KNOXVILLE – Georgia is 3-1 in the SEC and firmly in the mix for the Eastern Division title after earning its fourth straight win. After struggling to move the ball in the first half, the Bulldogs dominated the third quarter and beat Tennessee 20-12 on Saturday night.
“It was a good game and a good win,” said cornerback Brandon Boykin. “(Coach Richt) said at halftime that it was basically a 0-0 game, and that we had a fresh start after the half. The most important thing was coming out and getting the W.”
The Bulldogs struggled into the locker room at the half, tied at six with the fired-up Vols who kicked a game-tying field goal at the halftime buzzer. But Mark Richt’s squad outgained Tennessee in the third quarter 177-11 while embarking on two touchdown drives.
The defense set the tone for the half by forcing the Vols into a three-and-out after the opening kickoff. The stand was aided by a third-down bad snap by Tennessee that went for a 15-yard loss. After a 31-yard punt, Georgia had golden field position on the Vols’ 38.
Eight plays later – seven of them runs by Isaiah Crowell – and the Dawgs had the game’s first touchdown, a one-run plunge by the freshman from Columbus.
After stopping the Vols in five plays on their next possession, Georgia took over at their own seven after a 46-yard Matt Darr punt. On first down, Murray hit freshman Malcolm Mitchell in stride for a 71-yard completion to the Tennessee 22. It was the second time the two hooked up on a long completion. In the second quarter, Murray hit Mitchell for 43 yards to the Tennessee seven, setting up the Dawgs’ second field goal of the night.
After the deep ball to Mitchell, Murray ran for five yards. Crowell then took it in from the 17 to put Georgia up 20-6.
The defense was the story of the night for Richt’s team. Tennessee did not cross the Georgia 46 in the second half until its touchdown drive in the final minutes.
The score was the first offensive touchdown on the Georgia defense since the second quarter of the Ole Miss game and their second since the fourth quarter of the South Carolina game. Tennessee converted two fourth downs despite quarterback Tyler Bray leaving the game with an injured thumb. Backup Matt Simms completed a fourth-and-16 pass to tight end Mychal Rivera down to the UGA one. Two plays later, Simms piled into the end zone. The extra point was blocked by Shawn Williams and the Vols trailed 20-12.
Georgia then recovered an onside kick and punted the ball through the end zone to essentially end the game.
Georgia’s defense held Tennessee to 81 yards in the second half. The Vols were hampered by a serious inability to run the football. They were held to minus-20 yards rushing in the game.
“I thought we would run it better,” said Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley. “We couldn’t run it up the middle and we tried some outside runs. It just wasn’t working.”
It was a pivotal game for he SEC East race. Tennessee now has a huge hill to climb with two SEC losses and facing LSU and Alabama the next two games. Meanwhile, Georgia kept pace with East leader South Carolina, which also has one loss. The Richt critics will be silent for now.
“Really and truly, to think you’d even coach 100 games, then all of a sudden you win 100 games,” said Richt. “Again, it’s not me winning, but a representation of a lot of time, a lot of people.”
The win gave Richt his 100th win at Georgia in a place where he has had some memorable games.
“It was a big win for us and obviously it was Coach Richt’s 100th win so we were all pumped,” said Murray. “We wanted to win this because it was a big SEC game, but also wanted it for Coach Richt too.”
His first signature win as the Bulldogs coach game here in 2001 when Georgia upset Tennessee and won in Neyland Stadium for the first time since 1980, snapping a five-game losing streak in Knoxville. In 2003, Georgia won a crucial game here that led to the SEC East title. And in 2005, the Bulldogs beat a Tennessee team that was picked to win the SEC by many prior to the season. Richt’s squad, however, ended up winning the conference that season.
Next week, Georgia will be back in the Volunteer state to take on Vanderbilt at 7 p.m.
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Vol fan here! Ga Bulldogs didnt win against a very good team. I like Derrick Dooley but his game plan for this game was not very good.Vols Def played well but Offensive coord made some really dumb play calls. I am very dissapointed in the vols and dont think they make a bowl game this year.So, dont get to excited Georgia I never thought we would win this game today, Vols are too young, Make too many mistakesand our def coord doesnt do very well at disguising the blitz.I say again I think Dooley can get Tenn back to what they was at one time.But He will have to recruit top def tackles and I think He needs to make a few changes on his coaching staff.Georgia has the likely schedule to win the sec east but that dont matter cause they wont have a chance against LSU or Alabama at SEC championship game. Remember Fulmer was fired the very next season after winning the sec east and destroying Wisconsin in the bowl game.Richt will win some games but his days of winning a sec championship at the georgia dome are over.No more bcs bowl games for Richt either.Thats the way the cookie crumbles in the SEC, I dont think my team the vols even get 6 wins this season.Dissapointing but true.
VOLS cant beat teams with good defenses. We dont have the depth yet.Dooley did not have a good game plan for Georgia today. I dont see my favorite team getting 6 wins this year. Dont matter if Georgia wins the east cause Alabama or LSU will destroy them in sec championship game.
#1 Volunteer fan here.Our football team is too young and we make too many mistakes. offensive game plan was awful.doesnt matter if Ga wins the east cause Louisiana State university, (SEC West) would destroy Georgia in championship game.