By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Tennessee Vols Football
Athens, GA –In a highly anticipated SEC showdown, the Georgia Bulldogs hosted the Tennessee Volunteers in a game that promised high stakes and electrifying action. Both teams entered the contest with explosive offenses and stout defenses, setting the stage for a pivotal conference matchup. Fans at Sanford Stadium were treated to a back-and-forth battle that highlighted resilience, strategy, and momentum shifts as Georgia sought to defend its home turf against a determined Tennessee squad. Let’s get into what happened on Saturday night and break it down by quarter.
First Quarter: Tennessee Strikes First
Tennessee won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving Georgia the ball to start the game. However, the Bulldogs’ opening drive was far from ideal, as they quickly went three-and-out, punting the ball to the Volunteers.
Tennessee’s offense, led by Nico Iamaleava, wasted no time igniting the action. Starting from their 22-yard line, the Volunteers methodically marched down the field with a 15-play drive that showcased grit and physicality. The drive culminated in a highlight-reel moment as tight end Miles Kitselman soared over the pile for a 1-yard touchdown. The score silenced the Sanford Stadium crowd and gave the Vols an early 7-0 lead.
Georgia’s second offensive series showed a glimmer of promise. Carson Beck connected with Dillon Bell on an 8-yard pass to convert a first down, but the drive stalled shortly after, forcing another punt. Tennessee quickly shifted gears, utilizing a fast-paced no-huddle offense to gain two first downs before their momentum fizzled, resulting in a punt.
The Bulldogs’ next possession started disastrously with a holding penalty, derailing any rhythm. Another three-and-out forced Georgia to punt yet again, and Tennessee capitalized on the opportunity with a massive return, setting up shop at the Georgia 36-yard line.
Although the Vols couldn’t advance the ball much further, kicker Max Gilbert delivered a clutch 52-yard field goal, extending Tennessee’s lead to 10-0.
With 43 seconds left in the first quarter, Georgia had one last chance to generate momentum. The Bulldogs ran three plays before the quarter ended, the highlight being a 38-yard strike from Beck to Dominic Lovett, setting up Georgia in a promising field position to start the second quarter.
Second Quarter: Bulldogs Fight Back
It didn’t take long for Georgia to make their mark in the second quarter. Just four plays in, Carson Beck connected with Oscar Delp for a 19-yard touchdown pass, set up by a quarterback scramble and a strong rush from Dillon Bell. The score brought the Bulldogs within three, making it 10-7.
On Tennessee’s next possession, they managed one first down before stalling out, giving the ball back to Georgia at their 16-yard line. The Bulldogs wasted no time picking up a quick first down on two plays. Then came back-to-back 23-yard completions that electrified the crowd. On the second catch, disaster nearly struck as Georgia fumbled the ball—but luck was on their side, and they managed to recover.
With that scare behind them, the Bulldogs methodically marched downfield. The drive ended with Beck finding Delp again, this time for a 4-yard touchdown. The score put Georgia ahead 14-10 and shifted the momentum firmly to the Bulldogs’ sideline.
Tennessee, now trailing for the first time, needed an answer. Sticking to their trademark no-huddle offense, the Volunteers turned to Peyton Lewis, whose 16-yard run jump-started the drive. Tennessee picked up two first downs in four plays before a sack of Nico Iamaleava threatened to derail their rhythm. After a timeout to regroup, Iamaleava hit a 9-yard pass, setting up a critical 4th-and-2. Jaylen Wright delivered with a 3-yard run to keep the drive alive.
Following another timeout, Tennessee leaned on Jabari Small, who rumbled 27 yards for a huge touchdown, reclaiming the lead at 17-14. The score swung the momentum back to the Volunteers.
With under two minutes left in the half, Georgia took the field looking to respond. Beck immediately fooled the Tennessee defense with an impressive pump fake, opening up a deep 25-yard completion. Two plays later, Nate Frazier broke loose for an 11-yard run, putting the Bulldogs near midfield. Georgia used a timeout after an 8-yard completion to regroup and then strung together three straight plays for 26 yards, slicing through Tennessee’s defense.
A critical pass interference penalty by Tennessee moved Georgia even closer, setting them up at the 13-yard line. But the Bulldogs couldn’t find the end zone this time and ran out of time. Peyton Woodring stepped up and calmly nailed a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17 as the first half came to a close.
