Nov. 10, 2012
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AUBURN - Emory Blake had his eighth career 100-yard receiving game, but Georgia earned a 38-0 win over Auburn on Saturday night before 86,146 fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The Tigers fell to 2-8 overall, 0-7 in SEC play. With the win, Georgia (9-1, 7-1 SEC) clinched the SEC Eastern Division title and a spot in next month's SEC Championship Game.
Blake had a team-best 108 receiving yards on six catches, his fourth time over 100 yards this season. Auburn quarterback Jonathan Wallace, making his second career start, finished with 15 completions on 22 attempts for 181 yards and an interception. His 15 completions were the most by an Auburn quarterback in a game this season.
The Tigers struggled in the rushing game, gaining just 57 yards on 27 attempts. Tre Mason led the way with 33 yards, and Onterio McCalebb had 16 on the ground to go along with 43 receiving yards on three catches.
Georgia's Aaron Murray completed 18-of-24 pass attempts on the night for 208 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers as the Bulldogs employed a balanced attack throughout the game. Running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall each topped the 100-yard mark with Gurley getting 11 carries for 116 yards and Marshall rushing eight times for 105. Malcolm Mitchell was Georgia's leading receiver with 47 yards on five catches.
Georgia outgained the Tigers 497-238 with 24 first downs to Auburn's 11. The Bulldogs also converted 8-of-14 third downs.
The Bulldogs marched straight down the field on their first possession, taking a 7-0 lead on a six-yard completion from Murray to Chris Conley with 10:51 to play in the first quarter. The scoring opportunity was set up by a 49-yard rush down the left sideline by Gurley on his first carry of the game.
Georgia doubled its lead to 14-0 late in the opening quarter, driving 80 yards in nine plays and scoring on Murray's second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Mitchell for five yards. It was 21-0 after the Bulldogs' first drive of the second quarter that spanned 64 yards in nine plays, capped by another Murray TD pass to Marlon Brown.
The Bulldogs kept mixing the run and the pass on their fourth possession, taking a 28-0 lead on a 6-yard run by Todd Gurley after a five-play, 90-yard drive. The key play of the drive was a Murray-to-King connection for 55 yards down to the Auburn 6.
Georgia opened the scoring in the second half with a 20-yard field goal from Marshall Morgan to make it 31-0. It would be 38-0 after their next possession when Marshall broke loose and outran the Auburn defense for a 62-yard score.
Auburn had its best scoring chance late in the third quarter, driving inside the red zone for the first time all night, but a 13-yard completion to Blake went for naught as he fumbled at the Georgia 11 and the Bulldogs recovered. The Tigers only crossed midfield three times during the game.
The Tigers will close out the 2012 home season next Saturday, Nov. 17, against Alabama A&M. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a pay-per-view broadcast.