INDIANAPOLIS — With the way the season has gone, it was only fitting that Georgia’s final score of was a defensive touchdown. And with it, 41 years and seven straight losses to Alabama, Georgia vanquished all demons on Monday night, winning its first national championship since 1980.

It was not always a pretty game for the Bulldogs, with Georgia trailing 9-6 at halftime. The Bulldogs fell behind 18-13 but responded with back-to-back touchdown drives with an Alabama three and out sandwiched in between.

Then Bryce Young threw his second interception of the night, with Kelee Ringo returning it for a touchdown to put the finishing touches on the game, winning 33-18. It is the first time Georgia beat Alabama under Kirby Smart, a defensive-minded coach who worked under Saban.

Georgia did with Stetson Bennett at quarterback, the former walk-on and will earn praise thanks to big plays made by Zamir White, James Cook, Brock Bowers and George Pickens. But really it was the defense that was the story on the night. It held Alabama to one touchdown. While it gave up plenty of yards, it forced five Alabama field goals on the night. It only sacked Young twice, but it harrassed the Heisman Trophy winner for much of the night.

After the interception by Ringo, the jumbotron flashed to Mary Beth Smart, Smart’s wife. A Georgia graduate herself, the image perfectly summed up how much this win meant for the Georgia team.

Controversial call leads to barrage of points

To call it a controversial call would be putting it nicely. Stetson Bennett was trying to get rid of the football on third down. The ball fluttered to the turf and was picked up by safety Brian Branch. The pass looked like, well, a pass but the head referee announced it was a fumble recovered by Alabama at the Georgia 16-yard line.

After a lengthy review process, the referee announced that the play stood. Needless to say, Georgia fans were not happy with the call, as fans began throwing trash onto the field.

With the short field position, Alabama was able to score its first touchdown of the game with Young connecting with Cameron Latu. The score gave the Crimson Tide an 18-13 lead, with Alabama unable to convert the two-point conversion.

Bennett and the Georgia offense though responded. Bennett hit Jermaine Burton for a gain of 18 to start the ensuing drive for Georgia. Burton then drew a pass interference penalty to put Georgia in Alabama territory.

After a sack by Dallas Turner, Georgia had a free play after an Alabama defender jumped offsides. Bennett uncorked a pass and freshman A.D. Mitchell came down with the 40-yard reception. Georgia didn’t convert the two-point play but the Mitchell touchdown established the lead for the Bulldogs. It was a big-time response from the Georgia offense.

Jalen Carter gets Georgia on the board

Jalen Carter was down on the field and things look bleak for Georgia. Alabama was in the midst of ripping off 13 straight positive plays and pushing Georgia in an even further hole.

But then Nolan Smith had a tackle for loss. Bryce Young then threw an incompletion. The Alabama quarterback followed it up with a perfect pass that went through the hands of Agiye Hall. The defense held for a field goal attempt of 48-yards.

Then Carter, a former standout basketball player, stuck his big paw up and blocked Will Reichard’s 48-yard field goal attempt. Alabama ran a 17-play, 68-yard drive that resulted in zero points.

The very first offensive play for Georgia, James Cook ripped off a 67-yard run. Bennett then scrambled for four yards. Kenny McIntosh picked up six hard yards and a facemask penalty to give the Bulldogs a first and goal. Carter and Jordan Davis came in and cleared the way for White to power in for the first touchdown of the game.

The Bulldogs led 13-9, with Carter playing both sides of the ball to help flip the momentum of the game.

Penalties mare sleepy first half of 2022 National Championship Game

It’s never good when you have more penalties than points in the first half, yet that was the case for the Georgia Bulldogs. Whether it be a false start or a kick-catch interference, Georgia was penalized seven times in the opening 30 minutes. It played a part in Georgia trailing 9-6 at halftime.

Georgia struggled early on offensively, as it did not get a first down until its third drive of the game. The offense got things going with Pickens making a spectacular 52-yard grab to set up the first points for the Bulldogs. It was the longest catch of Pickens’ Georgia career.

Defensively, Georgia did not have as many issues as it did in the second quarter of the SEC championship game Alabama kicked three field goals, due in part to an improved pass rush from Georgia. Channing Tindall recorded a third-down sack to halt Alabama’s best drive of the opening half. Young still shined, throwing for 206 yards on 26 attempts. Alabama’s longest play of the half was a 51-yard catch and run by tight end Cameron Latu.

Both Ringo and Travon Walker made key touchdown-saving tackles for the Bulldogs in the opening half. Bennett did not play well to start the game, fumbling but recovering on his first rushing attempt of the game to give every Georgia fan a near heart attack. Bennett completed 11 of his 17 first-half pass attempts for 127 yards.

Bennett was sacked twice, once by Christian Harris and then again by Dallas Turner. Will Anderson also made his presence felt in the first half as well for Alabama.

Georgia football notes

The Bulldogs started the game with the same starting lineup as the game against Alabama in the SEC championship game. The Bulldogs did eventually make a change, swapping Broderick Jones in at left tackle and moving Jamaree Salyer to right guard for Warren Ericson.

Alabama did suffer a key injury, as Jameson Williams left the game with a knee injury. It’s the second-straight game the Crimson Tide lost a key receiver against Georgia, as John Metchie went down in the first game between the two schools.

Georgia’s captains for the game were Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Jamaree Salyer and Zamir White.

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