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Georgia ends Vols' home dominance

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 7, 2001

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- With new coach Mark Richt calling the shots, Georgia found a way to win in Neyland Stadium.

The Bulldogs' 26-24 victory over Tennessee on Saturday was their first here in six tries since 1980, when Herschel Walker was a freshman.

"In a coaching transition, it's tough on them and they're upset, usually rightfully so," said Richt, the former Florida State offensive coordinator. "I told them this is for you, no matter what. It's a defining moment for our seniors and the whole team. I'm thankful we could pull it off."

Verron Haynes caught a 6-yard touchdown with five seconds left after redshirt freshman David Greene, starting for the first time on the road, drove the Bulldogs 59 yards.

The Volunteers came back dramatically when Travis Stephens caught a screen and ran 62 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds left for a 24-20 lead.

But the Bulldogs, who have won two straight over the Vols, proved to have plenty of time for the upset.

Greene drove Georgia to the Tennessee 6 with a 14-yard pass to Randy McMichael. Then he found Haynes open in the end zone.

"I kind of prepared myself for the moment. I kept telling myself to stay focused," Greene said. "We started moving the ball and started clicking. It was kind of a trick play. We faked to the fullback (Haynes) and he slides out like he is going to block the middle linebacker."

Georgia, which had lost five straight in Knoxville, did not risk an extra-point try, and Tennessee didn't have time for a comeback.

The loss dims Tennessee's hopes of winning the SEC East.

"This is tough," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "There are a lot of hurt feelings in that dressing room. We're heartbroken right now."

Greene finished 21-for-34 for 303 yards, scorching a defense that was third in the country with 222.3 yards allowed per game. Musa Smith had 49 yards on 17 carries.

McMichael had six catches for 108 yards.

The Bulldogs took a 20-17 lead on Billy Bennett's 31-yard field goal with 5:44 left.

Then the Vols got the ball back, and it appeared all hope was lost when Jermaine Phillips intercepted Casey Clausen's pass in Georgia territory.

But Georgia had to punt, and Tennessee got the ball back with 1:21 to go. On second and 10, Stephens swung out to catch a screen pass and ran down the sideline 62 yards for the score.

"It's very frustrating to have a game won at the end and turn out losing," Stephens said. "It's a long season and we've got time to do good things by the end of the year."

Stephens rushed for 176 yards on 30 carries, but special teams were Tennessee's biggest downfall.

Fulmer called it a "complete collapse."

"Our punt coverage and kick coverage was atrocious. That was complicated by the fact they were returning the way they were," Fulmer said.

Alex Walls missed a 34-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the first half that would have put the Vols ahead. Punter Dustin Colquitt averaged 33.4 yards.

On consecutive punts in the second half, Georgia's Tim Wansley downed Jonathan Kilgo's kicks at the Tennessee 1.

The Vols couldn't move past their 29, but on ensuing possessions in Tennessee territory Georgia couldn't go anywhere until the decisive drive.

Tennessee took a 14-3 lead after Clausen threw touchdowns to Kelley Washington and Leonard Scott in the first quarter.

Georgia scored two straight touchdowns to overcome the deficit.

Damien Gary, who had good returns on his other tries, burst through Tennessee's defense on the Vols' first punt of the second quarter and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10.

Fred Gibson gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead with 9:18 to go before halftime with a 15-yard touchdown catch, the first in his career.

Walls tied it at 17 with a 25-yard field goal with 6:41 left in the second quarter.

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