UGA takes down smokey
As a Tennessee Volunteer fan, nothing would have been sweeter than knocking Georgia out of the playoff race, I have since come back to earth and acknowledged that my delusional daydream was much to farfetched for reality. Recalling the key moments of last nights playoff-squandering exhibition brings up a feeling that rivals one’s first hangover in college. Tennessee came out with great energy and put together a strong drive with significant help from TE Miles Kitselman after he caught a couple balls and capped off the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The following drive, Tennessee forced Georgia to punt inside their own 20 which gave Tennessee great field position after Boo Carter amounted a good return for the Vols, Tennessee ended the drive with a 52-yard field goal to push the lead to 10.
Now at the end of the first quarter the momentum began to shift. James Pierce of Tennessee jumps off side granting Georgia a “free play”, and Georgia converts. Even with the penalty from Pierce, Beck delivers a pass to #6 on Georgia for a substantial gain. Pierce granting Georgia that “free play” gave them a sense of freedom, as he saw Pierce jump offsides, he knew he could deliver this pass with no repercussions. As the momentum began to veer towards the dawgs, Georgia capped off the drive with a TD on seam route to TE Oscar Delp. Tennessee sputters on the ensuing drive, giving Georgia the ball back and what do you know? Another Tennessee penalty! Stupendous! Georgia marches their way down inside the 20 to go tempo on Tennessee, pull the defense towards short side of the field and sneak Delp out to receive his 2nd touchdown of the half.
Tennessee storms back in a encouraging way with a 4th & 2 conversion, followed by a 27-yard Dylan Sampson TD. Sampson has been the bell cow back all year long and has ran the table with an immense amount of pressure on his shoulders. Tennessee’s TE covering stuggles prolonged as the dawgs marched down the field once again to tie the game at 17 with a 36-yard FG to end the half.
Apart from the 1st half of the 1st quarter, Georgia was able to handle the “ferocious” Tennessee defensive line the entire game. Georgia would stop Tennessee on their opening drive and waltz down the field with a rushing TD from Beck to put the dawgs up 24-17. Shockingly enough, Tennessee would fail to score on their next drive and Georgia, once again marched down the field to score a rushing TD and push it to 31-17.
Obviously I am a little biased because I wanted Tennessee to win and I think some of the officiating was questioningly lop sided, but Tennessee did not deserve to win that game even with fair refs. Poor tackling, some drops, and overall a lackluster performance from the Volunteers.
