Tennessee beats Georgia in an all time classic in Athens. With this win, Tennessee is in control in the SEC East, for now anyway. A week ago, Tennessee ended an 11 game losing streak to Florida. Some wondered if they would have a let down at Georgia. Well, they didn’t play their best and needed a miracle to do it, but they won. Let’s review how it went down.
Tennessee Beats Georgia on a Hail’Mary
Game Recap
The game started with outstanding defense. Midway through the first quarter, Georgia drove down the field with a great running attack. Sony Michel would run for a 14 yard touchdown run.
Alvin Kamara on Tennessee’s next drive would fumble a pass from Dobbs. This would give Georgia the ball at the UT 37. Georgia would capitalize and get a field goal. Tennessee would move the ball on their next drive but a for sure 23 yard touchdown pass by Joshua Dobbs to Jalen Hurd was fumbled at the goal line and Georgia recovered it. Georgia would then drive down the field to go up 17-0. Tennessee would respond on the next drive thanks to a 3rd and goal scramble by Dobbs, to make it 17-7. Earlier that drive, Dobbs kept it alive a few plays earlier on a 3rd and 15 scramble.
After halftime, Tennessee would get the ball to start the second half and they drove down the field pretty easily. The drive would end on a 20 yard touchdown pass to Hurd, this time Hurd would keep the ball across the goal line and not fumble it. Georgia later in the third quarter would get a 50 yard touchdown pass. This would put Georgia ahead 24-14.
Now to the exciting fourth and final quarter. Tennessee would find Alvin Kamara for a 33 yard touchdown pass. The Vols now are back within three, 24-21. Georgia would move the ball down the field the next drive, but eventually being stopped on a crucial 4th and 2 at the UT 25 yard line. Dobbs on the next possession would throw an interception just two plays in, giving Georgia the ball back at the UT 42.
The Bulldogs however, couldn’t do anything with it and punted it away. The Volunteers had another opportunity to take the lead but only able to get one first down and would punt the ball away. However, Tennessee would pin Georgia at the 5, putting pressure on Georgia. Jacob Eason would be sacked, fumbled, and Tennessee fell on it in the end zone. Tennessee had their first lead 28-24 with 2:56 left.
Georgia returns the kickoff to their own 46, giving them great field position. The dawgs would throw an interception on a 3rd and 15 though. This made it seem as if Tennessee had sealed it. However, Georgia had three timeouts and Tennessee went three and out and Georgia got the ball back with 1:15 to go. Georgia head coach, Kirby Smart, elected not to take a timeout on second down, bleeding the clock more. After the Tennessee punt, Georgia took over at their own 19 yard line.
After some big passes that got Georgia to the UT 47 with 19 seconds left, Eason connected with what looked like the kill. He connected with Riley Ridley on a 47 yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds to go. Georgia would be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, that would be enforced on the kickoff. Chances are though, Tennessee won’t pull off a miracle, right? Wrong.
Evan Berry returned the kick to the UT 48. Add on an offsides penalty by Georgia, and UT would get the ball at the 43. What would happen next, is one of the most memorable plays in Tennessee football history. Dobbs would throw a beautifully thrown ball and Jauan Jennings would catch it for the score in the end zone. Sanford Stadium was stunned and couldn’t believe what they just saw. It was the 15 year anniversary of legendary Georgia radio announcer, Larry Munson’s call “the hobnail boot” in a last second win over Tennessee in 2001. Well, 15 years later, Tennessee created their own hobnail boot. Or maybe a dobbsnail boot? Relive the magic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U5KsvT_XAc
Main Photo
