TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — — Georgia and Alabama, Jalen Milroe and Carson Beck, put on quite a show, even with another Crimson Tide coach on the sidelines.

Ryan Williams caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Milroe with 2:18 left and No. 4 Alabama defeated No. 2 Georgia 41-34 on Saturday night in a wild Southeastern Conference debut for Tide coach Kalen DeBoer.

Then, Alabama’s other freshman wearing a No. 2 jersey, defensive back Zabien Brown, intercepted Carson Beck’s pass in the end zone to secure the victory.

“We pushed each other to our limits,” DeBoer said.

That’s no surprise with two teams that have battled for SEC and even national supremacy almost annually. It was DeBoer’s introduction to a compelling rivalry between SEC powers that added another memorable chapter, even without Nick Saban on the sideline opposite Georgia protégé Kirby Smart.

DeBoer’s postgame message wasn’t all that different.

“We expect to win these games,” he said. “Of course the locker room is full of excitement, but I also want to make sure they realize that this is the expectation. There is still a lot of season left.”

The dynamic 17-year-old Williams turned and collected Milroe’s deep pass in tight coverage, performed a quick spin and sprinted down the right sideline. Milroe then hit Germie Bernard for the two-point conversion for the Tide (4-0, 1-0).

“I did a spin and it was like I was in slow motion,” Williams said. “It looked faster on the screen.”

It was fast enough.

The long TD pass came one play 13 seconds after Carson Beck’s 67-yard bomb to Dillon Bell gave the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1) their first lead of the game.

A rematch of last season’s SEC Championship Game, also won by Alabama, turned into a scintillating quarterback duel.

Milroe completed 27 of 33 passes for 374 yards with two touchdowns and an interception bounced off the receiver. He also ran for 117 yards and a pair of TDs. Williams had six catches for 177 yards.

Beck was 27 of 50 passing for 439 yards with three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions in the first multi-interception game of his career, but put on a show in the second half.

Beck is 16-2 as a starter with both losses coming to the Tide.

The Bulldogs scored three touchdowns in the final 9:46. Alabama got the only one it needed.

Milroe led Alabama to touchdowns on its first four drives against a defense that ranked alone in the FBS and didn’t allow one in the game.

“Obviously we weren’t really prepared and that stands out to me in the first half,” said Smart, who is just 1-6 against Alabama while dominating almost everyone else.

The Bulldogs trailed 28-0 a few minutes into the second quarter, their streak of 42 consecutive regular-season victories and 28 consecutive regular-season SEC victories seemingly all but over by halftime.

Georgia and Beck fought way back instead of folding.

“We played terribly in the first half,” Beck said. “I don’t think we have to watch the film to see that we weren’t playing our best. You know, that starts with me. I have to be better.

“But I’m happy with the way we fought. We brought it all the way back and took the lead, but we just couldn’t close it out.”

The takeaway

Georgia: Looks vulnerable for a program that has won two of the last three national titles in its last two games, including a 13-12 victory over Kentucky. But the Bulldogs showed they haven’t gone anywhere with the dominant second half.

Alabama: The Tide have shown no signs of derailment under DeBoer thus far, especially offensively, as they went on the road against Wisconsin and survived at home against their recent SEC foe.

Survey implications

Alabama will move up at least one spot in the AP poll. The Bulldogs’ play in the second half likely means they won’t fall far.

Trump’s visit

Former President Donald Trump, the current Republican candidate, attended the game. Trump was introduced early in the second quarter, prompting chants of “USA! USA!” and waving to the audience from a luxury coffin.

Fourth downs

Georgia went for it five times in fourth place and got them all. That helped make up for a 3-of-15 performance on third down.

Next

Alabama: Saturday at Vanderbilt in its first SEC road game.

Georgia: Hosts wrestle Auburn on Saturday.

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