Auburn football notebook: 13 receptions for 'Go-to guy' Seth Williams

Auburn football notebook: 13 receptions for 'Go-to guy' Seth WilliamsAuburn football notebook: 13 receptions for 'Go-to guy' Seth Williams

Seth Williams: 13 catches, 121 receiving yards vs. UGA

AUBURN, Ala. – Knowing Auburn's crowd could provide a home-field advantage, senior captain Jeremiah Dinson urged Tiger fans to bring energy Saturday to the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.

"They showed out today," said Dinson, who thanked Auburn fans on Twitter after the game. "Much love to the Auburn family. They were rocking the whole way, first quarter through fourth quarter, and it really helped us, especially on special teams, with Georgia's punt team jumping offside a couple times. The crowd was in it tonight, so much love to them."

SETH STARS

Targeted 20 times, sophomore receiver Seth Williams produced his third career 100-yard game, making 13 catches for 121 yards.

"Ran good routes today, caught the ball and just finished catches," Williams said. "I'm not going to stay off the field for long, if I do come off the field."

"He's a fine receiver," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's a go-to guy. I thought he battled. I thought he competed."

Williams delivered consistently, especially on slant routes, with seven of his catches resulting in first downs.

"He's a gamer," said Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who completed 30 of 50 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. "He plays as hard as he can every game, and I know I can count on him. He has a lot of targets and he does a good job doing what he can to make the most of them."

THE BO SHOW

Georgia had not allowed a rushing touchdown all season until Nix's 2-yard run in the fourth quarter, his sixth rushing TD of the season.

"Once we got in a rhythm in the fourth quarter, that's when we finally started moving the ball," said Nix, Auburn's leading rusher with 42 yards on 13 carries. "They have a really good defense, one of the better ones we've seen."

Bo Nix scores the first rushing TD against Georgia this season

MARLON'S SACK

After missing Auburn's game against Ole Miss with a back injury, Marlon Davidson returned to the form he's displayed all season, recording a first-quarter sack, giving him 6.5 for the season and 16 for his career.

"It was special, especially going against Andrew Thomas," Davidson said. "He's a great player, for sure a first-round talent. Getting it against him made me feel good. I did work pretty hard to get it. Seeing the hard work pay off, that was his first sack allowed this year. Just to get it against him, that was special."

Davidson added a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry, finishing with five tackles for a defense that held Georgia to 251 yards of total offense.

"My defense, I cannot be more proud of them for the way they fought," he said.

'Cannot be more proud': Marlon Davidson helped Auburn hold UGA to 251 yards

SPIKES AND SLAYTON RETURN

Before the game, fans had a chance to meet former Auburn stars Takeo Spikes and Darius Slayton at the Nissan Heisman House Tour on the Nichols Center lawn.

"It's really great to be here," said Slayton, who averaged 20.2 yards for Auburn from 2016-18 on 79 catches for 1,605 yards and 11 touchdowns. "It's fun to see game day from a different perspective."

An NFL rookie, Slayton leads the New York Giants with five touchdown catches and a 14.6 yards per catch average.

"It's been a pretty solid season for me," said Slayton, who's tallied 27 receptions for 394 yards. "Playing against SEC competition every single weekend, week in and week out, gets you used to playing at a high level that you have to play at all the time in the NFL."

Spikes, a 15-year NFL veteran who starred for Auburn from 1995-97, paid particular attention to the Tigers' linebackers.

"The backer who's really impressing me right now is K.J. Britt," Spikes said. "He just plays with bad intentions and I like that. I really like that. To come out here and really get to see him live, in person, and see what he does."

Slayton and Spikes were recognized on the field during the game, a salute that goes both ways.

"I appreciate every single last one of you guys," Slayton said when asked for his message to Auburn fans.  "War Eagle!"

'Bad intentions': K.J. Britt's spirited linebacker play impresses Auburn legend Takeo Spikes

FINISH

With two home games plus a bowl game remaining on the schedule, Auburn (7-3) can reach the 10-win mark if the Tigers win out.

"As a leader, I've got to keep my head up," said Dinson, who led Auburn with eight tackles against Georgia. "Just telling our guys to keep pushing and just finish."

"Finish. Fight hard for the fans," Williams said. "Finishing out the year for the seniors, just finish strong. We've got two games left at home so we've got to finish out strong."
 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer