No. 5 Georgia holds off Tennessee, 51-44

Saturday, September 29, 2012

photo Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) runs for a touchdown as Tennessee linebacker Curt Maggitt (56) gives chase during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

ATHENS, Ga. - Todd Gurley ran for three touchdowns and Keith Marshall added two as No. 5 Georgia recovered after blowing a 17-point lead to beat Tennessee 51-44 on Saturday in the highest-scoring game ever between the SEC rivals.

Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC), which had never scored more points against the Volunteers, locked it up with three takeaways in the final six minutes. Twice Sanders Commings intercepted Tyler Bray's passes and in between the Tennessee quarterback was stripped from behind and the fumble was recovered by Georgia's John Jenkins.

Aaron Murray threw two third-quarter touchdown passes to Michael Bennett for the Bulldogs.

Georgia led 27-10 early in the second quarter before Tennessee took the lead with 20 unanswered points. Tennessee (3-2, 0-2 SEC) took its third straight loss in the series under coach Derek Dooley, the son of Georgia's former longtime coach Vince Dooley.