WATCH: Georgia Bulldog Fans Light up Sanford Against Tennessee
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs took on the “No. 1” team in the country in Sanford Stadium today in arguably the biggest regular season game across college football.
Well, Georgia bullied Tennessee through 3 quarters and the Bulldog fans were loud and proud entering the 4th quarter.
Halftime Notes...
Defensive Highlights At the Half: Georgia came in ranked second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 10.5 points a game.
*UT came in leading the nation in scoring (49.4) and the Bulldogs built a 24-6 lead at the half.
*The Vols finished with 139 yards of total offense on 33 plays in the first half. They came in with a nation-leading average of 553.
*The Bulldogs have not allowed a TD in the first quarter this year, just three field goals. For only the second time in the Josh Heupel era, UT was held without a TD in the 1st quarter (also UF in 2022). They had been outscoring teams 103-30 in the 1st quarter coming in today.
*Freshman Malaki Starks, had a team-best seven tackles at the half while Kelee Ringo and Javon Bullard had four each.
Offense Review At The Half: Georgia came in averaging 530.1 yards of total offense and 41.8 ppg. At halftime, the Bulldogs registered 24 points with 306 yards of total offense on 37 plays.
*Georgia now has outscored its opponents 88-9 in the first quarter and 208-41 in the first half.
*Senior QB Stetson Bennett completed 15-of-21 passes for 226 yards and 2 TDs plus ran for a 13-yard TD on a 3rd and 10. It was his sixth rushing score this year and 10th of his career. Bennett connected for a 37-yard TD to Ladd McConkey for a 14-3 edge. McConkey finished the first half with three catches for 63 yards and 1 TD.
*Senior Kenny McIntosh had six rushes for 42 yards plus he had a career-long 49-yard catch.
*Georgia had 80 rushing yards at the half while UT came in allowing just 92.9 rushing yards per game, whcih was No. 9 in the FBS and No. 2 in the SEC.
*Sophomore TE Brock Bowers finished with three catches for 27 yards. Redshirt sophomore Arian Smith had a 52-yard catch. His only other catch this season was a 7-yarder against Missouri (Oct. 1). Today marked just his fifth game this season due to injury.
*Junior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (3 rec., 20 yards, 1 TD) caught a five-yard TD to make it 21-3 with 14:17 left in the first half. It was his first this year and 2nd overall, the other covering 32 yards when he broke his leg against Florida in 2020.
Red Zone Update: Georgia went 3-for-3 in the Red Zone with 2 TDs and one Field Goal (19-yards).
*Coming in today, the Bulldogs led the nation in Red Zone offense, scoring 98 percent of the time (46-for-47 with 33 TDs and 13 FGs).
*UT finished the first half 1-for-1 in the Red Zone (36-yard FG) as the Bulldogs rank 2nd nationally in Red Zone Defense, limiting opponents to scoring just 64% of the time.
*Georgia’s first TD drive covered 80 yards in five plays that took 1:30. It gave the Bulldogs a 7-3 lead with 8:32 left in the 1st quarter. *The second TD drive was one play for 37 yards. The third TD drive went six plays for 64 yards in 2:57.
Special Teams Summary: Freshman P Brett Thorson’s first effort when a career-best 75 yards and was downed at the one. It was his 12th out of 19 this year to be placed inside the 20. The 75-yarder tied for the 10th longest and longest since Drew Butler’s 75-yarder against Okla. Sate in 2009. UT wound up punting from the one after running three plays for a total of no yards. Georgia would field the punt/fair catch at the UT 37. It led to a 37-yard TD catch on the first play from Bennett to Ladd McConkey for a 14-3 edge.
He punted twice for a 53.5 avg. and placed one inside the 20.
*Senior PK Jack Podlesny tallied six points, going 1-for-1 in field goals and 3-for-3 in PATs. He handled the kickoffs too.
Points Off Turnovers: After the first half, Georgia is Even in Turnover Margin on the year while UT is an SEC-best +8. Today, the Bulldogs lost a fumble and then picked off UT QB Hendon Hooker, who had just his 2nd INT of th year.
*Georgia had a fumble (Daijun Edwards) on its opening possession and was recovered by UT at the UGA48. It led to a field goal.
*Opponents now have scored 29 points off 10 Bulldog miscues. The Bulldogs have scored 41 points off 10 turnovers.
In the 2nd quarter with 4:52 left, Kelee Ringo notched his first INT of the year (in the endzone) and third of his career. It led to a FG.
For Starters, Captains & Coin Toss: Senior Kenny McIntosh (RB), senior Chris Smith (S), redshirt sophomore Sedrick Van Pran (C) and sophomore Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB) were the captains. UT won the toss and elected to defer the ball until the 2nd half. RS-sophomore Devin Willock made his first career start, getting the nod at LG over Xavier Truss (toe) who had started the past eight.
*Honoring The Greats: Georgia wore a special uniform patch honoring the legendary Bulldog coach and athletic director Vince Dooley who passed away last Friday, Oct. 28 at the age of 90. Also, for the second Saturday in a row, Georgia had helmet decals to honor one of the greatest athletes ever in Bulldog Charley Trippi, who passed way on Oct. 19 at the age of 100. Also, unique markings were present on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, a moment of silence was observed and a special video was played.
*Joel Eaves Award Recipients: At halftime, Caterina Don (women’s golf) and Nicolas Fontova (men’s cross country) were honored as this year’s Joel Eaves Award honorees as the UGA female and male student-athletes with the highest GPA entering the fall semester of their senior year, based on academic hours, and who have earned at least two varsity letters.
* Exclusive Event: UGA DB Kelee Ringo Autograph Signing *
Sunday, November 20, 2022 || @ Red Zone in Athens
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