UGA football: The best games between Auburn’s Pat Dye and Georgia’s Vince Dooley
1983: Auburn 13, Georgia 7
"“Tough day in Athens. It’s been a long time since the home folks saw their team lose a game ‘between the hedges.’ The last team to do it was 1979, that team was Auburn. And here are the Tigers, as pesky as ever, doing it again.” — Keith Jackson"
Entering the 1983 edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Georgia hadn’t lost a game in Athens since a 33-13 loss to Auburn in 1979. That loss prevented Georgia from sharing the SEC Championship that season.
24 games between the hedges later, Georgia was again meeting Auburn with a chance to win the SEC Championship. Only this time, Auburn was also playing for a conference title. Both squads entered the game with top-four rankings and just one non-conference loss.
Both teams were noted for their dominant defenses and stellar running games. Even without Herschel Walker, the Bulldogs averaged 229.82 rushing yards per game. Georgia utilized the “rusher-by-committee” approach. Keith Montgomery and Barry Young led the group with over 500 yards each, David McClusky and John Lastinger added over 300 each.
Auburn had a dominant option attack featuring Bo Jackson, Lionel James and Tommy Agee. The trio combined for 2,545 yards with Jackson leading with 1,213.
Something had to give on November 12, 1983. Unfortunately, Georgia did most of the giving. Auburn took a 13-0 lead into halftime and didn’t even allow a first down until the second quarter. Georgia only passed midfield three times. The Tigers kept Georgia in the game however by missing two second-half field goals, but the Bulldogs failed to capitalize until Lastinger hit Herman Archie in the endzone late in the fourth quarter.
Georgia recovered the onside kick but failed to move the ball. Auburn regained possession in time to kneel out the rest of the clock to preserve the 13-7 victory
The parody did not end there. Georgia and Auburn ended the regular season by defeating their in-state rivals and both won their bowl games. Auburn defeated a 9-2 Michigan squad in the Sugar Bowl, while Georgia beat an undefeated Texas team which had defeated Auburn in the regular season.