Bulldogs no longer unbeaten as Alabama wins SEC championship
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Dec. 5—ATLANTA — The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs entered Saturday's anticipated Southeastern Conference football championship game with a historically stout defense, having allowed just 6.9 points per game this season.
They hadn't faced Alabama.
Behind the arms and legs of sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 3 Crimson Tide racked up 319 yards and 24 points in the second quarter alone in stunning undefeated Georgia 41-24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Young cemented his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy by completing 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing three times for 40 yards and a score.
Young's 421 passing yards and 461 total yards set SEC championship game records on an offense that amassed 536 yards.
Alabama's eruption in the second quarter enabled the Tide to take a 24-17 lead at halftime, and a 55-yard touchdown pass from Young to Jameson Williams less than two minutes into the third quarter made it 31-17. A 42-yard interception return for a score by Alabama safety Jordan Battle at the expense of Stetson Bennett with 11:59 remaining in the game gave the Tide their largest lead at 38-17.
Both Alabama (12-1) and Georgia (12-1) are expected to make the College Football Playoff, with the four-team field scheduled to be revealed Sunday afternoon.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
