ATHENS, Ga. -- Auburn football traveled to Athens Saturday to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the latest chapter of The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
The Bulldogs won the game 31-24.
"I am very proud of our team, this one is a tough one to handle," said Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.
Senior running back Ben Tate wore number four in tribute to junior safety Zac Etheridge, who was injured in the game against Ole Miss, Oct. 31.
"Zac is like a brother to me," Tate said. "It was to make a statement to let everybody know you have to play your heart out no matter what because you never know when your last play is."
The Tigers won the toss and elected to receive.
They took the opening drive 72 yards down the field and capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Chris Todd to junior wide receiver Kodi Burns.
Auburn forced a UGA punt, drove 82 yards and scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Todd to junior wide receiver Terrell Zachary.
Georgia opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 50-yard pass from senior quarterback Joe Cox to sophomore flanker back Israel Troupe, bringing the score to 14-7.
There was no more scoring in the first half.
Georgia received the ball in the second half and was able to get a 51-yard field goal from sophomore place kicker Blair Walsh, bringing the score to 14-10 Auburn.
Freshman Georgia running back Washaun Ealey scored a touchdown on a 1-yard rush and gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead.
Auburn responded with a field goal of their own.
Junior place kicker Wes Byrum connected on a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17.
The Bulldogs immediately went back to work and drove the ball against the Tigers, scoring a rushing touchdown on an 11-yard run by sophomore tailback Caleb King.
With 14:25 left in the game, the Georgia Bulldogs led the Auburn Tigers 24-17.
Auburn responded on the ensuing kickoff with a 99-yard return for a touchdown by junior defensive back Demond Washington, tying the game once again 24-24.
"It is just really great to see a young guy step up to the plate and perform like that," Chizik said.
King put the Bulldogs on top for good with 6:52 left in the game with a 24-yard touchdown rush.
Todd finished the game with 20 completions on 28 attempts for 238 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Sophomore wide receiver Darvin Adams led all receivers with six receptions for 90 yards.
Tate led Auburn's rushing attack with 67 yards on 20 carries.
Junior defensive lineman Mike Blanc recorded a team high nine tackles, including half a tackle for loss.
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