Georgia 20, Alabama 17: the field goal needed one more stop, then one more first down

Peyton Woodring's field goal gave Georgia the lead. It did not end the game. The Bulldogs still needed to stop Alabama, then keep the ball long enough to deny a second chance. They did both in a 20-17 win Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Woodring made a 23-yard kick with 5:25 left. Alabama reached Georgia's 34 on its next possession but punted. With 3:14 remaining, the Bulldogs took over. Gunner Stockton's 17-yard completion to Elyiss Williams on third-and-seven extended the drive, and a later Alabama personal foul helped Georgia finish it. The school's recap identifies this as its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007.

Georgia trailed 14-10 at halftime and entered the fourth quarter tied 17-17. Its 455 yards exceeded Alabama's 346, with a 206-161 rushing advantage. Dwight Phillips Jr. ran for 120 yards. Stockton threw for 249 and ran for a touchdown. Alabama scored no fourth-quarter points.

Our read: the decisive sequence belongs beside the winning kick. A three-point lead is fragile if the opponent gets repeated possessions. Georgia made Alabama surrender the ball, then used the third-down conversion to make the clock matter. Yardage supplied opportunities; those final possessions settled the result.

Georgia moves to 6-0, including 4-0 in the SEC. Alabama is 5-1 and 3-1 in conference play. This changes the conference race, not a guaranteed playoff destination. Georgia hosts Auburn next Saturday, October 17.