TUSCALOOSA — Kalen DeBoer's Alabama offense scored touchdowns on its first four drives, but the first-year Tide coach knew it couldn't possibly be that easy against a Georgia team coached by Kirby Smart.

Alabama beat the Bulldogs 41-34 on Saturday night, jumping out to a 28-0 lead through the first five plays of the second quarter and going 30-7 at halftime.

Georgia stormed back in the second half to take a 34-33 lead, leading to plenty of drama before DeBoer's Tide scored the game-winning touchdown and the Bulldogs' final drive ended with an interception in the end zone.

“They’re a great football team, you’re going to get pushed back by them,” DeBoer said in his ABC interview. “I’m proud of our guys for coming back with some firepower and making plays when they needed them most.”

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered an epic performance, completing 27 of 33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns and rushing on 16 carries for a game-high 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Milroe connected with Tide freshman receiver Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown with 2:18 left – an offensive play following a 67-yard pass from Carson Beck to Dillon Bell, UGA had a 34-33 lead with 2:31 left -Advantage gives watch.

“It took four quarters, and obviously there were some moments where they broke through, especially in the second half,” said DeBoer, who gave the Tide a 4-0 start with the win in the SEC opener.

“Georgia, in particular, is a great football team.”

Kirby Smart, who worked at Alabama for nine years as an assistant to former coach Nick Saban, behaved very professionally and respectfully even in defeat.

“A great game, great atmosphere, a lot of respect for Alabama's team, the fans and the venue,” said Smart, who helped Saban win four national titles as his defensive coordinator and chief recruiter. “Obviously we weren’t prepared and that’s on me.”

DeBoer, meanwhile, seemed particularly impressed with how the Bulldogs went 5-for-5 in the second half to convert into the fourth, keeping their unlikely comeback hopes alive.

Carson Beck almost overcame the three interceptions, fumble and safety that his throws accounted for, completing 27 of 50 passes for a career-high 439 yards.

“Sometimes when they're in their situation, really getting on their heels and just giving it up, you know, that urgency that they needed,” DeBoer said, “and a few plays go your way, and those are the sparks” and they did a good job converting fourth downs.

“I think that was really the story in the second half, those fourth-down calls and fourth-down plays,” he said. “If we get one or two of those, the game really looks a lot different in the second half.”

DeBoer said Alabama, which travels to Nashville next Saturday at 4:15 p.m. to play Vanderbilt before a showdown with South Carolina leading to a rivalry game at Tennessee on Oct. 19, knows more challenges await.

“Those are the battles,” said DeBoer, who has won 11 straight with more than a week to prepare in the FBS ranks since his time at Washington and Fresno State. “We know it will be like this every week. People are going to give us their best shot, and that’s the SEC.”

Alabama's win gives Georgia an insider bet to play in the SEC Championship Game, with the head-to-head matchup being the key deciding factor.

It's still possible the teams could meet there, or possibly in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.