Daijun Edwards ran for three touchdowns and the formidable defense of No. 2 Georgia swarmed Auburn in a 42-10 Southeastern Conference victory Saturday afternoon in Athens, Ga.
Stetson Bennett completed 22 of 32 passes for 208 yards and scored on a 64-yard quarterback draw on the first play of the fourth quarter as Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC) beat Auburn (3-3, 1-2) for the sixth straight time.
Edwards carried 12 times for 83 yards and Branson Robinson added 98 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries as the Bulldogs piled up 292 yards on the ground.
Georgia, which entered Saturday ranked No. 4 in scoring defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, limited Auburn to 258 yards and 10 first downs. The Bulldogs harassed Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford into a 13-of-38 performance for 165 yards.
Auburn’s lone touchdown came with 9:51 left as Jarquez Hunter took a short pass from Ashford, spun away from three defenders and raced up the Georgia sideline on a play that covered 62 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Georgia’s punt return unit helped set up a pair of touchdowns.
When the Tigers tried a run from punt formation on a fourth-and-6, the Bulldogs’ Nolan Smith stuffed John Samuel Shenker for a 2-yard gain as Georgia took possession at the Auburn 36.
Seven plays later, Kenny McIntosh swept left end on a 1-yard touchdown carry to put the Bulldogs up 7-0.
After Georgia forced a three-and-out, Ladd McConkey returned a punt 38 yards to give the Bulldogs a first down at the Tigers 31. Robinson’s 23-yard run then helped set up a 1-yard scoring carry by Edwards.
On the opening possession of the second half, Auburn’s Colby Wooden poked the ball from the grasp of Bennett and recovered at the Georgia 19 to set up a 29-yard field goal by Anders Carlson.
But the Bulldogs answered with an 81-yard drive, which was triggered by five straight Bennett completions that produced 64 yards and set up a 2-yard touchdown carry by Edwards which put Georgia up 21-3.
In the fourth quarter, Georgia scored on three straight possessions to turn the game into a rout.
–Field Level Media