Tennessee vs. Georgia: Game Grades, Analysis for Volunteers vs. Bulldogs
It was a finish you had to see to believe, one that will go down in Tennessee football lore.
Moments after ripping ahead of Georgia with a sack-fumble of quarterback Jacob Eason and 10 seconds after Eason's 47-yard touchdown pass to Riley Ripley put the Bulldogs in the lead, Joshua Dobbs somehow completed a last-second prayer to Jauan Jennings that he caught in the end zone for a 34-31 Vols win.
Call it the "Stunner in Sanford."
Given the circumstances and the magnitude of the game, it could wind up being one of the biggest wins in UT history if Tennessee takes this and goes on to great things this year. The improbable win puts the Vols at 5-0 and in control of their own destiny in the division.
They've vanquished Florida and Georgia already, too.
It was a win dripping in drama and one that has so many storylines, including UT's 17-point comeback yet again. Let's take a look at the grades from the game.
Tennessee: Offense
1 of 6
Tennessee entered the Georgia game with 12 fumbles on the season and had only lost one of them, but that luck ran out against the Bulldogs.
It could have cost them the win, and probably should have.
The Vols wound up with three turnovers, including a baffling fumble by junior running back Jalen Hurd as he traipsed lackadaisically toward the goal line which wound up being a 14-point swing as UT dug itself out of a 17-0 hole.
But quarterback Joshua Dobbs was brilliant in the second half despite an interception, making plays yet again with his arm and his feet. The offensive line gave great protection for much of the game, and the Vols went for the deep pass to 6'3" receiver Jauan Jennings, who brought it in for the win.
Though Hurd didn't play a lot in the second half, Alvin Kamara finished with 88 total yards and a touchdown. Hurd also came back after his blunder with a touchdown catch.
If you take away the turnovers, Tennessee played a solid game offensively. The Vols did plenty of good things and continued to grow up on that side of the ball. But the turnovers dock them a letter grade, and if they hadn't won, it could have been more.
Grade: B-
Georgia: Offense
2 of 6
Georgia took over in the first half, dominating the line of scrimmage with its offensive line and running backs.
Even though Nick Chubb had just one carry, the Bulldogs controlled the game with Sony Michel and Brian Herrien. Isaiah McKenzie got the ball several different ways and was a weapon all afternoon.
The Vols bottled up the run in the second half, but that's when quarterback Jacob Eason grew up and began his heroics.
He made a couple of bad mistakes, throwing an interception on a toe-tapping play by Malik Foreman and not getting rid of the ball in the end zone on a sack-fumble that was recovered by UT's Corey Vereen for the go-ahead score.
But this offense blossomed against a Vols defense with a lot of talent. The twists and turns didn't go UGA's way, but there are a lot of encouraging things to take from this game for a young group. It wasn't perfect, but it was a much better step after three rough weeks.
Grade: B
Tennessee: Defense
3 of 6
Foreman needs to make sure he sends Dobbs and Jennings Christmas cards for the rest of his life, or at least buy them a nice steak dinner.
They saved him from goat status with the last-second heroics.
For some reason, UT's senior cornerback stopped on Eason's bomb to Ridley. It looked like maybe he didn't think the Bulldogs' freshman quarterback could throw it that far, but it wound up being a play that could have ended any Vols championship hopes.
Instead, it's just a learning moment that Foreman needs to take to heart.
It's baffling that Tennessee starts out so slowly on defense, but coordinator Bob Shoop has done a good job making halftime adjustments and shuts things down after the break. Following Georgia's first-half running game domination with 147 rushing yards, it had just 34 after halftime.
Junior defensive end Derek Barnett took over spurts of the game like he did against Florida last week, getting the sack on Eason that resulted in Vereen's fumble recovery for a touchdown. He also pressured Eason on his interception.
It was an uneven game for the Vols, but it's one with some nice upticks. They're still looking for a complete performance.
Grade: C+
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Georgia: Defense
4 of 6
You just can't give up the touchdown to win the game.
If you do, there's just no saving the grade, and the Bulldogs find themselves searching for answers after Jennings came down with the ball in front of two or three UGA defenders who failed to bat it away.
Though the Bulldogs gave up 34 points, it very easily could have been 42 because Hurd should have scored in the first half. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker's unit got a pair of three-and-outs late in the third quarter that allowed the Bulldogs to pull back ahead by 10, but they couldn't ever deliver the death knell.
For the second season in a row, Dobbs gave Georgia fits, and he made plays when the Vols had to have them. The Vols wound up with 357 yards of total offense, and much of that came through the air.
Even with Hurd out with a lower body injury, the Bulldogs couldn't completely stop UT.
There were some flashes of quality play, but it's all pretty much erased by that finale. It's one the Bulldogs and all their fans will be seeing in their nightmares at least throughout the rest of the season.
Grade: C-
Tennessee: Coaching
5 of 6
It's impossible to give the Vols and head coach Butch Jones an A, even though this could be one of the biggest wins in 20 years. There were just too many mistakes.
Also, it's maddening that Tennessee can't find a way to play a complete game.
The halftime adjustments let you know the Vols have it in them to play well the entire time, but for whatever reason, that doesn't happen.
On Saturday, UT found itself in a 17-0 hole. Eventually, you've got to think luck will run out if Tennessee can't find itself a little bit earlier. Somehow, the Vols keep finding ways to blow the minds of the college football world.
But say what you want about Jones: These players don't quit on him, and the Vols are always resilient and play with the resolve the fourth-year head coach preaches.
As he said, you don't score 38 unanswered points against Florida if you don't have great character in your program, and you don't make the unbelievable plays that UT did on Saturday against Georgia if you quit. This team hasn't done it all year, and it finds itself undefeated after five games.
However imperfect that may seem, the record is unblemished. So, Jones and Co. are doing something right.
Grade: B+
Georgia: Coaching
6 of 6
After your team gets the unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the game, there's no way you should call for a short kick.
That's what UGA coach Kirby Smart did, and it wound up giving the Vols a chance for the win. The decision allowed Evan Berry to get a nice return and set up the storybook finale.
It's that young coach learning curve, and Smart botched his big moment. It's a decision he probably regrets, even though it's tough to second-guess yourself in real time.
It's debatable to blame him for leaning on a true freshman quarterback with the Bulldogs backed up against their own goal line, rather than run the football. The Vols pinned back their ears, sacked Eason and forced a fumble they recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
On another, perhaps overlooked decision by Smart that his players couldn't convert, he elected to throw the ball with Eason on 4th-and-2 deep in Tennessee territory rather than run the ball. The Vols batted down the football, and UGA turned it over on downs.
Smart did call for Eason to throw deep to Ripley, and that was a big victory for a moment, but they ultimately failed to win because of other decisions.
Grade: C-
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
