By Charles Odum
The Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Rodrigo Blankenship kicked two fourth-quarter field goals and Georgia’s defense shut down No. 8 Auburn in the second half to beat the Tigers 13-7 on Saturday.

The loss ends Auburn’s Southeastern Conference championship hopes and knocks the Tigers out of consideration for a spot in the playoff.

Auburn (7-3, 5-2 SEC, No. 9 CFP) had been in control of its hopes to win the SEC’s Western Division, with one conference game remaining at No. 1 Alabama. Instead, Alabama clinched the division with Auburn’s loss.

The Tigers couldn’t overcome the loss of star running back Kamryn Pettway, the nation’s No. 4 rusher who hurt his left leg on a long run in last week’s win over Vanderbilt. Pettway was with the team but not in uniform.

Auburn was held to 32 yards with no first downs in the second half, and 164 yards overall.

“The offense didn’t get it done today. It’s a simple as that,” said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who said he stuck with struggling quarterback Sean White because “Sean is our guy.”

Malzahn said White, returning from an undisclosed injury, didn’t throw in practice for the second straight week.

White couldn’t find a passing game to complement Johnson’s running. White completed only 6 of 20 passes for 27 yards with an interception. Georgia (6-4, 4-4) earned its biggest win under first-year coach Kirby Smart. Nick Chubb had 23 carries for 101 yards and Jacob Eason completed 20 of 31 passes for 208 yards without an interception.

After Blankenship’s 21-yard field goal with 2:25 remaining, Auburn was stopped on four downs, triggering a celebration in the stands and on Georgia’s sideline.

Kerryon Johnson ran for 99 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter, as the fill-in starter for Johnson.