Ryan Williams, No. 4 Alabama deliver final punch in classic 41-34 win over No. 2 Georgia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Ryan Williams stood in a white Alabama soccer t-shirt with a silver chain and a silver cross round his neck, wanting each little bit of 17 years outdated. On Saturday night time, half-hour after thrilling roughly 100,000 folks in Bryant-Denny Stadium and charming thousands and thousands extra on TV with an astonishing 75-yard game-winning landing catch, a giant grin by no means left his face. 

Surrounded by media within the modest Alabama press room, Williams appeared like just a little child, a wildly gifted little child who couldn’t wait to speak and smile and snort concerning the largest second in a life that’s certain to have many, many extra.

“It simply appears like a dream,” stated Williams, who had six catches for 177 yards because the Tide delivered their dwelling followers the rarest of wins round right here — an upset.

Williams’ spectacular play with 2:18 to go gave Alabama a 41-34 benefit and got here one play after Alabama gave again all of its 28-0 lead. However the Tide wanted yet one more play to seal the victory, and that got here from one more freshman.

With Georgia on the Alabama 34-yard-line within the ultimate minute, Zabian Brown lastly ended the moment basic with a good looking interception in the long run zone. Like Williams, Brown wears No. 2. And likewise like Williams, he wasn’t afraid of the highlight.

“Guys being prepared at any time when their alternative comes, that’s one thing we discuss,” stated Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who seemingly does nothing however win video games regardless of the place he’s. “They had been prepared.”

The win was Alabama’s sixth in seven tries towards Kirby Sensible’s Bulldogs, a pattern that has not stopped regardless of Nick Saban watching from a luxurious suite as an alternative of the sideline. The Tide are undefeated, whereas Georgia falls to 3-1, however there’s a feeling within the air these two will meet once more in December or January.

BENDER: Georgia-Alabama thriller felt like a September Tremendous Bowl

How wild was Saturday night time? It has taken this lengthy to say the title Jalen Milroe, who, in keeping with ESPN’s Cole Cubelic, turned the primary participant within the AP ballot period to throw for over 300 yards, and rush for over 100 yards and two touchdowns towards a prime 5 opponent. The Alabama quarterback’s ultimate line – 27-for-33, 374 yards, two touchdowns, 117 speeding yards and two extra touchdowns, had been each bit as spectacular on the sector as they’re on the pc display. 

.@AlabamaFTBL QB Jalen Milroe is the first participant in AP ballot historical past with 300 yards passing, 100 yards speeding & 2 speeding TD’s vs a top-5 opponent.

— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 29, 2024

He did every part he wanted to do on Alabama’s first 4 drives of the night time. He was beating Georgia along with his legs, along with his reads and along with his arm. Alabama dedicated 5 penalties on offense within the first half. Didn’t matter. Nothing was stopping the Tide, who rolled up 361 first-half yards towards a protection that had but to give up a landing in 2024. It was 30-7 and it felt over.

Milroe was the quickest participant on the sector, which is saying one thing towards a Georgia protection that options pace on prime of pace. His shake of an unblocked Christen Miller led to Georgia’s first landing. Different scrambles led to first downs. When Georgia performed a mushy zone, he threw beneath. When Georgia went man, Milroe threw deep. The Bulldogs had no reply, and No. 4 in crimson stored himself on the September Heisman lists.

However Georgia refused to go away. The Bulldogs transformed 4 fourth downs over two landing drives within the third quarter to chop the result in 33-21, then tacked on two extra touchdowns, the ultimate certainly one of which was a 67-yard catch-and-run by Dillon Bell that gave Georgia its transient lead.

When Bama returned to the sector, Milroe knew he simply wanted to offer Williams an opportunity if he was in a one-on-one state of affairs. Earlier within the sport, Williams made a juggling catch on a deep ball that just about resulted in a landing. When Milroe noticed the protection, he was prepared to return to the newcomer.

“This week, we talked about eye self-discipline and giving our guys an opportunity,” Milroe stated. “After I noticed we had one-on-one, it was all about eye self-discipline and studying the play correctly and giving the man an opportunity.”

Beck’s ultimate drive got here up empty, however he confirmed critical combat when the white towel may have been thrown. He completed 27 for 50 for 439 yards and three touchdowns, however he additionally had three interceptions, a fumble, and a security on account of an intentional grounding. Nonetheless, you rally a group to the lead after trailing 28-0 on Nick Saban Area, you’ve finished one thing proper, and now Georgia is aware of it’s going to by no means be out of a sport because it navigates the ridiculous gauntlet of dealing with Texas, Ole Miss and Tennessee within the subsequent seven weeks.

For the Crimson Tide, and particularly DeBoer, they handed the primary essential check in 12 months One After Saban. They confirmed how dominant they are often, but additionally pulled out a clutch sport throughout the identical 60 minutes.

“We count on to win these video games,” DeBoer stated. “In fact, there’s a number of pleasure within the locker room, however we need to perceive that is the expectation. We’ve got a number of season left. We need to ensure that we are able to deal with success.”

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