Dawgs Beat Vols In Knoxville

FOOTBALL

With tonight’s 20-12 win, coach Mark Richt improved to 100-36 in this his 11th season (58-29 in the SEC). He becomes just the third coach in UGA history to reach 100 wins, joining Wally Butts (140) and Vince Dooley (201). Butts and Dooley reached that milestone in their 14th season. On a related note because the Dawgs are in Knoxville, the legendary UT coach Robert Neyland reached 100 wins in his 133rd game as an SEC coach, although the SEC formed in 1933, and he began at UT in 1926. Overall, Richt’s teams are now 4-2 in Knoxville and 36-10 overall in an opponent’s home stadium.

Georgia won its fourth straight to improve to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. During this streak, Georgia has outscored the opposition 130-35. Overall, Georgia's defense limited UT to a pair of field goals in the first half and then one touchdown with 2:51 left in the contest. In the past 16 quarters, Georgia's defense has allowed just two touchdowns.

UT came in ranking second in the league in total offense (447.5 yards/game) and fourth in scoring at 37.8 ppg. Also, the Volunteers were held to minus 20 rushing yards on 23 attempts. The previous low in the Mark Richt era in an SEC game was 1 yard by Tennessee in 2008 on 15 attempts, and it is an all-time low under Richt. The minus 20 yards matches the third fewest in school history (matching The Citadel in 1958). It was the fewest since a record minus 50 by Kentucky in 1999.

After scoring just six points in the second half in the past two games, the Dawgs tallied 14 points in the third quarter on their first two possessions. The second TD was a three-play, 93-yard drive highlighted by a career-long 71-yard reception by freshman Malcolm Mitchell from Aaron Murray and then a 17-yard rushing touchdown by freshman Isaiah Crowell. The first scoring drive covered just 38 yards and ended on a one-yard plunge by Crowell. The passing play to Mitchell was the longest of the season for the Dawgs, the previous high was 69 yards by the same duo against Ole Miss. Mitchell had his first career 100-yard receiving game tonight, finishing with 3 catches for 126 yards. On the big completion, Mitchell injured his left hamstring and did not return. Murray finished 15-for-25 for 227 yards while Crowell had 19 carries for 58 yards.

Junior ILB Mike Gilliard has been the leading tackler for the Dawgs the past four games. He had a career-high nine against Mississippi State last week and followed that up with a new career high getting 12 along with one forced fumble, a sack, a pass breakup and one tackle for a loss. Also, safety Shawn Williams tied his career-high with seven and added a blocked PAT.

Senior Blair Walsh made a 35-yarder to put the Dawgs in front 3-0 in the first quarter and a 22-yarder in the second quarter for a 6-3 edge. He has 63 field goals, which is the most of any active kicker in the SEC and ranks eighth overall in league history. He is 63-for-82 in his career.

Coming in tonight, Georgia was 3-for-9 on fourth down conversions. In the first quarter, Georgia was 3-for-3 on fourth downs and finished with that tally.

Sophomore guard Chris Burnette returned to the starting lineup at right guard. He missed the past two games while recovering from a knee injury. Junior nose John Jenkins made his first career start. He is the 14th first-time starter for the Dawgs this year.

Junior cornerback Branden Smith notched his first rushing attempts of the season tonight (2 for 19 yards). He has played on both sides of the ball and on special teams as a PR/KOR throughout his career.

Tonight’s captains for the Dawgs were seniors Drew Butler (P), Cordy Glenn (OT), DeAngelo Tyson (DE) and Brandon Boykin (CB).

Next Week: Georgia (4-2, 3-1 SEC) will face Vanderbilt in Nashville at 7 p.m. ET on October 15th, and the game will be televised by FOX SportSouth.