Tigers Prove They Can Run

Terry Bowden had something to prove. So did Dameyune Craig.

No. 16 Auburn bounced back from a shutout loss by dominating the Southeastern Conference’s top-rankedteam in fewest points allowed, defeating No. 7 Georgia, 45-34, Saturday night as Craig ran for two touchdowns and threw a 76-yard touchdown pass.

The Tigers, 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, had an off week after a dismal 20-0 loss to Mississippi State, and Bowden used the extra time to make drastic changes in his offense. Auburn has rushed for only 46 yards in its previous three games and ranked next-to-last in the SEC with a season average of 75.6.

“I didn’t sleep very well the last couple of weeks,” Bowden said. “Yeah, I had something to prove to myself.”

Auburn, which had 319 passes and 270 rushes in its previous games, altered that philosophy against Georgia (7-2, 5-2), leading the SEC in fewest points allowed at 13.3 per game. The Tigers ran 43 times for 159 yards--led by Demontray Carter’s 93 yards--and scored five touchdowns on the ground.

“We tried to mix the run with the pass and give them some different looks,” Bowden said. “There were a lot of things I’ve been wanting to do, but I held off because we needed a week off to put them in.”

The effectiveness of the running game made things easier for Craig, who threw four interceptions in the Mississippi State loss. He was 12 for 19 passing for 231 yards against Georgia.

“As a quarterback, you have to have a short memory,” Craig said. “That game two weeks ago was one of those days. I knew I was a much better player than that.”

Georgia was trying to keep pace with Tennessee in the SEC’s Eastern Division and remain in contention for a spot in the bowl alliance. But those goals came crashing down when the Bulldogs were overwhelmed by Craig and the Auburn offense.

“They haven’t scored a lot of points lately but they certainly did tonight,” Coach Jim Donnan said. “We’ve had a Cinderella season and sometimes it catches up with you.”

Auburn can clinch the Western Division berth in the Dec. 6 SEC championship game by beating Alabama in the regular-season finale next Saturday and Mississippi State losing to either Arkansas or Mississippi.

Craig, Auburn’s senior quarterback, scored on runs of one and six yards and sealed the victory with his long touchdown pass to Karsten Bailey in the third quarter, giving the Tigers a 31-14 lead.

“They came out and ran all over us,” Georgia cornerback Champ Bailey said. “Dameyune Craig came out and showed us why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.”