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The game

Auburn was just a better team. They were going to ride a 22-game win-streak into the 1995 season. No postseason ban or scholarship was going to stop them. The Tigers had the a bright outlook on the rest of the 1990’s. Georgia didn’t. The reality that they would soon have to replace Goff seeded doubt for the rest of the decade.

But in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, none of that matters. The game seems to favor the underdog. The rivalry is defined by both it’s competitiveness (Georgia leads the series 58-56-8) and its upsets. Every decade has featured at least one major upset. Some decades see both teams winning those surprising games.

If there was any game in the midst of their winning streak, that Auburn had to fear, it’s the Georgia game. history was on the Bulldog’s side.

Things seemed fishy early as Georgia converted two first quarter field goals to take a 6-0 lead. Auburn eventually took a 9-6 lead early in the second quarter but the Dawgs recovered to tie the game at nine. After that however, the Tigers took over.

Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix dove over the line for a one-yard score late in the second quarter to give the Tigers a 16-9 halftime lead. Then Stephen Davis tiptoed around until a hole opened up, and burst down field for a 41-yard score early in the third quarter to take a 23-9 lead. All of the sudden, the Tigers were cruising to win number 21.

But this is Georgia versus Auburn, unbelievable things are bound to happen. After Georgia failed to answer the long touchdown run, Auburn began a drive to extend their lead. But a turnover around midfield presented the bit of hope the Bulldogs needed to get back into the game.

Auburn’s defense, however, was just too much for Georgia to handle. Eric Zeier, who had already claimed the SEC record for passing yards in a career, had missed seven-straight passes and hadn’t completed a deep pass all game. Georgia punted.

Auburn’s offense began another drive. Surely they wouldn’t give the ball away again. Nix got the Tiger offense back around midfield with around eight minutes left in the third quarter. He heaved a long pass to put the game away early. Then the unbelievable happened. Corey Johnson broke up the pass and the ball landed on the chest of Robert Edwards who was already on the ground.

Georgia took over at their own eight-yard line. But now they had to try to find some kind of offense with their goal line right behind them. Zeier extended his streak of incomplete passes to eight and faced a third and 10. Jeff Thomas snapped that streak with a difficult catch on the sideline on a ball that Auburn should have intercepted.

But Zeier was yet to complete a deep pass. And at the 21-yard line, he needed to stretch the defense somehow. That’s when the second unbelievable play happened. Zeier dropped back and tossed a deep ball downfield towards Juan Daniels. Daniels beat the entire Auburn defense to make the catch and he outran them to the end zone for a 79-yard touchdown. The score was now 23-16.

Georgia’s defense, led by Randall Godfrey and Will Muschamp, shutdown the Tigers offense the rest of the night. With 2:25 left in the third quarter, Zeier and the offense took possession at their own 47-yard line. But this drive belonged to Terrell Davis. He accounted for almost every yard on the drive bringing the Dawgs to the four-yard line.

Zeier finished the possession with a quick pass over the middle to Brice Hunter in the end zone. The extra point tied the game 23-23. There was still a lot of time left, but Georgia had all the momentum. However, neither team scored again.

Auburn’s defense adjusted and shutdown Georgia the rest of the way. And their offense woke up with around six minutes left. Stephen Davis almost won the game for Auburn with a long run down the sidelines. But Johnson got just enough of him to push him barely out of bounds. Auburn settled for a punt a few plays later.

Georgia took over but couldn’t produce anything. Although the referees missed a pass interference on third down that would have prolonged Georgia’s possession. Both teams shuffled possession one more time. A penalty and a pair of incompletions forced Dax Langley to punt from his own end zone.

Auburn got a good return on the punt and they went back to work from the Georgia 39-yard line with 1:21 left on the clock. The Tigers burnt the clock, but Georgia kept them from moving the ball. With 13 seconds left on the clock, Auburn’s Matt Hawkins attempted a 45-yard field goal. His kick had plenty of distance, but absolutely no accuracy. He missed wide right by about 10 yards.

There were still eight seconds left on the clock though. Zeier missed on his first throw and Georgia had one more chance with a second left to win the game. He threw a long pass that an Auburn defender picked off.

The Tigers used this final opportunity for an unbelievable play of their own. They began tossing the ball around. They managed to get the ball passed midfield but Georgia’s offense ended the game with a crucial tackle.

Georgia tied the no. 3 Auburn Tigers. They ended the 20-game win-streak. One newspaper in Columbus had a headline that read “Georgia beats Auburn 23-23.” That’s how huge this game was. That’s why many consider it the best tie in school history.