5Alabama 41 - 30 4Georgia
Final
  for this game

Moreno, Georgia face another tough test in Alabama

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:06 AM (10) Alabama (4-0) at (3) Georgia (4-0), 7:45 pm EDT

ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) -- After getting past a couple road obstacles, third-ranked Georgia returns home. It won't get any easy, though.

Knowshon Moreno and the Bulldogs will host No. 10 Alabama on Saturday in their Southeastern Conference home opener.

After escaping South Carolina with a 14-7 victory two weeks ago, Georgia traveled across the country and cruised to its 11th consecutive win - a 27-10 triumph at Arizona State.

Moreno rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0 SEC East) recorded their longest winning streak since 1982. It's also the second-longest streak in the nation behind BYU.

A Heisman Trophy contender, Moreno has collected 455 yards and nine scores on 69 carries this season. But even more impressive is Georgia's run defense, which held the Sun Devils to just four rushing yards.

That will be key against the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 West), who had their four top backs rush for 338 yards and four touchdowns on 33 attempts in last Saturday's 49-14 road win over Arkansas.

"This wasn't one of our best games, in terms of overall execution," Alabama coach Nick Saban said after the rout. "But we did control the line of scrimmage and we won the turnover battle, and that was the big difference in the game."

Glen Coffee led the way, rushing for a career-high 162 yards and two scores on just 10 carries. Alabama will also use Roy Upchurch, Terry Grant and freshman Mark Ingram at running back.

The Bulldogs will attempt to shut down the running game and force the Tide to turn to senior John Parker Wilson, who passed for five touchdowns with one interceptions this season.

Georgia has a much better option at quarterback in Matthew Stafford, who has passed for 919 yards and five scores with no interceptions over the first four contests.

The junior appears to have found a new favorite target as well. Freshman A.J. Green leads the team with 16 receptions for 300 yards.

"I just go out there and try to make big plays for my team when my name is called. It comes from playing every day," Green said after Saturday's win. "The older guys have really been helping me out. They help me with my routes and my coach is teaching me to run routes better."

"I was able to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers and guys made big plays behind me," Stafford added. "The line gave me plenty of time to throw the ball, which helped a lot."

Alabama has been very opportunistic on the defensive side, forcing eight turnovers and scoring a pair of touchdowns this season.






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