By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Atlanta, GA

Eddie Lacy ran for a season-high 181 yards and two touchdowns while AJ McCarron threw the go-ahead touchdown pass as No. 2 Alabama bagged the Southeastern Conference title with a close 32-28 victory over third-ranked Georgia Saturday at Georgia Dome.

Lacy rushed for 20 times to eclipse his previous season-high by four yards while freshman rusher T.J. Yeldon added a season-best 153 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown for the Crimson Tide, who will next face No. 1 Notre Dame in the BCS title game on Jan. 7 in Miami.

Led by Lacy and Yeldon, the Crimson Tide rushers finished with 350 yards on 51 carries to post a new SEC championship game record.

McCarron finished 13-for-21 for 162 yards and threw an interception while Amari Cooper tallied 128 yards on eight carries as the Crimson Tide finished the season with a 12-1 record.

Aaron Murray completed 18 of 33 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown and freshman running back Tom Gurley ran for 122 yards on 23 carries and two scores for the Bulldogs (11-2).

The Bulldogs had a chance to clinch the game after reaching the Alabama 5 but time ran out on them, allowing the Crimson Tide to escape with the victory.

Murray struck first, finding Jay Rome for a 19-yard touchdown pass in the second period for a 7-0 advantage.

However, Lacy broke away for a 41-yard touchdown to tie the game before the Crimson Tide took the lead after a 22-yard field goal by Jeremy Shelley.

In the third period, the Bulldogs took a 21-10 lead after a three-yard touchdown run by Gurley and Alec Ogletree's 55-yard return of a blocked field goal.

In response, Yeldon barreled in for a 10-yard touchdown and rammed home a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21-18.

Lacy gave Alabama a 25-21 lead with a short scoring burst but it was short-lived as Gurley retaliated with a 10-yard touchdown run for a 28-25 Bulldogs advantage.

Then, McCarron came up big, connecting with Cooper for a 45-yard touchdown run that put the Crimson Tide ahead with less than four minutes remaining.

 

Lacy, McCarron Star as Alabama Tops Georgia for SEC Title