Georgia football: Top five games played at Sanford Field (1911-1928)
1. 1912 vs. Auburn
The only game that could top the classic between Georgia and Sewanee was the season finale between Georgia and Auburn. At this point, Georgia had a 5-1-1 record overall and a 4-1-1 record in the SIAA. Vanderbilt had dominated Georgia in Atlanta earlier in the season and were in control of the conference until Auburn battled them to a 7-7 tie on November 16.
That meant that Auburn was undefeated at 6-0-1 heading into the Athens. Georgia, unable to win the SIAA had an opportunity to spoil Auburn’s chances of winning and they succeeded at that with a 12-6 victory. Georgia also snapped a four-game win-less streak against Auburn
Georgia and Auburn met on Thanksgiving Day in 1912, and thousands of former University of Georgia students, as well as followers of the football team congregated in Athens for a state championship game between the Riverside Military Academy and Georgia Military College. But the rivalry match-up of Georgia versus Auburn was the main event.
Chas E. Martin of the Athens Banner called it the “grandest game ever seen” in Athens. Georgia and Auburn battled to a scoreless tie in the first quarter. Georgia was driving as the quarter ended and the drive continued into the early second quarter, but they failed to convert on fourth down and Auburn took over.
The momentum shifted back in Georgia’s favor a play later when Auburn fumbled. McWhorter recovered and Georgia regained possession. After a few downs, Georgia found themselves facing a fourth-and-6 from their own 25-yard line. A silent crowd erupted when McWhorter ran the ball 25 yards to end zone for the first score of the game. Georgia led 6-0 after a missed extra point.
McWhorter led another great drive later in the second quarter. He rushed for 46 yards and finished the drive with a touchdown through the air to give Georgia a 12-0 lead at halftime. Auburn found some success on offense in the second half, but field goals were all they had to show for it. Georgia had beaten their bitter rivals 12-6, spoiling their championship hopes in the process.
Next: Top five blowouts at Herty Field
The 1912 edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry was the first played in Athens and only game played on either school’s campus until 1929. Meaning it was the only Georgia versus Auburn football game played on Sanford Field.