Jaws were on the floor. Yellow laundry was littering the field. Boos were raining down from the uppermost levels of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
A fumble and 2 controversial penalties all went against Auburn in the final 2 minutes of the first half of Saturday’s game against No. 10 Georgia. After largely controlling the first 28 minutes of the game, things unraveled in spectacular fashion for the Tigers over the final 100 seconds. The end result was a Georgia field goal to cut the deficit to just 7 points at the break.
The meltdown began on a third-and-goal play that, for a moment, looked as if it produced an Auburn touchdown. Quarterback Jackson Arnold thought he scored. Georgia thought he fumbled the ball before crossing the goal line, and Kyron Jones thought he had a return.
Georgia’s CJ Allen punched the ball out. Jones recovered it and returned it. Georgia fans were upset the play was ruled dead. Auburn fans were upset the touchdown wasn’t called.
As the officials reviewed the play, no one was happy.
Georgia took over possession at its 1-yard line. On second down, Gunner Stockton hit Josh McCray for a 17-yard gain. Back-to-back 7-yard completions moved the ball out to the Georgia 32.
Then cornerback Kayin Lee, arguably Auburn’s best defensive back, was flagged for targeting after hitting Stockton above the shoulders.
That flag was reviewed and upheld. Lee was ejected from the game. Georgia advanced the ball to the Auburn 42. Tiger fans grew louder.
Two plays later, Auburn’s Amaris Williams was flagged for roughing the passer and Georgia advanced the ball up to the Auburn 27. Two plays later, Auburn was flagged for being offside at the snap of the football and Georgia was set up with a second-and-5 on the edge of the red zone.
The Bulldogs wound up kicking a 29-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining in the half.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
