Georgia’s Kirby Smart gives a desperate message at halftime: ‘We’ve got to make some stops’

TUSCALOOSA — At halftime, Kirby Smart couldn’t say much as Georgia trailed Alabama 30-7.

“The most important thing is we have to make some stops,” Smart told ABC-TV at halftime. “Alabama was really explosive tonight, we had no answer for (Jalen) Milroe, he’s a great athlete, a phenomenal athlete, we struggled to tackle him, we didn’t have the edge.”

“They did a really good job throwing from empty (set) formations with him, and that was new.”

Alabama outgained Georgia 355 yards to 153 and is 2 of 5 on third downs, while UGA is 0 of 5 on third down conversion attempts.

Milroe is 18 of 21 passing for 199 yards, one TD and one interception, while also rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.

“In 100 years,” ABC announcer Chris Fowler said after Alabama took a 28-0 lead on the fifth play of the second quarter, “did you expect to see something like this?”

Georgia finally answered Alabama’s score on its fourth possession, an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 7-yard TD run by Trevor Etienne.

Milroe, meanwhile, seemed unstoppable.

Milroe opened the game completing 11 of 11 passes for 149 yards through the air with a touchdown and was perhaps even more damaging as he rushed the ball for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“Alabama came with a plan,” Kirk Herbstreit noted, “not just running, but Jalen Milroe throwing.”

Meanwhile, Carson Beck was struggling, completing just 8 of 17 passes for 100 yards with two interceptions – and an intentional grounding call out of the end zone that led to an Alabama safety that made the score 30-7 late in the second quarter led.

“The first 30 minutes were a nightmare for Beck,” concluded Fowler.

Georgia essentially gave the Tide its third touchdown when Beck triggered an audible that receiver Arian Smith apparently missed, resulting in an interception by Domani Jackson at the Georgia 29.

Alabama got on the money three plays later, making it 21-0 on Germie Bernard’s 7-yard TD run with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

“Our offense wasn’t bad, we just can’t get it up the field,” Smart said, “and we didn’t stop him and turn the ball over.”

First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Milroe simply embraces his coaching.

“He just stays with himself, we get him in good spots and the guys block him,” DeBoer said. “Hh, he’s really made progress, you can see him doing what we ask of him.”

Milroe’s interception – his first of the season – came when UGA linebacker Smael Mondon tackled Tide tight end CJ Dippre after he caught the ball and Georgia safety Dan Jackson blocked the deflection at the Bulldogs’ 5.

However, three plays later, Beck was called for an intentional grounding when he threw the ball deep without a receiver nearby, resulting in a safety and the 30-7 lead.