It sure was fun while it lasted – eight consecutive victories, exciting offense, Jalin Hyatt setting records and Hendon Hooker leading the chase for the Heisman Trophy.
Georgia knocked Tennessee from the undefeated ranks, 27-13. The Bulldogs beat up the Volunteers and quieted tall talk about No. 1 and wishful thinking about a national championship.
The game and score did not match. Georgia dominated the line of scrimmage. Georgia sacked Hooker six times. Georgia even picked off a Hooker pass.
It hurts to admit that Stetson Bennett IV was the better quarterback. The 25-year-old Bulldog was near enough to flawless. He threw for more yards and two touchdowns and ran for one.
As Tennessee fans did against Alabama and Kentucky, Georgia fans helped their team. Tennessee had eight pre-snap infractions. The device that measures noise and several Vols said it was loud.
Tennessee’s up-tempo, high-scoring offense was limited. Tennessee finally got a touchdown when the outcome was not in doubt.
In fact, Georgia won the game in the first half. It was 24-6 at intermission. For some strange reason, Kirby Smart took his foot off the offensive gas.
The home team played offense as if it was content to leave a small share of the spotlight for the Volunteers. Maybe the coach knew what he was doing. He has better players. Maybe not trying to run up the score was a favor for the SEC.
If Tennessee can finish 11-1 (Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt), it might still receive consideration for the playoffs.
Joy, what there was, was brief. LaTrell Bumphus forced a fumble, Tamarion McDonald recovered and Chase McGrath kicked a 47-yard field goal. Georgia answered. Bennett lofted a perfect pass to Arian Smith for 52 yards. The Vols are not supposed to get beat deep but they did.
A few ticks later, they violated another maxim. They let the quarterback escape a congested pocket and he ran for a touchdown. Easy does it on the drive: 80 yards in 90 seconds.
The kicking game gave Georgia another score. Freshman Brett Thorson’s 75-yard punt went out of bounds at the UT 1. Hooker, mugged in the end zone, lost the ball. Javontez Spraggins found it and prevented a safety or touchdown – with two inches to spare.
Tennessee punted. Georgia scored on the next play, Bennett to Ladd McConkey, 37 yards. Cornerback Doneiko Slaughter fell for a stop-and-go maneuver.
Bennett scored on the scramble. He completed a 48-yard pass and came back with a TD pass to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. The improvement we’ve been hearing about in the Vol secondary was hard to see.
Tennessee launched a little drive. It was snuffed out by two false-start penalties. The Vols settled for another field goal. Georgia got a field goal on the final play of the half.
The Bulldogs played run-the-clock offense after intermission. The defense went right on hurting Tennessee feelings. Georgia got another field goal. Tennessee got a touchdown from Jaylen Wright. Hooker set it up with a 27-yard completion to Hyatt.
Cedric Tillman was relevant. He had seven catches for 68 yards. Jabari Small was injured early.
Josh Heupel saw determined effort and a somewhat better performance than I did.
“Obviously disappointed in the outcome. Credit to Georgia. They won critical plays.”
The coach said the Vols were slow to settle into the emotional part of the game.
“We did not do that in a positive way.”
Heupel retained optimism.
“Our kids have handled a bunch of adversity throughout their careers. They’ve continued to fight and scratch and claw and stay connected.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, come Monday, they’ll continue to do that. That’s how we got to the point of making this a big game. We’ve got to reset … everybody’s got a hand in this, starting with me, our staff and our players … learn and grow and continue to climb as a program.”
Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com.