KNOXVILLE -- After a frustrating 2-3 start, Tennessee picked up a big win it badly needed by overcoming a 21-point deficit to beat No. 19 Georgia 38-31 on Saturday.
Here's a look at the key moments and numbers, significance and context of the win.
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, left, puts his shoulder into Georgia safety Dominick Sanders to power into a touchdown run during their SEC football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 38-31.SATURDAY'S STAR
Tennessee coach Butch Jones said after the game that quarterback Josh Dobbs "willed" the Vols to Saturday's win. He was right. Dobbs threw for a career-high 312 yards on 25-of-42 passing, ran for 118 yards on 18 carries and accounted for five touchdowns. Dobbs missed some throws early in the game, but he carried Tennessee on his back in the second half and notched a signature win.
SATURDAY'S STAT
The Vols rallied from a 21-point deficit in the second quarter to win. That tied the third-longest comeback in a win in program history. Tennessee came back from 25 points down against Vanderbilt in 1987. The more famous comeback was at Notre Dame in 1991, when the Vols won 34-31 after trailing 31-7. The other two 21-point comebacks were against Kentucky in 2001 and at LSU in 2005.
TURNING POINT
Safety Todd Kelly nearly sealed the game for Tennessee, but he dropped an interception in the end zone, so it came down to the final play. Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert's desperation throw to the front corner of the end zone was intended for Malcolm Mitchell, but Cameron Sutton and Brian Randolph converged to make the play. The Vols then spilled onto the field in celebration.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
Dobbs has proven himself to be an elusive runner, but he powered through a couple of defenders on the go-ahead touchdown with a little less than six minutes to go. The usually calm quarterback then high-kneed toward the fans in the end zone in celebration. Honorable mention goes to Jalen Hurd, who broke multiple tackles and powerfully ran through a final defender in the first half.
WHAT IT MEANS
It's really hard to quantify how much Tennessee and Jones needed this win. After the big win eluded the Vols against Oklahoma and Florida, Tennessee needed to get over the hump in a big game against one of its rivals. Down 24-3 in the second quarter, it looked bleak. Tennessee's coaches and players deserve credit for not quitting, rallying and finally making key plays down the stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS
2-12: Butch Jones notched his second win against a ranked team in his third year as Tennessee's coach. The Vols hadn't beaten a ranked opponent since upsetting No. 11 South Carolina in 2013. This win has a different feel about it, though, as it came against one of Tennessee's rivals in a game featuring two teams with similar talent levels.
55-1: According to a tweet from ESPN's College Football Twitter account, Georgia was 55-0 in games where it led by 21 points the past 12 seasons before Saturday night's loss.
Tennessee defensive backs todd Kelly, Jr., right, and Justin Martin, left, break up a pass to Georgia split end Malcolm Mitchell during their SEC football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 38-31.9: Throughout the week, Jones said Tennessee needed more big plays on offense. The Vols get them on Saturday. Tennessee had nine plays of 20-plus yards against the Bulldogs, and those plays accounted for 249 yards. Tennessee had two more 19-yard plays, too. The Vols entered the game 11th in the SEC with just 19 plays of 20-plus yards this season.
49-7: At Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Tennessee, Jones is 49-7 when his teams score at least 30 points. That record with the Vols is now 12-2. Both of those losses came against Georgia. Tennessee lost 34-31 in overtime in Knoxville in 2013 and 35-32 in Athens last season. Jones is also now 13-4 at Tennessee when the Vols lead after three quarters.
2009: One of Tennessee's many streaks is no more as the Vols beat Georgia for the first time since 2009. The Bulldogs matched their longest winning streak against the Vols by winning the past five. Four of those came by eight points or less, and Saturday's game was another close one between the SEC East rivals.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.