ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) -- Before actually making it to the "World's Largest Cocktail Party," Georgia's reason to celebrate was nearly spoiled.
Billy Bennett kicked a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the fifth-ranked Bulldogs narrowly avoided a huge upset with a 16-13 victory over Alabama-Birmingham.
One of the top teams in the country, the Bulldogs (7-1) were expected to have an easy time before their grueling Southeastern Conference schedule resumed against Florida next week.
"I didn't see a team that didn't put up a fight today," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I saw a (Georgia) team that fought hard, but also fought a pretty good team. If we don't have any fight in us, we lose the football game today."
It was the second straight week that the Bulldogs failed to resemble a national championship contender. Last week, Georgia trailed 2-0 at halftime before posting a 27-8 win at Vanderbilt.
"We probably were not focused out there like we should have been," Georgia nose guard Ken Veal said. "I am glad we are over this two-game hump. We won't need anything to get us up for Florida."
But what looked to be a break for the team rated fourth in the BCS standings and over a four-touchdown favorite, nearly turned into disaster.
The Bulldogs built a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, then failed to reach the end zone again.
The Blazers (3-5) actually took a 13-10 lead midway through the third quarter. But Bennett kicked a 29-yard field goal with 3:31 left in the third quarter before he connected from 31 yards with 12:57 left in the fourth for the deciding points.
Bennett's winning field goal gave a school-record 355 career points.
"I have had enough chances to get there, so it was going to happen sooner or later, I guess," said Bennett, who surpassed Kevin Butler for most career points. "I am still not the kicker Kevin Butler was. He made some big kicks in his career, and I don't think I've matched that."
It marked the second straight week that Blazers nearly pulled off a shocker. Last week, they squandered an eight-point fourth-quarter lead in a 27-24 loss at unbeaten Texas Christian.
The Bulldogs' struggles in this one were even more surprising since the Blazers were forced to use redshirt freshman Chris Williams at quarterback in place of Darrell Hackney, who is out for the remainder of the season with a dislocated thumb.
But Williams was able to keep the Blazers in the game by avoiding any major mistakes against the nation's top-ranked defense.
With under three minutes remaining, Williams completed a 24-yard pass to Bradly Chavez to the Georgia 32. But after a delay of game penalty, a sack and two incompletions, the Blazers turned the ball over on downs with 1:54 left and the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock.
"Our plan was to get into the fourth quarter and make the game as short as possible," Blazers coach Watson Brown said. "Our long drives in the second quarter gave our team a chance to win."
Williams completed 12-of-21 passes for 97 yards and one interception.
Early on, it looked like the Bulldogs might be on their way to a lopsided win as David Greene directed a five-play, 62-yard drive that took over just a minute.
Greene capped the march with a 16-yard TD pass to Damien Gary, giving the Bulldogs the early lead.
Greene finished 20-of-33 for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also was sacked twice.
"When it comes down to it, a win is a win," Greene said. "When you are not playing well, the best thing to do is fight it out."
Williams made one of his few mistakes late in the first quarter when he was intercepted by Sean Jones at the Blazers 35.
But the Bulldogs were unable to pick up a first down and settled for Bennett's 48-yard field goal six seconds into the second quarter, extending the lead to 10-0. Williams recovered from that mistake on the ensuing possession to lead an 18-play, 75-yard drive that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Theron Dudley culminated the drive with a one-yard TD run with 5:09 left in the half, pulling the Blazers within 10-7.
The Blazers pulled even on a 27-yard field goal by Nick Hayes as time expired in the half.
Hayes connected from 47 yards 5:08 into the third quarter to give UAB the lead. His field goal was set up by Justin Whitmore's interception inside of Georgia territory.
But the lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs responded with a 13-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in Bennett's 29-yard field goal with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
