auburn’s 32-yard field goal gave Texas a three-point lead in overtime, Stockton was knocked out of the game after an eight-yard rush on Andrew Mukuba’s helmet-jarring tackle. Beck re-entered to hand the ball off on Etienne’s game-winning score.
Quinn Ewers completed 27 of 46 passes for 358 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Texas (11-2), which fell to Georgia for a second time.
Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Georgia took its first lead on a 10-play, 75-yard drive, stamped with Etienne’s 10-yard rushing touchdown. After each team traded punts, Auburn missed a 51-yard field goal at the 4:56 mark of the third quarter.
Peyton Woodring’s 24-yard field goal then gave Georgia a 13-6 lead. Texas responded with its first touchdown, a 41-yard game-tying pass from Ewers to DeAndre Moore at the 13:54 mark of the fourth quarter.
Georgia’s following drive was prolonged by a successful fake punt on 4th and 5 from its own 30, as backup center Drew Bobo took the direct snap in the backfield and flipped it forward to Arian Smith, who took it for nine yards. Nate Frazier’s runs of 15 and and 14 yards set up the Bulldogs on Texas’ four-yard line, where Woodring’s 20-yarder gave Georgia a 16-13 lead with 4:32 remaining.
On 3rd and 17 in the ensuing drive, Ewers was picked off by Daylen Everette on Georgia’s 29-yard line, but Stockton gave it right back with an interception by Jahdae Barron with 2:30 left. Aided by defensive pass interference, Texas advanced to Georgia’s 14. Auburn then tied the game with a 37-yard field goal with 18 seconds left.
On the game’s first drive, Ewers was intercepted by Everette at Georgia’s 35-yard line.
After Georgia’s three-and-out, Texas’ nine-play, 64-yard drive was stamped with Auburn’s 41-yard field goal with 5:17 remaining in the opening quarter.
Following another Georgia punt, Texas doubled its lead on Auburn’s 42-yarder with 10:22 left in the second quarter. Georgia answered with Woodring’s 44-yard field goal with 6:41 left in the first half.
–Jack Batten, Field Level Media