EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Georgia coach Kirby Smart said beating No. 6 Alabama 20-17 on the road Saturday night didn't carry extra weight for him, but it sure seemed like the former Crimson Tide defensive coordinator was enjoying this victory a little more than others.After hugging his wife, Mary Beth, and his son, Andrew, at midfield, Smart raced to the north side of Bryant-Denny Stadium, where several hundred Bulldogs fans were celebrating the program's first victory in Tuscaloosa since 2007."I've been in a bunch of those with them and they all seem similar," Smart said. "Physical game, back and forth, critical calls, critical situations. At the end of the day, our quarterback played well enough for us to win. We scored enough points to win. It was a really extremely physical football game. I have a lot of respect for Alabama, a lot of respect for Coach [Kalen] DeBoer, and a lot of respect for their team and how they play."In his 11th season at Georgia, it was Smart's first regular-season win against Alabama, where he directed Nick Saban's defenses for eight seasons from 2008 to 2015 and helped the Tide win four national championships.It was Georgia's first victory in Tuscaloosa since a 26-23 win on quarterback Matthew Stafford's 25-yard touchdown in overtime in 2007. The Bulldogs had dropped their previous five regular-season meetings against Alabama, including two on the road."We haven't played here much," Smart said. "In 2007, I was here on the other side. How many times have we played since then? Three? We're 1-2. What is everybody else? This is a hard place to play. I don't judge my happiness or success on how we play Alabama. We've got a lot of respect for this place. Nick taught me a lot."After dropping 10 of 11 games against the Crimson Tide since 2008, the Bulldogs have now defeated them twice in the past nine months. Georgia dominated Alabama 28-7 in the SEC championship game Dec. 6.The latest victory will probably move No. 2 Georgia to the top spot in the polls after No. 1 Texas lost to Oklahoma 27-24 on Saturday.Georgia broke a tie for a 20-17 lead on Peyton Woodring's 23-yard field goal with 5:25 remaining. He had badly hooked a 39-yard attempt left on the Bulldogs' previous possession.Then the Bulldogs forced a punt after the Tide reached the UGA 34-yard line with about 3:30 to play. On second down, quarterback Keelon Russell threw deep down the right side and into the end zone for receiver Rico Scott. Georgia safety KJ Bolden broke up the pass, and DeBoer and Alabama fans were livid that officials didn't throw a flag for pass interference.Bolden and Valdin Sone sacked Russell for a 9-yard loss on the next play, forcing a punt with 3:10 left.Smart said he told defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann to be aggressive on the Tide's last possession."If we're aggressive, then you lose swinging and we get the ball back," Smart said. "We've got a chance to win. I didn't come here to play to lose. I didn't come here to play to go to overtime. I came here to win. He called a timely blitz that knocked them out of field goal [position]."Georgia's offense still needed to pick up a couple of first downs to finish. On third-and-7 at the Georgia 10, quarterback Gunner Stockton fired a 17-yard pass to tight end Elyiss Williams.Two plays later, Tide cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul for shoving a receiver after the whistle, giving the Bulldogs another first down, which allowed them to kneel down three times and run out the clock."I knew when they punted, our offense had started to take the anaconda effect and it was wearing them down and we had a chance to run it out," Smart said.Once again, Stockton was a big part of Georgia's success. He completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also scored on a 14-yard run.Stockton completed five of six passes for 146 yards with a touchdown on throws with 15 yards or more of air, according to ESPN Research. They were the highest totals in his career."He's a killer, a cold-blooded killer," safety Khalil Barnes said. "I don't think any moment gets too big for him, man. I'm proud to have him as my quarterback."The Bulldogs also got a massive effort from junior tailback Dwight Phillips Jr., who carried the load with starter Nate Frazier (ribs) and top backup Chauncey Bowens (lower leg) sidelined because of injuries.Phillips ran for a career-best 120 yards on 17 carries. Sophomore Bo Walker added 69 yards on 10 attempts."What a great kid, man," Smart said of Phillips. "Y'all don't know how special this kid is. He hasn't complained one time since being here, and he's so tough for his size."
