AUBURN, Ala. — Cam Newton did his talking on the field.
Responding to all those allegations of wrongdoing with another brilliant performance, Newton passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead No. 2 Auburn into the Southeastern Conference championship game — and another step closer to playing for the national title.
The Tigers pulled away from Georgia in the fourth quarter for a 49-31 victory that, at least for one day, took some of the heat off college football’s most dynamic player.
“I’m just very proud of the way he played,” coach Gene Chizik said. “He’s a really, really talented, extremely gifted player who means a lot to our football team.”
Newton celebrated with his teammates after the game, yukking it up in front of the student section, but that would be the only insight into how he was feeling after persistent reports that his father solicited money — big money — during the recruiting process.
Auburn officials refused to make Newton available to the media.
Chizik went along with that theme, saying at the start of his news conference he would only answer questions about what happened on the field. When a reporter asked him about his feelings toward Cecil Newton, the quarterback’s father, this was the reply: “I’m only taking questions about this football game, thank you.”
Auburn survived another high-scoring, back-and-forth affair, rallying from an early 21-7 deficit to tie it up by halftime. The Tigers kept the momentum going with a daring onside kick to start the third quarter, recovering the ball and driving for the go-ahead touchdown.
Georgia (5-6, 3-5) hung tough behind A.J. Green’s nine-catch, 164-yard performance, tying the game again at 28-all before Auburn went ahead for good on Onterio McCalebb’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Georgia had won four straight in the Deep South’s oldest rivalry and needed another to become bowl-eligible in a disappointing season.
The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC) will face South Carolina for the conference title on Dec. 4 in Atlanta.