Third Quarter: Momentum Shifts to Georgia
Tennessee opened the second half with the ball after deferring on the opening coin toss. Nico Iamaleava and the Volunteers came out strong, starting the drive with back-to-back 9-yard plays. A quick incompletion was followed by a 17-yard strike to Squirrel White, flipping field position and giving the Vols early momentum. However, the drive unraveled from there. Two straight incompletions and a costly delay-of-game penalty forced Tennessee to punt, cutting short what looked like a promising start.
Georgia’s red-hot offense wasted no time making Tennessee pay. Starting deep in their own territory at the 13-yard line, the Bulldogs put the Volunteer defense on their heels. A 16-yard pass set the tone, and though a 40-yard bomb was wiped out by offensive pass interference, it didn’t faze Georgia. Two plays later, Carson Beck connected with Nitro Tuggle for a 16-yard gain, and a facemask penalty tacked on an extra 15 yards.
The Bulldogs kept the momentum rolling. Beck found Arian Smith for another 16-yard completion and followed it up with a 14-yard pass to Dominic Lovett. After chipping away with smaller gains, Beck capped the impressive drive himself, running it in for a 10-yard touchdown. The extra point extended Georgia’s lead to 24-17.
Tennessee’s next drive started in a hole after a penalty on the return pushed them back to their own 7-yard line. Despite the tough starting position, the Vols quickly picked up 14 yards on a pass to Bru McCoy. They moved the chains again a few plays later, but their drive ultimately stalled, forcing yet another punt.
Georgia got the ball back with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. Beck immediately hit London Humphreys on a massive 32-yard pass to bring the Bulldogs to midfield. But the drive sputtered there, and Georgia was forced to punt it back to Tennessee.
As the third quarter came to a close, Georgia held onto their 24-17 lead, with the game still up for grabs heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: Bulldogs Seal the Deal
Tennessee opened the fourth quarter with the ball after a Georgia punt. Needing a spark to stay in the game, the Volunteers shifted to a more methodical approach. They stuck with their no-huddle offense but leaned on the ground game and short passes to chip away at Georgia’s defense. Starting at their own 18-yard line, Tennessee managed to march to the Georgia 41 before stalling out once again, forcing yet another punt.
Georgia took over with 8:47 remaining, looking to put the game out of reach. Carson Beck wasted no time, hitting Ben Yurosek for a 21-yard gain on the first play of the drive. Three plays later, Beck connected with London Humphreys on a short pass that turned into a 28-yard gain, pushing Georgia deep into Tennessee territory at the 35-yard line.
With momentum fully on their side, Georgia turned up the tempo. A series of quick rushes and short completions moved the Bulldogs to the Tennessee 13-yard line. From there, Beck found Yurosek again for a 16-yard catch that brought Georgia to the 2-yard line. After a timeout to regroup, the Bulldogs handed the ball to Nate Frazier, who powered his way into the end zone. The touchdown extended Georgia’s lead to 31-17, and with all the momentum on their side, the Bulldogs had one hand on the victory.
Tennessee, now in desperation mode, began their next drive at their own 25-yard line. A quick 13-yard completion got things started, but it brought the game to the two-minute warning. Out of the break, Tennessee ran two quick plays, but disaster struck when Nico Iamaleava was sacked on second down, forcing a timeout. On the very next play, chaos unfolded. Georgia’s defense broke through again, sacking Iamaleava and forcing a fumble. The Bulldogs recovered, dramatically sealing the game as Sanford Stadium erupted in a deafening roar. From there, Georgia knelt out the clock, capping off a dominant second-half performance and securing a 31-17 victory over Tennessee.
A Dominant Finish for Georgia
The game wrapped up with Georgia flexing their muscles on both sides of the ball, finishing off a commanding second-half performance. Carson Beck and the offense hit their stride, slicing through Tennessee’s defense with precision, while the Bulldogs’ defense came up big when it mattered most. The final blow came late in the fourth quarter when Georgia’s pass rush forced a fumble, sending Sanford Stadium into an absolute frenzy and putting the game to bed with a 31-17 victory.
This win wasn’t just another notch in Georgia’s belt—it was a statement. The Bulldogs looked every bit like an SEC powerhouse, showing off their ability to take control in key moments. For Tennessee, it was a tough night as they struggled to maintain momentum, leaving them with plenty of questions as their hopes for a conference title took a major hit.
Georgia fans will walk away from this one feeling confident about their team’s chances, while Tennessee heads back to the drawing board, wondering how to bounce back in the unforgiving SEC race.
