Run it back. That was the theme for the Georgia Bulldog offense heading into the 2025 season. Georgia needed to reestablish its running game. To do so would take Georgia’s stubbornness. Kirby Smart said before the game that the Dawgs would be stubborn. After Tennessee’s Max Gilbert missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of regulation, Smart showed the Vols for a ninth time in a row what stubborn looks like. Georgia won the toss in overtime and decided to go on defense. The defense flexed and held the Vol’s and Gilbert for a field goal. Then it was time for Georgia to run it back.
The Dawgs came out with three tight ends and were hell bent on not seeing Joey Aguilar touch the ball again. Nate Frazier took a wide zone handoff 21 yards on Georgia’s first possession in the extra frame. Two plays later, Josh McCray extended his hands and the ball across the goal line to put the Dawgs on top 44-41.
Georgia’s stubbornness was the key to keeping the Vols at bay all day in Knoxville.
Run it back: Georgia’s Stubbornness Prevails Over Tennessee
Vols Quick Start
Smart knew Tennessee would fast start. When asked earlier this week, he complimented the Vols’ “quick tempo and wide spread style of play, leading to their tendency for ‘big plays downfield’ and starting games quickly.” We might want to call Smart, Nostradamus. Tennessee scored on its first three drives and raced out to a quick 21-7 lead. Aguilar got out to a blistering start. He led the Vols on an eight-play 75-yard scoring drive to open the game in just two minutes and thirty seconds. He then hit Chris Brazzell II for a 72-yard strike. Tennessee would also show they can put a full drive together, driving 83 yards in 11 plays to go up 21-7.
Aguilar would start the contest going 14-14 and throwing for more than 200 yards in the first quarter. After that, Smart and the Dawgs adjusted and slowed the hyperspeed Vol offense. Aguilar would complete just two of his next eight passes and would see two of his three drives end in a punt and see a Joenel Aguero interception that gave the Dawgs a chance to further capitalize in the “Middle 8.”
Georgia’s Stubbornness Wins the Middle Eight
Win the “Middle 8.” All of the good coaches know that this is one of the most important games within a game. Smart and the Dawgs found out the hard way in the Sugar Bowl last year how critical the Middle 8 is. Notre Dame used a 17-0 run in 57 seconds last year that put the game and the College Football Playoff out of reach. Smart and Georgia found their opportunity to strike in the Middle 8 when they regained possession at their own three-yard line. Georgia’s offense set itself up for success by taking up almost seven minutes off the clock on a 15-play 88-yard drive that ended in a field goal. The Aguero interception on the next play enabled Georgia to threaten to take the lead. Unfortunately, a Ryan Puglisi was intercepted at the goal line on a Hail Mary attempt.
Run the damn ball, Bobo. We wrote about it back when Fall Camp opened. The Georgia offensive coordinator clearly got the message. The Dawgs opened the second half and took almost eight minutes off the clock and kept the ball on the ground for 13 of the drive’s 14 plays to take their first lead of the game, 24-21. The Dawgs 17-0 run…
Field Goals ≠ Touchdowns
Georgia looked like it was ready to put the game away on Tennessee’s next two possessions. The Vols went 3 and out, gaining only -1 yard on the first possession of the second half, and then KJ Bolden intercepted Aguilar on the Vols’ second possession. Georgia was unable to slam the door, though. Geogia had to settle for a field goal to go up 27-21. Tennessee, though, showed that they could be just as stubborn.
Tennessee went 75 yards on five plays that culminated in Aguilar hooking up with Brazzell II again on a big play. This one went for a 56-yard touchdown to put the Vols up one. Georgia would respond once again on the next drive and get inside Tennessee’s ten-yard line. Unfortunately, that is where the drive would stall. Georgia was forced to settle yet again for a Peyton Woodring field goal to put the Dawgs back up 30-28. It was good to get six points on those two drives for the Dawgs, but with the way the game went on Saturday, we all knew that field goals were not going to get the job done.
Vols Defense Step Up
After the field goal, Tennessee showed that they had some fight left in them and looked like they were ready to seal the game away. Vols Drive right back down the field. Aguilar continued to show his big-play ability and led the Vols 75 yards in four plays to put Tennessee up 35-30. The touchdown brought new life into the checkerboard crowd at Neyland and into the Vol defense. Joshua Joseph strip-sacked Stockton on the next possession. It was recovered by Tennessee’s Bryson Eason deep inside Georgia territory. If the eight-game Vol losing streak was going to end. This was the time for Aguilar to go for the kill.
Georgia’s stubbornness showed up this time on defense. Despite being backed up in their own territory, the Georgia defense held Tennessee to a field goal and kept it a one-score game. Georgia would get the ball back with just over six minutes to play in the game and needing a hero.
Gunner Stockton Stands Up
Georgia found their hero in QB1. Stockton is a former five-star recruit. He was waiting for his turn behind Carson Beck. He didn’t complain, he just came in and went to work. He has been largely overlooked in preseason rankings, and even when just looking at the SEC quarterbacks. Stockton showed on Saturday why Georgia fans should have plenty of excitement. Georgia faced 4th and 6 on their own 28-yard line. Stockton didn’t blink. He hit London Humphreys on a beautiful over-the-back shoulder touchdown pass. Stockton made the perfect throw at the perfect time. Zacharia Branch would tie it up on the two-point conversion. But Georgia scored too quickly, so it seemed. The Vols were able to march down the field before Gilbert’s miss at the end of regulation.
What’s Next
Geogia is on a bye next week and will then host their old nemesis, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in Athens on September 27th. Georgia’s stubbornness will be put to the test against a team that has seemingly had Georgia’s number.
Main Photo: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
