Georgia was able to recover from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit thanks to three straight Aaron Murray touchdown drives, but Auburn was able to convert a fourth-and-18 Hail Mary from 73 yards away on a near-impossible play that resulted in an incredible Tiger victory:
Georgia vs. Auburn 2013 final score: Tigers ruin comeback with impossible play, win 44-38
Georgia recovered from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit, but a last-chance Hail Mary for Auburn resulted in one of the more incredible plays you’ll ever see.
Auburn recorded the first three scores of the game, with two Cody Parkey field goals sandwiching Corey Grant's 21-yard touchdown run.
Todd Gurley put Georgia on the board early in the second quarter with his 9-yard touchdown run, but Auburn responded with two more rushing touchdowns -- Nick Marshall's 6-yard score and Tre Mason's 24-yard dash -- to make it 27-7. Marshall Morgan kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 27-10 at halftime, but the Bulldog defense looked worn down after having to defend 50 (50!) Auburn plays in the first half.
The Bulldogs recovered well to start out the second half, with a long drive culminating in Aaron Murray's incredible 16-yard touchdown run to make it 27-17. Auburn responded with their own rushing quarterback, as Nick Marshall ran it in from five yards out to push the lead back to 17.
Cody Parkey hit another field goal -- his third of the day -- to make it 37-17 early in the fourth. Georgia responded just three minutes later when Aaron Murray found Rantavious Wooten for a 5-yard score, and after a quick three-and-out for Auburn, Murray connected with Arthur Lynch for a 24-yard score to make it 37-31.
Georgia’s defense forced another three-and-out on the next drive, giving the Bulldogs the ball with just under five minutes left and a five-point deficit. Murray and the Georgia offense drove down the field, bringing them to the Auburn five-yard line with about two minutes left to play.
On fourth-and-goal from the 5, Murray ran up the middle and dove into the end zone, making it past the Tiger tackle by the slimmest of margins to take the 38-37 lead with less than two minutes to play.
Facing fourth-and-18 in their own territory on the next drive, Nick Marshall sent a prayer towards Ricardo Louis streaking down the field. The ball was tipped in the air and Louis caught it, running into the end zone for an improbable 73-yard touchdown and the win.
Murray was able to find Arthur Lynch and Rantavious Wooten for gains of 22 and 28 yards, respectively, on Georgia’s first two plays of their drive, and with the ball in Auburn territory and eight seconds to play, his pass fell incomplete.
With three seconds to play, Murray’s pass fell incomplete, and the Tigers won.
Box Score Hero: Nick Marshall. Facing his old team, the Tigers quarterback completed 15 of 26 passes for 230 yards and that Hail Mary score, while also running 19 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Rankings Ramifications: The Tigers were ranked No. 7 coming into the game, with the Bulldogs at No. 25. Auburn will likely stay around that spot, with Georgia likely falling out of the rankings.
But Did They Cover? Auburn was a 3-point favorite, so they did.
For More On This Game: For the Georgia reaction, check out Dawg Sports. For the Auburn perspective, head over to College and Magnolia.
Next Week’s Schedule: Georgia hosts Kentucky next week, while Auburn has a bye week before playing Alabama.
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