Tennessee Football: Hungover Vols Mauled By Georgia Bulldogs 41-14 in Athens

Saturday afternoon in Athens, the Tennessee Volunteers (2-4, 0-3 SEC) and the Georgia Bulldogs (2-4, 1-3 SEC) renewed their annual SEC East rivalry.  The game was a homecoming of sorts for Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley, and seemingly, a must-win game for Georgia's Mark Richt. 

Mama said there would be days like this and boy was Mama right!   Mama must have told the Bulldogs something along the lines of LL Cool J's, "Mama said knock you out!" 

From the onset of the coin toss, which the Vols lost for the first time in six games this season, Tennessee was knocked to the canvas repeatedly. 

If this game was a championship bout, it would have been stopped in the first round.  

The Bulldogs' first score came on a 35-yard, roll out right, touchdown run by quarterback Aaron Murray that capped a six-play, 73-yard drive that gave Georgia an early 7-0 lead with 8:18 to go in the first quarter.

Georgia would continue scoring, early and often, thanks to three Tennessee turnovers in the first half. 

The Vols had entered the game at plus-four in the turnover department, but a tipped Matt Simms pass that was intercepted by Bacarri Rambo and two fumbles by Tennessee kick returner Eric Gordon gave Georgia great field position. 

While the Vols were getting nothing done on offense,  Murray and the Bulldogs were pounding the punch-drunk, defenseless Tennessee defense at will.

Georgia was able to do what Tennessee could not last week at LSU—convert turnovers into scores.  The Bulldogs turned two into touchdowns on passes from Murray, and cashed in the other for a 42-yard field goal from Blair Walsh.

Walsh chipped in another field goal to close out the first-half scoring for Georgia, connecting from 20 yards out.

Tennessee's lone score of the first half came with 12:58 remaining in the second quarter, when Simms, under immense pressure from the Georgia defense, found Justin Hunter for a 38-yard touchdown strike.

The halftime score showed Georgia's dominance as they led 27-7.

If the Vols had any thoughts of staging a miraculous, second-half comeback, those thoughts were smashed by Georgia and Murray. 

The Bulldogs took the opening third-quarter kickoff and marched right down the field.  The drive of 64 yards on seven plays was capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by Murray that left Tennessee reeling.

Tennessee and Georgia would both add touchdown scores in the third quarter to close out the scoring as the fourth quarter would go scoreless.

Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt had silenced his critics for at least another week and Tennessee's Derek Dooley continues to search for his first SEC win.

Final Score: Georgia 41, Tennessee 14

This Tennessee team hardly resembled the one that had took LSU to the wire in last week's loss at Baton Rouge.  If there really is such a thing as a "hangover" in sports, the Vols game in Athens should become the poster child. 

Aside from the turnovers, the Vols struggled from much of the same that has plagued them all season.  The inability to protect Simms in passing situations has almost become laughable and tackling on the defensive side of the ball has become offensive.

The Vols now have a much-needed bye week as they prepare for their next two SEC opponents, Alabama at home and South Carolina in Columbia.  Two weeks may not be enough time to clear the cobwebs before the defending national champions invade Knoxville. 

Vol Notes

Simms finished 9-of-13 passing for 179 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.  Tyler Bray saw action at quarterback in a mop-up role in the fourth quarter and completed 8-of-12 for 81 yards.  Tennessee was out-gained offensively by Georgia, 401-269.  Tauren Poole carried 15 times for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia Notes

Aaron Murray threw for two touchdowns and 266 yards on 17-of-25 attempts and ran for two scores as well.  A.J. Green caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.  Georgia will host Vanderbilt next week in Athens.