#1 Alabama Shows Up Georgia to Claim SEC Championship

ATLANTA, GA. (Alabama Athletics) — Down by 14 point at different points in the second and third quarter, the No. 1 Alabama football team stormed back to a 35-28 win over No. 4 Georgia in the 2018 Southeastern Conference Championship Game Saturday in Atlanta, Ga.

Subbing for sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was sidelined early in the fourth quarter with an injury, junior Jalen Hurts led a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives for the win.

Junior running back Josh Jacobs was named the game’s MVP after accounting for the Tide’s first two touchdowns and leading Alabama’s rushing attack with 83 yards on eight carries. Freshman wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led all receivers with 113 yards and a touchdown.

Tagovailoa was 10-for-25 passing with two interceptions, 164 yards and a touchdown, while Hurts was 7-of-9 passing for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for the deciding score, capping a 28-yard effort on the ground in five attempts.

After giving up 21 points in the first half, the Crimson Tide defense clamped down in the second half, holding the Bulldogs to a single touchdown early in the third quarter. Junior defensive back Saivion Smith led all tacklers with a career-best 11, including eight solo stops. It was the second-most tackles by an Alabama player in an SEC Championship Game. Junior defensive back Deionte Thompson and redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Quinnen Williams each had eight tackles. Williams came up with a sack and two tackles for loss as well.