Alabama's Kalen Deboer incensed at player who 'just cost us the damn game' vs Georgia with boneheaded penalty

Georgia defeats Alabama, penalty turns the tide

The Georgia Bulldogs secured a 20‑13 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, handing Alabama its first defeat of the 2024 season and moving the Bulldogs to an undefeated 6‑0 record.

In the waning minutes of the contest, a single penalty by Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee proved decisive. With just over two minutes remaining, Alabama faced a third‑and‑two situation on its own end zone. Lee grabbed a Georgia player by the jersey and struck him twice in the face with an open hand. The referee called a defensive pass interference penalty, granting Georgia an automatic first down. Alabama, having used all of its timeouts, could not stop the clock and the Bulldogs simply kneaded the ball out of the game.

Coaching reactions were immediate and heated. Georgia head coach Kalen De Boer, visibly frustrated, confronted Lee on the sidelines. “You just cost us the game,” De Boer told the defensive back, a remark that was reported by multiple outlets.

The penalty came after a sequence of plays that had already strained Alabama. Earlier in the third quarter, with more than three minutes left, Georgia had been given a defensive pass interference call in the end zone, giving Alabama a short field. Alabama attempted to mount a late drive, but on the next play quarterback Keelon Russell was sacked outside field‑goal range, eliminating any chance for a tying score. Alabama’s ensuing punt failed to return possession to the Crimson Tide.

The Bulldogs’ defense held Alabama to 13 points, while the offense kept its scoring limited to a single touchdown and two field goals. With the loss, Alabama drops to 6‑1 on the season, while Georgia maintains a perfect record.

The game will be remembered for the late‑game penalty that halted Alabama’s comeback hopes, underscoring how a single play can alter the outcome of a high‑stakes matchup.