Lights Out in Athens: Alabama Rolls Over Georgia

A lot was made of the Georgia-Alabama game heading into Saturday night.

The Blackout. "Georgia's going to their funeral." The biggest game in Athens in years. GameDay in town for the first time in 10 years. The SEC's best running game vs. the conference's best run defense. Florida's loss. USC's loss.
 
It turns out that a lot was made about nothing.
 
Alabama ruled both lines of scrimmage and in turn dominated Georgia. Nick Saban out-coached Mark Richt. John Parker Wilson played nearly flawless football. Julio Jones showed why everyone that isn't already talking about him should be.
 
Saban sent a message to the college football world: Saban and Alabama are back.
 
Ask any Tide fan, and they'd be lying if they told you they knew this would happen. Number three versus number eight games simply don't turn out this way. However, the Alabama players clearly knew they could win this game and win it convincingly—and that is exactly what they did.
 
They played spotlessly, earning only one penalty in the first half, that on a bizarre delay of game call when 'Bama kicker Leigh Tiffin failed to kick off.

It was no secret that Georgia's young and inexperienced offensive line was vulnerable to a strong pass rush and UA just happens to have an outstanding one, led by the massive, and aptly named, Terrence "Mount" Cody.
 
Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford did the best he could with the limited protection provided. In short, he ran for his life.

Alabama ended the game with only two sacks, but Stafford was pressured all night. At times, only rushing three or four defenders, Alabama was able to disrupt the Georgia offense, forcing Stafford to make quick, and at times bad, decisions with the football.
 
Stafford pleaded with his O-line to own the line of scrimmage. The 'Bama defense was shutting down the run, and it was not lost on anyone that Georgia would need plays through the air to get back in this game.

Running back Knowshon Moreno was nowhere to be found. Richt and the Bulldogs seemed to abandon the run quickly—Moreno had five rushing attempts at the half.
 
Beneath a black Athens sky, the first half ended quickly. At the half: Alabama 31, Georgia 0. The blacked-out fans between the hedges were dumbstruck. "Those are our Bulldogs," they asked as a dejected UGA team walked to the locker room.
 
Heading to the locker room himself, Richt, in a rare moment of unfiltered language, said about his defense, "We'll have to get after their ass."
 
Georgia fans have always shown great confidence and belief in their team. In their eyes no lead is insurmountable. This young Georgia team is capable of playing with great, controlled emotion. One couldn't help but believe UGA would put something together in the second half.

But 31-0? That would prove to be too much to hurdle.
 
UGA overcame two penalties in their opening second half possession to secure a field goal. The Bulldog defense forced two straight three-and-outs and began to show a glance of energy. A Georgia blocked punt brought a glimmer of life to Stanford Stadium.
 

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