T.J. Yeldon's third quarter touchdown keyed Bama's second half comeback. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)
Alabama’s 32-28 win over Georgia in Saturday night’s SEC Championship game was a story of momentum, which was the theme of the day.
When Cornelius Washington blocked Cade Foster’s 50-yard field goal and it was returned 55 yards for a score by Alec Ogletree in the third quarter, the Bulldogs went on top 21-10 with 6:30 to go in the period and seemed to have seized the momentum for the game.
However, Alabama chipped back with a five-play, 62-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard run by T.J. Yeldon and his subsequent two-point conversion cut it to 21-18. After the blocked punt, that was a must-have drive or Georgia could have ridden the crest of emotion to the win.
After the Bulldogs went three-and-out, Eddie Lacy and Yeldon chewed up 74 yards on seven rushing plays that ended on Lacy’s one-yard run. He began the drive with a 32-yard jaunt which saw him bounce off his blocker at the line of scrimmage and bounce outside for the big play down the right sideline.
“I couldn’t be prouder of a team, not only for the way they competed in the game, but they came back in the game on several occasions,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, “Twice in the game, they overcame a lot of adversity and then the competitive character they showed against a very good Georgia football team.”
Momentum even captured the last drive of the game. Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner seemed to have intercepted a batted Aaron Murray pass near midfield inside of a minute. However, the subsequent review ruled the pass incomplete, so Georgia still had life.
Murray completed passes in the middle of the field of 23 yards to Tavarres King and a 26-yard throw to tight end Arthur Lynch to the Crimson Tide 8-yard line.
Instead of spiking the ball to get the Bulldogs organized for one last shot in the end zone, Murray took the snap and threw the ball into the flat to Chris Conley, who was met by Crimson Tide defenders and buried. The clock struck zero and time ran out on a possible Bulldogs berth for a national championship.
“We were attempting to throw the ball to Malcolm Mitchell in the back of the end zone, but the ball got batted and it just landed, unfortunately,” said Richt, “It’s a fade by the outside receiver, but a four-step speed out by the inside receiver.”
Richt vehemently defended the game ending play.
“You don’t need to spike the ball there!” he exclaimed, “You don’t need to spike the ball…”
The game ending drive was a microcosm of how many define the tenure of Mark Richt at Georgia – so close but so far away. The Bulldogs have been on the verge of competing for national championships, but just can’t seem to get through the SEC title game. This was agonizingly close as it came down to the last play with eight yards standing between Georgia and a fate with Notre Dame for the title.
“That’s for you to worry about then,” said Richt of a question aimed at his inability to win on the biggest stages, “If that’s what you say, then I’ll answer that question; if that’s what others say then I’m not worried about that.”
