Peach Tree Times

The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs achieved greatness in an impressive victory in the NCAA National Championship game, knocking off the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a 33-18 win that gave Georgia its first title since 1980.

While there was potential for Alabama to battle back on a drive late in the fourth quarter, with 54 seconds on the clock Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo intercepted a pass from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, going 79 yards for a touchdown and securing the win for the Bulldogs. According to a report by ESPN, it was the longest interception return for a touchdown in the national championship game’s history.

“I told the guys in the locker room, just take a picture of this, because I think back to the '80 championship picture and seeing all those players and the Frank Walkers and the Herschel Walkers and all these people that have reached out and said things," Coach Kirby Smart told ESPN after the win. "Our guys have accomplished that, something special, and as they say, they've become legendary, and I want that for them.”

At the game was Vince Dooley, who was the coach of the last Georgia squad to win the title. Smart was able to hug Dooley in celebration, both men shedding tears of joy, according to ESPN.

The offensive player of the game was quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was a former walk-on for the team. He was also brought to tears by the big win.

“I hadn’t cried in – I don’t know, years – but that just came over me,” he told ESPN. “That’s what – when you put as much time as we do into this thing: blood, sweat, tears, it means something.”

Alabama was looking for its second straight title; the name Crimson Tide has been synonymous with success as the team has won five championships since 2011. The last time the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide went head-to-head in a title game was 2018 when Alabama won in overtime 26-23.

The Bulldogs finished this season with a 14-1 record, the most wins in University of Georgia football history.