ATHENS — Alex McPherson made a 34-yard field goal as time expired to lift visiting Auburn to a shocking 27-24 victory over No. 1 Georgia on Saturday.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton had three turnovers, including a fumble with 58 seconds left to give Auburn the ball at its own 44-yard line. After Gabe Harris Jr.’s roughing-the-passer penalty on the ensuing drive, McPherson gave Auburn (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) its first win over Georgia since 2017 and first in Athens in 21 years.
Byrum Brown threw for 150 yards and a touchdown, adding 115 rushing yards and a score for the Tigers, who trailed by 14 points in the first quarter. He completed 15 of 26 passes.
Stockton, who connected on 22 of 34 passing attempts, threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but had two interceptions for Georgia (6-1, 4-1), which suffered its first loss to an unranked team since 2019.
Leading by three at halftime, Auburn extended the lead on Brown’s 5-yard rushing score to make it 24-14 with 11:28 remaining in the third.
Stockton was intercepted by Elijah Melendez on Georgia’s ensuing drive, but an Auburn three-and-out quickly returned the ball to the Bulldogs.
Peyton Woodring made a 42-yard field goal to cut Georgia’s deficit to 24-17.
Auburn punted on each of its next two drives, before the Bulldogs completed a 13-play, 94-yard drive — including Stockton’s 20-yard rush — and tied the game on a 4-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys with 3:02 left in the fourth.
After a punt returned the ball to Georgia, Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered Stockton’s fumble, leading to the game-winning field goal.
Stockton was injured on a five-yard rush on Georgia’s first play from scrimmage, but backup Ryan Puglisi entered and completed three passes for 55 yards before Dwight Phillips Jr. rushed for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 edge.
Georgia doubled its lead with Stockton back in on its next drive, as the Bulldogs starter hit Lawson Luckie for a 24-yard touchdown with 6:49 left in the opening quarter.
Auburn answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, stamped with running back Christian Neptune’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton.
After consecutive Georgia punts, the Tigers evened the score on Brown’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Chas Nimrod, who hauled in the one-handed reception with 6:32 remaining in the first half.
Woodring had his 54-yard field goal attempt blocked by Jared Smith, before McPherson drilled a 49-yarder to give Auburn a 17-14 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
