From: swanger@ducvax.auburn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Georgia 14, Auburn 10
Date: 16 Nov 92 00:27:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: ducvax.1992Nov15.192722.1
Organization: Auburn University, AL

Georgia 14
Auburn 10

This was a close game with a controversial ending.  With 19 seconds left on
the clock, Auburn had the ball, 2nd down on the Georgia 1 yard line, no time
outs left.  Auburn ran a running play up the middle to James Bostic.  The
ball was fumbled.  Auburn lined up for another play, the refs stood around
talking to the Georgia players until the game clock ran out, game over
Georgia wins.  Since the ball was fumbled (Auburn evidently recovered), the
refs could (should?) have called a time out to decide who had possession. 
If they knew it was Auburn's ball, they should have put the ball in play
(there was enough time, barely, for another play).

I will admit I was surprised to see Auburn call a running play with no time
outs left, only 19 seconds left.  If the play doesn't work, you can't stop
the clock.  On the post-game radio program, the AU announcer pointed out
that 12 years ago, Georgia was playing Auburn in Auburn and the situation
was reversed.  GA was behind late in the game, they were deep in AU
territory and GA fumbled the ball.  The refs called time out to discover
possession!  GA got off one more play and scored, winning the game.

Still, I can't fault the Georgia team.  They did all that they could do. 
There is no guarantee that AU would have scored if given another chance.  If
only we'd had one more play.....

It was a painful feeling watching those last few seconds tick off the clock.

While I'm at it, I sat in the GA section the second half.  Georgia fans used
to be pretty bad about a decade ago (ie, the Herschel era).  They have
finally turned back into human beings (it took a while for them to come back
to earth I guess).  Most of the ones I met were pretty nice.

Anyway, Auburn and Georgia seemed closely matched.  Both teams had some big
plays offensively and defensively.  Despite the loss, Auburn QB Stan White
had one of his best performances of the year.  He looked sharp and in
control most of the day.  Georgia has several good looking players.  Heisman
Trophy candidate Garrison Hearst rushed for 105 yards on 31 attempts.  He
also caught 1 pass for 64 yards and a touchdown (despite my agony, this was
a pretty play.  The AU secondary was in another time zone on this play). 
Although Hearst's stats were below average (for him), he has the ability to
look dangerous a lot of the time, even on short runs.  You just KNOW he is
about to break loose sooner or later.  He is a quick, shifty looking runner.
GA QB Eric Zeier and WR Andre Hastings also looked sharp on several plays.

Lets see, what else, Auburn's defense stopped Georgia on 4th and 1 on the 
Auburn 1 yard line (1st half).  Georgia retaliated by intercepting a Stan
White pass in the end zone late in the game.

Team stats:

                       GA           AU
First Downs            15           19
Rushes Yards       44-121       43-119
Passing               205          215
Return Yards           14            5
Comp-Att-Int      12-20-2      16-26-1
Punts                5-39         6-47
Fumbles-lost          3-0          3-1
Penalties-Yards      5-35          1-5
Time of Possession  29:55        30:05


Next Game: Thanksgiving Day, Auburn versus Alabama at beautiful Legion Field
           in The Magic City, Birmingham, Alabama.

AND (groan) I'll be there.

-- 
David Swanger,   Auburn University, Alabama,   swanger@accs.duc.auburn.edu 
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college