Georgia football: Bits and pieces

Georgia running back Brian Herrien fights for extra yards through the tackles of Tennessee linebacker Deandre Johnson (13), defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) and linebacker Daniel Bituli, bottom, during Saturday's SEC East matchup at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
Georgia running back Brian Herrien fights for extra yards through the tackles of Tennessee linebacker Deandre Johnson (13), defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) and linebacker Daniel Bituli, bottom, during Saturday's SEC East matchup at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
photo Georgia running back Brian Herrien fights for extra yards through the tackles of Tennessee linebacker Deandre Johnson (13), defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) and linebacker Daniel Bituli, bottom, during Saturday's SEC East matchup at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

SATURDAY'S STAR

Georgia's stats were very balanced, with no player other than QB Jake Fromm eclipsing 100 yards. However, in his postgame news conference, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart singled out Brian Herrien more than once. The junior running back finished with 56 yards on nine carries, with his 6.2 average leading the backs. Several of his runs, especially on the game-clinching fourth-quarter drive, ended with multiple defenders dragging him down.

SATURDAY'S STAT

Georgia's rushing defense, maligned a bit the past couple of weeks, held the Volunteers to 66 yards on 25 carries. Ty Chandler's 17-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage was their longest. Smart had high praise for linebackers Natrez Patrick, Monty Rice and D'Andre Walker for being more physical this week.

HIGHLIGHT PLAY

Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta whiffed on a pass block on his team's first drive, allowing Darrell Taylor to get the first of his three sacks and force Jake Fromm to fumble. The alert Nauta picked the ball up at the 31 and rambled into the end zone against a stunned defense.

TURNING POINT

Georgia led from the start, but after Tennessee scored to cut the lead to 24-12 with 11:10 to play, the Bulldogs put together a 13-play drive to finally put the Vols away. There were no flashy plays on the drive, but Fromm's 10-yard pass to Riley Ridley on third-and-4 from Georgia's 31 eased the home fans' growing fears and propelled the long drive.

WHAT IT MEANS

Smart said the win proves only that the Bulldogs have improved in recent weeks but still have a long way to go to reach their potential. The improved run defense was the most glaring step forward and could loom large in upcoming games against LSU, Florida and Kentucky.

HOW THEY SCORED

FIRST QUARTER

UGA - Isaac Nauta 31-yard fumble advance (Rodrigo Blankenship kick)

Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 3:40

Key plays: Nauta recovered Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm's fumble on a 9-yard third-down sack by Tennessee's Darrell Taylor and rambled untouched for the touchdown. Taylor hit Fromm's arm, with the ball landing just in front of the senior tight end, who alertly scooped it up and set sail. D'Andre Swift had the other big gainer on the drive with a 22-yard catch-and-run play.

GEORGIA 7, TENNESSEE 0

SECOND QUARTER

UGA - Blankenship 43-yard field goal

Drive: 9 plays, 35 yards, 5:15

Key plays: A poor punt set Georgia up at its 40. Fromm had passes of 16 yards to Mecole Hardman and 15 to Terry Godwin to get into the red zone. Taylor had his second sack to make the Bulldogs settle for three points.

GEORGIA 10, TENNESSEE 0

UGA - Swift 1-yard run (Blankenship kick)

Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 5:07

Key plays: Tailback Brian Herrien converted on fourth-and-1 with a 6-yard run at the Tennessee 32 to keep the drive alive. Backup quarterback Justin Fields, who started the drive, was intercepted on third-and-6 at the 37 by Trevon Flowers in the end zone, but an offsides call negated the play. Fromm re-entered on the next play and later completed back-to-back 12-yard passes to Riley Ridley and Jeremiah Holloman.

GEORGIA 17, TENNESSEE 0

THIRD QUARTER

UGA - Fields 12-yard run (Blankenship kick)

Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:08

Key plays: The longest play of the lengthy drive was a 17-yard pass to Nauta, part of Fromm's 4-for-4, 40-yard showing on the drive. Georgia faced only one third down on the drive, which Elijah Holyfield converted with a 7-yard run.

GEORGIA 24, TENNESSEE 0

UT - Josh Palmer 37 pass from Jarrett Guarantano (pass failed)

Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:38

Key plays: A fourth-down pass-interference penalty on Georgia's Tyson Campbell kept the drive alive at the Bulldogs' 35. A 13-yard pass to Marquez Callaway on third-and-8 on the drive's third play sparked the Volunteers. On the touchdown, Palmer blew by two defenders and caught a perfect pass at the goal line.

GEORGIA 24, TENNESSEE 6

FOURTH QUARTER

UT - Ty Chandler 35 pass from Guarantano (pass failed)

Drive: 5 plays, 57, yards, 2:44

Key plays: The touchdown pass came on a quick throw that caught the defense in a blitz. Chandler benefited from good downfield blocking and cut back to the middle to score untouched. Guarantano missed wildly on the 2-point try.

GEORGIA 24, TENNESSEE 12

UGA - Swift 14-yard run (Blankenship kick)

Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:39

Key plays: Georgia was 3-for-3 on third-down conversions this drive, when Brian Herrien ripped off four runs for 29 yards. His 6-yard run on third-and-2 kept the offense on the field and led, two plays later, to Swift's scoring run.

GEORGIA 31, TENNESSEE 12

UGA - Fields 15-yard run (Blankenship kick)

Drive: 2 plays, 31 yards, 0:43

Key plays: D'Andre Walker forced a fumble to set Georgia up at the Vols' 31, where Holyfield ran for 16 yards and Fields finished the quickie drive against a weary defense.

GEORGIA 38, TENNESSEE 12

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