AUBURN, Ala. — On a day of big plays by Georgia’s defense, Jordan Jenkins had one of the biggest.
His sack of Auburn quarterback Sean White deep in Tigers’ territory in the fourth quarter Saturday resulted in a fumble that Georgia recovered and turned into a field goal that provided a 10-point lead with under seven minutes to play.
“That was definitely an exciting feeling,” Jenkins said of the play. “I wasn’t sure if (White) got the pass off or not. I just remember looking around and seeing everybody cheering and yelling and pointing the opposite way. I’m, like, ‘Oh, I got a sack/fumble.’
“I feel that was one of the best sacks I’ve had in game-time situations because it set the offense up to score.”
Georgia’s Aaron Davis recovered the fumble at the Auburn 17-yard line, and video review confirmed the fumble. Four plays later, Marshall Morgan kicked a field goal for a 20-10 lead in a game Georgia ultimately won 20-13.
Other key plays by Georgia’s defense included a leaping interception by Malkom Parrish at the UGA 40-yard line in the second quarter and a fumble forced by Lorenzo Carter and recovered by Davis at the UGA 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Parrish’s first college interception led to a field goal.
“It felt great for my first one,” Parrish said. “It’s kind of still amazing to me that I have one of those under my belt. I had to go up high. It was a reaction thing.”
“That was one of the nicest interceptions I’ve ever seen,” Jenkins said of Parrish’s play. “That was a big turning point in this game.”
It was a stellar game all-around for the Georgia defense, which didn’t allow Auburn a touchdown after the opening drive. The Bulldogs held the Auburn offense to 90 yards in the second half after allowing 185 yards in the first half.
“It was a great job by our defense, getting turnovers for us and just playing stout,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.