UT vs. UGA Game Summary...

Wow! What a game. I have barely had a chance to catch my breath and compose my thoughts, but here goes nothing. The game could not have started any worse for the Vols. Georgia scored on their opening possession of the game and appeared as though they were never going to look back. Early in the second quarter, Georgia freshman Todd Gurley scampered 51 yards for a touchdown and the game almost seemed as if it was out of reach. The Bulldogs were up 27-10, and Tennessee looked completely lost on both sides of the ball. But then a funny thing happened. For the first time in a long time, and maybe the first time in the Derek Dooley era, the Vols proved to themselves, their coaches, and the fans that they belonged on the field with the best of the best in the SEC. Three consecutive touchdowns by A.J. Johnson, Zach Rogers, and Rajion Neal gave the Vols their first lead of the game, 30-27. It looked as though Tennessee would go to halftime with a 3 point lead, but a poor coaching decision on the pooch kick gave Georgia good field position and a chance to score at the end of the half. With 4 seconds left in the second quarter, Marshall Morgan connected on a 50 yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 30. After such a horrific start to the game, the Vols had new life entering the second half.



Tied at 30, the Vols received the ball first in the second half. They were unable to move the ball effectively and gave the ball back to a very hungry and potent Georgia offense. On their first two possesions of the second half, Georgia managed to find the end zone, both times seeing quarterback Aaron Murray connect with wide receiver Michael Bennett. The final 4 minutes of the third quarter saw the Vols and Dogs swap a pair of touchdowns. Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson took a reverse and ran it 46 yards for a score. This was Patterson's second rushing touchdown of the season for the Vols. But just as Tennessee seemed to gain a little bit of their second quarter momentum back on their side, Georgia's Keith Marshall burned the Vols for 72 yards and his second touchdwon of the game. Tennessee's Derrick Brodus missed a short field goal to pull the Vols within 11, and the teams entered the final quarter with Georgia leading 51-37.



Tennessee moved the ball efficiently to start the final frame. And with just under 9 minutes to play, Tennessee tail back Rajion Neal ran 9 yards right up the gut to pull the Vols within a single touchdown of the Bulldogs. Now, Tennessee just needed a stop to get the ball back to their offense. The Vols not only got another opportunity, but ended up getting three more chances to tie the game in the final 7 minutes of the game. But this one was just not to be. Tyler Bray turned the ball over 3 times in the final minutes of the game to seal the fate of the Volunteers. Two interceptions, and a costly fumble deep in Georgia territory were too much to overcome, as the Vols fell to Georgia 51-44 inside Sanford Stadium. The Vols fell to 3-2(0-2) on the season, as the #5 Georgia Bulldogs moved to 5-0(2-0). The Vols are off next week, as they will begin to prepare for a road trip to Starkville, Mississippi.

 

More to come...